How to Know When It's Time to Have Your HVAC Ducts Cleaned
Posted on: 1 July 2016
Since your HVAC ducts are out of sight in the attic, it's easy to forget they are even there. However, they may be accumulating dust or mold that is getting blown around your house. While under perfect conditions you may go for years without needing your ducts cleaned, there are many times when cleaning the ducts is a good idea. These are some times to consider having your ducts professionally cleaned.
After Water Damage and Mold
Any time there is a water leak in your home, mold should be a top concern. It doesn't matter if the leak comes from your roof and is in the attic near the ducts or if the first floor of your home flooded after heavy rain. If the dampness lasts too long, mold will begin to grow. The mold spores will become airborne and get sucked into your HVAC system and ducts. If the spores cling to the ducts and begin to multiply, the air in your home could be contaminated with mold spores long after the water damage is repaired. That's why it's a good idea to have your ducts inspected after you have water damage or noticeable mold growing in your home. If mold is spotted inside the ducts, the contractor can use special equipment and chemicals to get rid of it so the spores stop spreading through the air.
When There Is a Rodent Infestation
Normally, your ducts are solid so you don't lose hot or cold air from your HVAC system. This also keeps bugs and rodents out of the tunnels. However, if you have a bad rodent infestation, the pests may chew their way into the ducts. Once they get inside, they create nests and shed hairs and bodily waste. This affects the quality of the air in your home. The air may have a bad odor, or the air coming out of your ducts may even blow rodent hairs or germs through your house. If you've had rodents in your attic, you should have your ducts inspected and cleaned if there are signs they got inside the ducts. In addition, you'll want to make sure the ducts are repaired to keep pests out and to keep chilled or heated air from leaking into your attic.
If Someone In Your Family Has Allergies
If you or someone in your family has allergies to dust mites or pet dander, you probably go to great lengths to keep your home as clean as possible. Since the air in your home is constantly circulating through the ducts in your HVAC system, dust, pet dander, and other allergens will get inside and accumulate. The problem is that these things get blown back out into your living space when your HVAC system kicks on. Therefore, if you're dealing with allergies in your household, you may want to have your ducts cleaned out on a regular schedule, especially if you have pets or if someone in your home smokes. This helps the air quality in your home stay as good as possible as long as you continue to keep the rest of your home clean as well.
If you've lived in your home for several years and have never had your ducts cleaned out, you may wonder if it is necessary. One way to know for sure is to get an inspection. The contractor can run a camera through the ducts so you can watch on the screen for signs of mold, dust accumulation, debris, and infestations of roaches or rodents. Also, if the register vents in your home have a lot of dust bunnies or if the air in your home smells bad, this could indicate it's time to have your ducts cleaned.
For more information, consult a company such as Capital Heating & Cooling.
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