Should You Have the Air Ducts Cleaned in Your Home?
The idea of having your air ducts cleaned makes a lot of sense. After all, dust will naturally accumulate on any flat surface, including flat surfaces inside your home that you can’t see, like the air ducts. You might even consider having them cleaned on a regular basis. But is duct cleaning really necessary?
The debate on this topic has not been settled. In essence, there is no hard-and-fast rule about duct cleaning, so it’s up to you if and when you decide you should have them cleaned or not.
Here’s some more information about duct cleaning to help you make the decision that is right for you and your family.
Why air ducts need to be cleaned
Air ducts may need to be cleaned for a variety of reasons. First off, yes, they will get dusty. And yes, that dust can be blown throughout the house when the HVAC system is turned on, but that alone is not reason enough to spend the money to have your ducts cleaned—especially considering that the system has filters designed to capture most of that dust anyway.
What is worth considering is that duct cleaning is not something you want to handle on your own. It requires special tools as well as experience to do the job right. Plus, there’s a chance you could damage the air ducts or dislodge connections or tear walls in the system.
If you spot any evidence of mold in or around the air ducts, this may be an indicator that you should spring for a duct cleaning. Mold is not something that goes away easily, and if you spot it in one place, the odds are high that it may be in other places as well.
What is involved in air duct cleaning?
Duct cleaning generally includes the heating and cooling system and its components, like the supply and return air ducts and registers, as well as grilles and diffusers, heat exchangers, heating and cooling coils, fan motors and housing, condensate drip pans and the housing of the air-handling unit. Accumulation of moisture in these units can lead to mold buildup, which may be harmful for individuals with allergies.
If you choose to have an air duct cleaning performed, make sure to choose a reputable company with experience cleaning air ducts. Don’t be afraid to ask them questions about what will be involved in their work.
One thing you should expect as part of the cleaning is that the contractor will clean all the components of the system. If even one part is missed, it may mean that you will need to have the whole system cleaned again soon thereafter due to recontamination. The methods of cleaning may vary but may likely include a set of specialized tools as well as some type of vacuum to remove the debris permanently.
If you decide that you need duct cleaning, or if you’d like more information on the benefits of duct cleaning to see if it’s a good fit for you, contact Ahold of Mold Environmental today.
Categorised in: Air Quality
