How Often Should Ducts Be Cleaned?
Cleaning ducts can help improve airflow and reduce household dust. However, it’s a job best left to professional duct cleaning companies. The general recommendation is that ducts be cleaned in the spring or fall. This is because these seasons are when the most allergens, such as pollen and pet dander, are found in the atmosphere. Other than this, some important factors must be considered to understand how often your air ducts should be cleaned.
Ducts Need To Be Cleaned Every 3 to 5 Years
Depending on how often a home is used, air ducts should be cleaned every three to five years. This schedule is based on the amount of dirt and debris accumulating inside the air ducts over time. However, it’s also important to be vigilant and look for signs that the ducts need cleaning sooner than average.
Air ducts collect all sorts of contaminants and pollutants from our homes’ everyday activities. These include bacteria, mold, pet dander, dust, skin cells, chemicals, and tobacco smoke. The recirculation of these pollutants in our HVAC heating and cooling system causes them to build up over time, leading to poor indoor air quality and various health issues.
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Warning Signs That Your Ducts Need to Be Cleaned
Some clear signs that it’s time for air duct cleaning include visible dust on or around the air vents, musty odors when the system is running, and a sudden decrease in indoor air quality. Also, if you have pets, frequent sneezing or other respiratory symptoms at home may be caused by dander and other allergens accumulating in the ducts.
Location & Features of Your Apartment
If your building is located near busy roads, construction sites, or other sources of air pollution, the ducts can become dirty much faster than in other areas. Additionally, the ducts can become more contaminated over time if you live in an older building without maintenance.
In addition to the environmental factors mentioned above, determining the need for air duct cleaning in commercial buildings also depends on the size and use of the facility. For example, many people’s offices must have their ducts cleaned more frequently than other spaces with fewer occupants.
In addition, if the building has a restaurant, spa, or hotel on site, those facilities may need their ducts cleaned more regularly than other businesses. These businesses can serve as breeding grounds for bacteria and mold that can be spread to other parts of the building, causing sickness in visitors or employees.
Stale or Musty Smell
Mildew and mold growth are telltale signs that your air ducts need cleaning. The moisture and humidity within air ducts provide ideal conditions for these fungi, which then circulate through your home, creating unpleasant and potentially dangerous odors.
Mildew and mold emit toxic spores that can cause respiratory ailments when inhaled, particularly for individuals suffering from allergies or asthma. If this applies to you, take particular care if any members of your household suffer from breathing conditions like allergies or asthma.
Once you detect musty smells in your home or business, you must address them quickly. Otherwise, the problem could recur and grow even worse over time.
One way of assessing whether your air ducts need cleaning is to pull out and inspect your air filter. If dust doesn’t come off even when running the furnace or using a vacuum cleaner, professional inspection, and air duct cleaning services may be required—possibly caused by poorly functioning vents, blocked airflow, or something similar.
Increased Allergies Because of Dirty Ducts
If your family suffers from allergies, cleaning your ducts can significantly improve air quality in your home. Dust, dirt, pet dander, and mold spores that collect in clogged ducts can recirculate throughout your living spaces and irritate the respiratory systems of anyone occupying them.
If your home has noticed increased dust around its air supply and return vents, especially near its air supply and return vents, it could be a signal that your ductwork needs cleaning. If this dust settles into black or brown hues, it could indicate mildew and mold, potentially leading to asthma, allergies, and other respiratory illnesses.
An increase in energy bills may also indicate that your ducts are dirty, as clogged ducts require maintaining your HVAC system to work harder to move air conditioning throughout your home. Furthermore, pests like mice or rats often take refuge in warm and cozy ducts, leaving droppings and other unpleasant debris behind. There are lots of benefits to cleaning ducts, as it will eliminate these rodents and their unpleasant odors while preventing their entrance into living spaces.
Pest Infestations
Attracted by the decline of natural ecosystems and shifting food sources, pests seek shelter in homes and commercial buildings from harsh weather and limited resources. Rats, mice, cockroaches, dust mites, and other insects seek moist environments to reproduce.
Pests that enter your home can leave their droppings all over surfaces, fabrics, and air to spread bacteria, viruses, and other potentially hazardous agents that pose structural damage, electrical hazards, or other safety concerns.
The easiest way to identify pest infestations quickly and efficiently is to observe their waste: small rice-shaped droppings or pencil-sized tunnels made of soil and wood with small rice-shaped openings at their ends. You should also check cupboards or any hidden spaces for signs of rodent feces, insect wings, and shed skin from rodents or insects.
Mold growth is another telltale sign of a dirty duct system, particularly in damp areas with inadequate ventilation or circulation. Mold typically appears as dark spots on walls, floors, and air vents; its toxic spores release harmful substances that exacerbate allergies, asthma, and other health conditions.
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Dusty Vent Covers
If you notice dust-covered furniture or baseboards near air vents, it is likely time to clean air ducts. Dirty air ducts push dirt into living spaces through ventilation covers, aggravating allergies and asthma symptoms.
Dirty vent covers make it harder for HVAC systems to operate effectively, so you have to maintain your HVAC system properly. This forces your system to work harder to keep your home’s temperature within range, ultimately increasing energy costs.
Dark lines on vents indicate visible mold growth within your ductwork. In most cases, this requires professional inspection and air duct cleaning; otherwise, the issue will likely recur quickly.
We advise having your ducts professionally cleaned every three to five years, as this can eliminate mold growth, improve airflow, reduce allergens in your home, and replace flexible plastic ducts as soon as they show any sign of wear and tear.
Conclusion
Air ducts accumulate dust and other pollutants over time, necessitating regular air duct cleaning. If left neglected, poor air quality could worsen and create serious health risks for residents of your building. If your energy bill has increased significantly, mold has started growing, or you hear scratching noises coming from the vents, it may be time for a duct cleaning.
Green Street HVAC: Professional Duct Cleaning Services
Experience top-notch duct cleaning services with Green Street HVAC. Our expert team specializes in AC installation, repair, and preventative maintenance, ensuring your system runs efficiently year-round. We also offer services for heat pumps, keeping your home comfortable in any season. Join our Comfort Club for exclusive benefits and priority service. Trust Green Street HVAC Company for all your heating and cooling needs. Contact us today.
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