When Do I Need Air Duct Cleaning?

1/18/2016 (Permalink)

Air duct cleaning is an important part of home maintenance. A dirty air duct can lower the quality of the air in your house by promoting the circulation of allergens and bacteria in the air. There is no scientific evidence that actually proves that cleaning the air ducts will improve your health, but it is a good practice. The indoor air is just as important as the outdoor air. One way to keep the air inside your home free from unnecessary pollutants is to keep the air ducts of your heating and cooling systems clean.

What parts of your air ducts should be cleaned? The blowers, fiber glass, metal ducts, air vents, access doors, drain pans and coils should all be cleaned. There should be no stains, mold, dust, insects or any particles left over. After you have a professional clean the ducts, you should give it a test run to make sure that the system is still working properly.

When do you need air duct cleaning? There are several signs that indicate the need for a thorough air duct cleaning. Here are some of the major points that indicate the need for an air duct cleaning.

1. The growth of mold inside the ducts or on the surface of the cooling or heating system. (mold growth can only accurately be determined by professionals)

2. The infestation of insects or any small unwanted pests in the ducts.

3. If they are clogged with a great deal of dust or other debris.

It is important to have a professional take a look at your systems occasionally to make sure everything is clean and working well. Certainly if the above problems are prevalent, it is definitely time to go ahead and schedule a cleaning. Make sure the professionals you hire to clean them are licensed. If they claim that there is mold, have them show it to you and figure out a way to prevent the mold from growing again.

Depending on the amount of cleaning that needs to be done and the type of system that needs to be cleaned, the price for a professional cleaning can start at a few hundred dollars and rise up to a couple thousand dollars.

One way so save the expense of getting a professional air duct cleaning is good maintenance. There are several things you can do to keep your air ducts as clean as possible. Dust and vacuum the house often. Change the filters of the heating or cooling system on a regular basis. You should also keep the ducts nice and dry.