Today, most homes in the United States are equipped with HVAC systems that must run for the whole year. To ensure your system never breaks down, you need to schedule regular maintenance, including checking and cleaning your air ducts. Some people think that checking the ducts’ condition is unnecessary, while others believe it is important.
Experts recommend that you should have your air ducts cleaned at least once every three years or when there are clear signs that it is time for you to take a look at your air ducts. For example, if you notice mold growing in your ducts, if there are rodents or insects present, and if an abnormal amount of dust accumulates on all the surfaces of your house.
An air duct inspection can save you time and money, by helping you avoid dirt buildups in your home. But you need to learn how to tell the difference between real benefits and fake ones.
While having your air ducts cleaned won’t directly improve your health, it can make a big difference in the quality of your home’s air. If you suffer from respiratory problems such as asthma or allergies, it’s especially important to maintain your air ducts.
Pros and Cons of Having Your Air Ducts Cleaned
Because of all the misinformation that exists on the subject, we have compiled a list of the pros and cons you should consider before hiring a professional to clean your ducts.
Pros of Having Your Air Ducts Cleaning
- Increase the efficiency and lifespan of your HVAC system
As dust and other debris accumulate within the ductwork, airflow is obstructed. Obstructions in the air ducts of your home can lead to an inefficient flow of conditioned air, resulting in cold and hot spots. When your HVAC unit has to work harder to circulate warm or cool air, it can cause a strain on the unit and shorten its lifespan. The increased energy consumption will lead to higher utility bills. By clearing off the debris from the ductwork, you can allow air to travel freely and improve your HVAC system’s efficiency.
- Eliminating the risk of dangerous diseases
Even though we said above that your air ducts’ condition is unlikely to impact your health, that is not always the case. When there is a presence of rodents or insects, these critters will hide in your HVAC system, infesting your home, which could be dangerous for you and your family’s health.
If these rodents start urinating over the dust accumulated on your air ducts, the air circulating around your house will carry those particles. In the unfortunate case that you breathe in those particles, you could catch Hantavirus or Leptospirosis.
With a regular air duct inspection, you can avoid all this danger. If you are experiencing problems like these, call professionals right away. They will not only clean your air ducts but also eradicate the infestation.
- A clean, healthy environment free of allergens
Cleaning your air ducts can help you or a family member get respiratory conditions such as asthma under control. Additionally, if you have young children, you won’t have to worry that they will catch bacteria when playing and crawling on the floor. You will have a sanitized environment safe for your whole family.
- Get rid of foul odors
Throughout the day, different smells can waft through your house. It could be the food you ate, cleaning products, paint fumes, or even tobacco. The possibilities are endless. In an ideal world, these smells shouldn’t have to stay inside your house, sticking to your bedding or furniture.
After spending a long time in your home, you may become so accustomed to the odors that you no longer notice them. But if you invite friends or family over, they will probably notice the unpleasant smells in your home. Do not let embarrassing situations happen to you. Get a regular inspection of your air ducts, this will ensure that only pleasant scents are released into every part of your home.
- Don’t waste your money every year
Did you know that if you get your air ducts cleaned once, you won’t have to repeat this process for three years? This benefit is part of the few that can be confirmed as true. When you decide that it is time to clean your air ducts, you want to make sure you hire the right person for the task. Because when a trained expert performs this task, you won’t have to get it done every year.
Cons of Having Your Air Ducts Cleaned
- A visual inspection is not possible
There are basic HVAC system maintenance tasks you can do by yourself, such as changing filters. However, air duct cleaning is best left to the professionals. If you have air duct problems, you may not be able to see them because most issues occur out of sight.
- Some systems might need to be replaced
There are several reasons why air ducts may be insulated. If mold grows inside insulated ducts, maintenance will be ineffective in eliminating the problem.
If this happens, you are left with no choice but to ask the contractor to replace all of it. This means you will have to spend more money than expected, but it is better to have clean air ducts than to risk breathing in mold spores.
- It was a change of filter, nothing more
If there is not too much mold growing out of your air ducts but there is still a lot of dust around the house, you might need to change your filters more often. Your HVAC system has a filter that catches dust before it can accumulate in your ducts.
If you find a lot of dust around your house, check your filters. Sometimes you can clean the filters, but you’ll have to change them if they don’t work anymore. If that solves the problem, you won’t need to clean your air ducts.
Conclusion
Air duct cleaning is necessary to keep your HVAC system running efficiently. Neglected air ducts can lead to allergies, asthma, and other respiratory conditions. In addition, dirty air ducts can cause foul odors inside your home.
If it has been a while since you had your air ducts cleaned, contact our experts at Kura Home to schedule an appointment today!
