Jump to any reason on why clean your air ducts:
- Air duct cleaning can get rid of dust mites and reduce allergies
- Cleaning your air ducts can reduce air pollution in your home
- Air duct cleaning increases the efficiency of your HVAC system
- Air duct cleaning refreshes a home you're buying or selling
- Cleaning your air ducts regularly saves money
Do you really need to clean your air ducts?
– Yes, Here’s Why! Your HVAC unit utilizes a system of tubes called air ducts to circulate cooled or heated air throughout your home. When your ducts are piled with dust and debris, it only makes sense to give them a good cleaning, so the air you breathe not only comes out cleaner but smoother.
Why do you need to get your air ducts cleaned?
- Dirt and dust restrict your HVAC system's heating and cooling. ...
- Dirt and dust restrict air flow. ...
- The longer your HVAC system operates, the more wear and tear it undergoes. ...
Why clean air ducts could make you breathe easier?
Clean air ducts can prevent respiratory problems and help you breathe easier. The heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system in a home or workplace not only delivers the air that helps regulate the temperature and humidity, but it can also determine the quality of the air that you are breathing.
Why do I need to get my air ducts cleaned?
Why Should I Get My Air Ducts Cleaned?
- BETTER BREATHING. For people that suffer from chronic respiratory conditions, including allergies and COPD, there’s nothing more important than maintaining the air quality in their home.
- BOOST EFFICIENCY. ...
- COMBAT MOLD AND ELIMINATE SMELLS. ...
- SCHEDULE AIR DUCT CLEANING. ...
Does cleaning air ducts really make a difference?
Duct cleaning has never been shown to actually prevent health problems. Neither do studies conclusively demonstrate that particle (e.g., dust) levels in homes increase because of dirty air ducts or go down after cleaning.
What happens if air ducts are not cleaned?
Over time, without proper air duct cleaning and maintenance, the moisture will start to grow mold and mildew. The real problem here is due to what your ducts do: disperse air throughout a structure. If you have moldy air ducts, that mold is going to be blown all through your home or business.
How do I know if my air ducts need to be cleaned?
If you see dust and dirt both inside and outside — especially by the vents that blow cool air out — your ducts most likely need to be cleaned. To prevent future dust buildup, make sure you replace your HVAC system air filters frequently. You can also run an air purifier.
Why is it important to clean your air ducts?
When neglected, the air ducts may accumulate dust particles, pollen, mold, and other debris. Once you turn on the HVAC system, it recirculates the pollutants, which impact the comfort of your house and affects your family member's health. You, therefore, need to clean the ductwork often to prevent pollutant buildup.
How often should air ducts be cleaned in a house?
every 3 to 5 yearsJust like any other HVAC system, air ducts require regular maintenance to ensure maximum efficiency. As a general rule of thumb, the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) recommends air duct cleaning every 3 to 5 years. With certain methods, that cleaning recommendation can be extended to 6 to 8 years.
What are the pros and cons of duct cleaning?
Air Duct Cleaning Pros and ConsIncrease efficiency and lifespan of your HVAC. ... Eliminating the risk of dangerous diseases. ... A hygiene environment without allergens. ... Get rid of unpleasant odours. ... Don't spend money every year. ... A visual inspection is not possible. ... Some systems might need replacement. ... It was just a change of filter.
How long does it take to clean air ducts in a house?
two to three hoursHow Long Does Air Duct Cleaning Service Take? Air duct cleaning takes anywhere between an hour and a full day (or more, in commercial HVAC systems cleaning). A standard air duct cleaning would be two to three hours and would cover the HVAC unit, the main return, the vents in the rooms and the air ducts themselves.
Does air duct cleaning make a mess?
Duct cleaning can make a mess if not done professionally. Remember, cleaning your ducts involves removing the dirt from the ductwork and directing it to another place for safe disposal. If the process is done professionally, air pollutants accumulated in your air ducts will be disposed of properly.
How can I clean my ductwork myself?
How to Clean Your Air DuctsRemove vent covers and wash them. Remove your vent covers with your screwdriver. ... Cover vent openings with paper towels. Cover the openings to your supply registers with a few paper towels. ... Loosen the dust. ... Vacuum it up. ... Change your air filter. ... Replace vent covers.
Why does my house get so dusty?
Both low humidity and high humidity play a role in why your house is so dusty. When the air is dry, your air can be extra dusty. But when it's too high, it can feed mites and promote mold growth. If your air is dry, run a humidifier so that you can reach a comfortable level.
Can dirty air ducts make you sick?
In homes with dirty air ducts, occupants may experience symptoms that are similar to the symptoms of allergies, including coughing, sneezing, and runny nose. Mold, dust and other contaminants lurking in your ducts could also cause sore throat, headaches and even dizziness.
Can dirty air ducts make you sick?
In homes with dirty air ducts, occupants may experience symptoms that are similar to the symptoms of allergies, including coughing, sneezing, and runny nose. Mold, dust and other contaminants lurking in your ducts could also cause sore throat, headaches and even dizziness.
What happens when air ducts are dirty?
Develop Respiratory Infections, Disease If your family is getting sick more than normal, experiencing coughing, sneezing, sore throats, runny noses, nasal congestion, headaches, and low-grade fevers, they may have upper respiratory infections as a result of dirty air ducts.
Does cleaning air ducts help with allergies?
An air duct system cleaning is usually recommended for people who are experiencing allergies or asthma symptoms. This should be done on a regular basis as it can not only help reduce the number of allergens in your home but also help provide relief from allergy and asthma triggers.
Why do we clean air ducts?
Jump to any reason on why clean your air ducts: Air duct cleaning can get rid of dust mites and reduce allergies. Cleaning your air ducts can reduce air pollution in your home. Air duct cleaning increases the efficiency of your HVAC system. Air duct cleaning refreshes a home you're buying or selling. Cleaning your air ducts regularly saves money.
Why is air duct cleaning important?
5 Reasons Why Air Duct Cleaning is Worth It. Air ducts are the lungs of your home - whatever they breathe in, you breathe in too. An air duct system not only circulates air but also particles like dust mites, dirt, and mold.
Why do you need to clean your air ducts when you sell your house?
It could possibly be the first time the home has had the air ducts properly cleaned. Additionally, if you’re selling your home, air duct cleaning ensures that you are leaving the place in the best possible condition and helping the HVAC system work efficiently. Lastly, with buying and selling typically comes renovations and construction is a big source of dust and irritants entering into our home’s airways.
How to get rid of dust mites in air ducts?
Cleaning your air ducts is a great way to get rid of dust mites and get back to fresher breathing. However, be sure to research what air duct cleaning methods a company uses. Some air duct cleaning methods use chemical sealants to clean air ducts. This can lead to more irritation once the sealants break down over time and start circulating back ...
How much does it cost to replace an HVAC system?
Air duct cleaning may seem like a big expense, but it’s a smart investment compared to the cost of replacing an HVAC system which can average between $4,800 to $9,300 in installation.
What is the most common type of contamination in air ducts?
Lastly, with buying and selling typically comes renovations. Construction debris is one of the most common types of contamination found in air duct systems. Fine particulates, such as drywall dust or sawdust, as well as other materials, can make their way into your system when the construction crews are working and cleaning up. Air duct cleaning helps remove this large buildup for a total home refresh.
What is the nature of air?
IAQ is the nature of air as it affects our health and well-being in our homes. It is impacted by your indoor environment with factors such as inadequate temperature, poor air circulation, and ventilation system issues. Air contaminants like chemicals, dust, molds, bacteria and others also play a role. If your home has poor IAQ, you may experience ...
How does duct cleaning work?
Please understand that duct cleaning uses specialized tools to agitate and dislodge dirt in the ducts to make the dirt and other contaminants increasingly loose and airborne before they are vacuumed out. Sometimes the ducts are cut for tool access and needs to be carefully resealed.
What is duct cleaning?
NADCA recommends duct cleaning as part of an overall HVAC system cleaning that includes cleaning and replacing the air filter, cleaning grilles and diffusers, checking drain pans and drain lines for proper drainage, checking the heat exchanger and cooling coils, grills, furnace air plenum, blower motor, etc.
What causes air ducts to be contaminated?
Air ducts can be contaminated with mold, bacteria, pollen, dust mites, chemical residue, and other household pollutants. A malfunctioning HVAC system, ineffective air filters, improperly installed ductwork, and moisture buildup all can cause air duct contamination. For example, if the vacuum hose/containment system is not sealed tightly ...
How to minimize risk of HVAC system cleaning?
How to Minimize Risk If You Are Going to Have Your HVAC System Cleaned. Start by selecting and using a qualified contractor. Duct and HVAC system cleaning that is performed by someone who is trained and certified by the National Air Duct Cleaning Association (NADCA) has the best chance of being done safely.
What is an ASCS in HVAC?
According to NADCA, the major trade association for contractors doing air duct/HVAC system cleaning, its members need to have at least one certified Air Systems Cleaning Specialist (ASCS) on staff and they are responsible to clean and restore a customer’s HVAC system accordance with the association’s standards and guidelines. 2
Why do dust particles in homes increase?
Neither do studies conclusively demonstrate that particle (e.g., dust) levels in homes increase because of dirty air ducts. This is because much of the dirt in air ducts adheres to duct surfaces and does not necessarily enter the living space.” 1 .
How much does it cost to replace an air filter?
Replace air filter or wash permanent media air filter. Be prepared to pay around $500 to $1,000 for a professional duct/HVAC system cleaning service. It could be more or less depending on the location, size of your home, and scope of what is cleaned.
Why is it important to clean HVAC?
When an HVAC system is clean, it doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain the temperature you desire. As a result, less energy is used, leading to improved cost-effectiveness.
Why is my HVAC system dirty?
Contaminants in the heating and cooling system cause it to work harder and shorten the life of your system. Although filters are used, the heating and cooling system still gets dirty through normal use. When an HVAC system is clean, it doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain the temperature you desire.
What is indoor air quality?
Indoor air quality is one concern that homeowners have when they decide to investigate air duct cleaning. Your heating and cooling system is the lungs of your home. The system takes air in and breathes air out.
How often does a home HVAC system recirculate?
These contaminants are pulled into the HVAC system and re-circulated 5 to 7 times per day, on average. Over time, this re-circulation causes a build-up of contaminants in the duct work.
Do you have to inspect HVAC ducts?
NADCA’s rule of thumb for consumers is that “if your air ducts look dirty, they probably are,” and that dirty HVAC systems should be inspected by a reputable, certified HVAC professional. Below are some other reasons homeowners choose to have their air ducts cleaned.
Is air duct cleaning good for asthma?
Some occupants are more sensitive to these contaminants than others. Allergy and asthma sufferers , as well as young children and the elderly tend to be more susceptible to the types of poor indoor air quality that air duct cleaning can help address.
Can you find a certified air duct cleaning professional?
When you’re ready to tackle those air ducts, make sure you choose a qualified contractor to ensure the job is done right. NADCA makes it really simple for homeowners to find a certified air duct cleaning professional. All it takes is a zip code to search our online directory to find a NADCA member in your area.
What to do if you have mold in your air ducts?
If you do have mold in your air ducts, it’s important to take action quickly to preserve your home’s indoor air quality. An air duct cleaning technician will be able to identify and remediate any mold issues, and also help to prevent its return. In addition to duct cleaning, you should also take additional precautions against excess moisture in ...
How to prevent dust buildup in HVAC system?
To prevent future dust buildup, make sure you replace your HVAC system air filters frequently. You can also run an air purifier. Both filters and air purifiers work with your HVAC system to trap a variety of airborne particles like dust, tobacco smoke, and bacteria before they enter the ductwork.
Why is my furnace ductwork dirty?
At times, ductwork can become so dirty that air isn’t able to flow freely and efficiently through your home’s HVAC system. When this happens, both your furnace and air conditioner are forced to work harder to maintain a comfortable temperature.
What happens if you leak in your ductwork?
Any leaks you have in your ductwork is lost energy, decreasing the efficiency and increasing your energy bill. Hiring an air duct technician to clean your ducts won’t only remove harmful contaminants, but can also rule out potential leaks.
What happens when rodents enter ductwork?
When rodents find their way into your ductwork, they make nests and leave droppings behind, sending tiny fecal spores sweeping along the ducts. These spores can then make their way into your home and contaminate the quality of the air you breathe.
How do you know if you have rodents in your ductwork?
If rodents are in your ductwork, they will leave some telltale signs — not only will you see droppings, you may find chewed up materials or unpleasant smells, all of which indicate an infestation. Keep in mind that a rodent infestation might require more than air duct cleaning!
Can mold be found in ductwork?
Your heating and cooling system can develop condensation, leading to the growth of mold in your ductwork (especially if you live in a humid climate). You may spot mold around your vent covers, but unfortunately, many components of your heating and cooling system aren’t easily accessible, so mold in your air ducts is especially difficult to detect visually. However, while mold can be difficult to see, it usually presents itself in the form of a musty odor.
Is your home dustier than normal?
In most homes, the furnace re-circulates the air in your home 5 to 7 times per day. If the air ducts in your home are full of dust and allergens, when the furnace blower turns on it is pushing air through a dirty duct and increasing the likelihood of a dusty indoor environment. Maintaining clean air ducts reduces the chance of debris in your air ducts becoming loose and entering your home.
Is your furnace filter getting dirty quicker than normal?
One of the easiest ways to tell if your home has excessive amounts of dust in the air ducts and the indoor environment is if your furnace filter is dirtier than normal when you change it. In most homes changing the furnace filter every 3 months is adequate, but if you find you are having to change it more often or the filter is clogged at the 3-month mark, it’s time to have your air ducts inspected and most likely cleaned.
Why is it important to clean HVAC ducts?
More energy efficiency, reducing your energy bills. Lower likelihood of respiratory and allergy problems. Less dust makes it easier to clean and maintain your home's living space. A proper cleaning of your HVAC ducts is not a do-it-yourself project, nor a job for a cheap guy with an air compressor in a minivan, either.
How much air does a portable duct cleaner move?
On average, a portable system uses a small compressor to move 250 cubic feet of air per minute (CFM).
How does dust affect HVAC?
Inside your HVAC system, fine dust collects on air duct surfaces, vents, motors and coils. Flakes of dead skin, hair and pet dander catch onto the dust, and before too long this process creates a dense, mat-like environment where bacteria, mold, dust mites and allergens can flourish. Air filters remove most of these from the air stream, but not for all parts of the HVAC system. That's why it's important to periodically check the condition of your air ducts to see if they could use air duct cleaning services.
Why won't my air conditioner turn on?
But if the blower fan or motor can't turn because of dirt or the air filter is clogged with dust, then the system can't effectively circulate that properly warmed or cooled air through out your home.
How much suction does a duct cleaner have?
Larger duct cleaning systems mounted in trailers or vans usually rely on low horsepower engine compressors and generate more suction, usually 400 - 1,000 CFM. While that's an improvement over a portable system and might perform adequately for smaller homes, they are too underpowered for the average residential system.
How to tell if furnace is dusty?
Open the furnace compartment. Examine the blower fan and motor for signs of dust as well as the furnace controls. The more dust you see, the bigger the problem you have.
How does long run time affect HVAC?
The longer your HVAC system operates, the more wear and tear it undergoes. Long run times can shorten the overall life time of HVAC systems, from AC compressors to hydro pumps, burners, and motor bearings. You'll wear out your home's HVAC system sooner.
How much does duct cleaning cost?
Legitimate duct-cleaning services average $500 to $1,500, depending on the size of the home. Once scammers get in the door, they often claim to find mold in the ducts and then demand more money to remove it.
Why do you need to change the air filter in an HVAC system?
Changing air filters when they become dusty is the best protection against dust entering the system.
What does it mean when your furnace smells?
If you notice a moldy or musty smell every time the furnace or AC is running, call a professional HVAC or duct-cleaning company.
Does dust go in ductwork?
While it’s true that the ductwork in your home may contain dust, the particulates often adhere to the inside of the ducts and are not dislodged when the furnace or air conditioner is running. Carpeting, upholstery, and drapes may contain higher levels of dust particles, and just walking around the room can stir up more dust than ...
Can HVAC ducts be cleaned?
Only qualified HVAC inspection and cleaning technicians can safely clean the ducts and exhaust the air to the outside of your home. In addition, some types of ducts, such as insulated and flexible ducts, can be damaged by an untrained technician, leaving you to pay for expensive duct repairs. Advertisement.
Can a scammer clean ducts?
Untrained technicians or scammers who lack the right vacuuming equipment to safely clean the ducts can dislodge dust that was previously adhered to the inside of the ducts and release it into your home. Only qualified HVAC inspection and cleaning technicians can safely clean the ducts and exhaust the air to the outside of your home.
Is duct cleaning a good idea?
In certain cases, discussed below, duct-cleaning is a good idea. 3. Finding dust buildup on registers doesn’t mean dust is in the ducts. A common sales tactic used by scammers is to point out a layer of dust on the return registers (the louvered metal grilles covering return-air ducts).
Why do HVAC companies clean ducts?
Most HVAC companies will push duct cleaning as a solution to improving indoor air quality, but fail to mention that this service can cause major damage to duct systems that will require repairs in the future.
Why don't we clean ducts in Houston?
However, air duct cleaning can do more harm to your ducts than good. Most Houston residents choose to get their air ducts cleaned because they have old ducts that have been sitting in their attic or inside their walls ...
What is flex duct?
Flex ducts consist of a spring that is wrapped with a very fragile layer of plastic. A layer of insulation covers this thin layer of plastic and blocks the heat from getting in or out of the duct. Around that is the outside cover of the duct itself. Over the years the fragile layer of plastic surrounding the spring has only become even more ...
What causes condensation in ducts?
The Correlation Between Duct Cleaning and Mold. When the cold air from your air conditioning and the heat from your attic combine it causes condensation. The moisture that is collected over time provides a good breeding ground for algae or mold to grow.
Why is my vacuum cleaner cracking?
Problems With Vacuum Cleaning - most duct systems are very old, and the vacuum cleaning method causes a rapid increase or decrease of pressure inside the duct. This causes the fragile plastic to stretch and crack.
Is duct cleaning harmful?
If there is mold in your walls or attic, duct cleaning can pose a health risk because it could cause very small mold particles to be dispersed in the air around your home.
Can air ducts be moved?
These ducts have likely never been moved since they were installed. There is a great risk that the fragile layer of plastic will break when these air ducts are moved for cleaning years after installation. Since the ducts are surrounded by a cover, these breaks will not be noticeable by merely looking at them.