Most homeowners know that it is important to clean their air ducts at some point but they do not know the signs that show it is time to do duct cleaning. Dirty air ducts mean that the quality of air inside is low because the air ducts are the major pathways for the air that gets inside the house. It is important for homeowners to keep the air inside as fresh as possible for a comfortable home.
The HVAC system regulates and circulates the air from the air ducts as it regulates the temperature inside. When doing duct cleaning homeowners should also consider HVAC cleaning. Contaminated air eventually results in respiratory issues which cost health bills. Here are the signs that you need to get local contractors to clean your air ducts.
- The Presence Of Dirt, Fur, And Dust
It is very obvious for the air ducts to accumulate dust just like any other home surface. Dust is very common especially if your home is located in an area that is dusty.
One way of knowing that your air ducts are dusty is if you keep on dusting the surfaces in your home but dust keeps on accumulating almost immediately. No matter how clean you are, if you do not do duct cleaning for dusty air ducts your surfaces will always be dusty.
If you have pets or there are animals that live near your home their fur is also likely to find its way into the air ducts. If you realize you are sneezing more often when in your home you should inspect the air ducts for the presence of fur or hair.
You can also know that it is time to clean your air ducts if you can notice visible dirt on the air vents. If you can see dirt from both the inside and the outside, you should consider both duct and HVAC cleaning.
- Mold
If any kind of moisture finds its way into the air ducts, molds are likely to grow. This happens in homes that are located in moist areas most of the time.
Mold is very dangerous as it affects the air quality and can be a possible cause of respiratory diseases. Mold spreads easily from the air ducts to other parts of the house and when it finds its way to the inside it makes your home look ugly.
You can notice there is mold if you realize there is a musty smell from the inside of your home. Once you realize the musty smell, you should immediately do an inspection on the air ducts to determine whether there is mold or the musty smell is from other causes.
Duct cleaning does not prevent the growth of mold. You will be required to determine the source of moisture that is resulting in mold growth and eliminate it.
If you do not know how to do an inspection to determine whether there is mold on the air ducts, there is usually no harm in getting a professional to do it for you.
- Accelerating Energy Bills
High energy bills than usual are a sign that the HVAC system is doing more than it is required to in an effort to regulate the temperatures inside.
The most obvious cause of the HVAC system overworking is if dirty. When the air ducts are dirty, they transfer the dirt to the HVAC system during air circulation.
When the HVAC system is overworking, it means it is active for long hours in an effort to regulate the temperatures. This means that it is drawing more power than usual and this is what leads to higher energy bills.
However, in some cases, it is not only the contaminants and the dirt in the air ducts and the HVAC that makes it overwork. Sometimes the ductwork might have leakages that may lead to energy loss somewhere along the process of temperature regulation.
Leakages on the ductwork could be resulting from rodents that made holes by biting the insulation material or the ductwork.
- Allergic Reactions
If you are experiencing allergic reactions such as regular sneezing that is persistent when you are inside your home, it is a sign that you should do both duct cleaning and HVAC cleaning.
