Written by Eli Weber
In recent years-especially with growing pollution levels and increased frequency of wildfires-concerns about air quality have mounted. In fact, the air inside your house can usually be more polluted than the outside atmosphere, with dust, allergens, and other kinds of contaminants building up. Of all the features that keep your house healthy, air duct cleaning is one of the most neglected aspects. Clean air ducts are not only essential for the efficiency of your HVAC system but also for your general health and well-being. Herein discusses the reasons you should make regular air duct cleaning a priority, especially if you live in a region with poor outdoor air quality.
Fight Pollutants and Allergens
Other sources of dust, allergens, mold spores, and even bacteria are hidden in the air ducts. These contaminants only continue to build up in the ductwork with time and just get recirculated every time one turns on the heating or cooling system. This aggravates allergies, asthma, and other respiratory ailments. The symptoms worsen when outdoor pollution levels become particularly high or during periodic seasonal wildfires in certain areas.
Indoor air pollution emanates not only from the outdoor pollutants but also from daily activities of cooking and cleaning, not forgetting the pet dander. These allergens do not find their way to other parts when your air ducts are clean. This adds to the quality of air in your home, which becomes very important to a household that has children, the elderly, or anyone with respiratory issues. Cleaning your air ducts regularly will ensure a cleaner and healthier environment for all living in the home.
- Boosted HVAC Efficiency
A dirty HVAC system does not only scorn air quality but also threatens efficiency. Dust and other particles build up in ducts, blocking portions and reducing airflow. All this makes your HVAC work harder to cool or heat your house to the set temperature, increasing energy use and bills.
Regular cleaning of the air ducts makes for better flow of air within the house, hence increasing the efficiency of the HVAC system. Over time, this will result in great energy savings. Additionally, a cleaner system means fewer wear and tears on the components of HVAC, which, in turn, extends the life of heating and cooling units.
But this is not all, as an efficient system is great for not only your wallet but also the environment. The less energy that your HVAC system uses means that the carbon footprint of your house is going to be smaller. By scheduling cleaning of air ducts on a regular basis, you aren’t just protecting your health; you are taking another step toward making your household more sustainable.
- Reduce Fire Risk
Ash and debris from wildfires during wildfire-prone areas can easily enter your home’s ventilation system and create a highly vulnerable fire hazard. In addition, dust accumulation on the inside of the ducts can provide the right environment for a fire to start if your system has a tendency to overheat. This latent risk of fire often goes unnoticed until it is too late.
Having your air ducts professionally cleaned removes built-up debris that may cause a fire hazard. This applies to homes in fire areas and dry climates where the risk of fire breakout is remarkably high. With routine changing of your HVAC filters, clean ducts minimize the possibility of fire breakout starting from within your system.
- Extend the Life of Your HVAC System
Your HVAC is among the high investments you have ever made in your house. As such, regular maintenance is one of the major ways to extend the life span. Dirty air ducts are a contributor to frequent breakdowns and costly repairs. The internal side of the duct starts building up dust and debris that will build block filters and any other parts, reducing efficiency and probably causing damage.
Clean ducts reduce stress on your system, which can also help prevent wear and tear from taking place on the system itself. This will save you not just from repairs but also extend the lifetime of the HVAC when you need it most.
- How Often Should I Clean My Ducts?
The frequency in cleaning the air ducts will depend on a few variables: the environment that one is living in, the age of the home, and whether pets are present. The general recommendation for having the cleaning of air ducts done by professionals is once every 3-5 years. However, if an individual resides in an area of poor outdoor air quality or finds himself dealing regularly with dust, then he would want to schedule the cleanings more frequently.
Cleaning your air ducts following major renovations or improvements to a house is also important because construction dust and debris will easily find their way into the ventilation system. If you feel there is more dust around your house, strange smells emanating from your vents, or signs of mold, these are also indications of the air duct needing attention.
Conclusion
Cleaning the air ducts amounts to a healthy, efficient, and safe environment within the house. From air quality improvement to increased efficiency of the HVAC system, there are several advantages that, as a homeowner, are associated with regular air duct cleaning. Whether you are located in an area where outdoor pollution affects your home or want to lessen allergens in your home, cleaning air ducts should be a high priority.
This often-neglected house maintenance saves your family from health problems while saving energy consumption and lengthening the life of the HVAC system. In this case, it is a win-win for the house and the environment.