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Spring cleaning is an annual occurrence in Hanover. Gutters get cleaned, windows get washed, the siding gets rinsed, and clutter gets thrown out. You may wonder if you should add cleaning your air ducts to your spring cleaning chore list. You may be surprised to learn that your air ducts do not need to be cleaned as frequently as you think. This post will discuss how often air ducts should be cleaned and how having clean air ducts can improve your home’s air quality.
How Often Should You Clean Your Home’s Air Ducts?
If you’re thinking about cleaning your home’s air ducts, you have probably seen indications that your air ducts are not as clean as you would like them to be. You may even be concerned about your family’s health. You may be surprised to learn that under normal conditions, experts recommend that you have your air ducts cleaned once every three to five years. However, there are some exceptions.
According to the EPA and other air duct professionals, there are three primary reasons to have your air ducts cleaned more frequently. They are mold, vermin, and dust. If you see signs of mold growing on complex surfaces, like the interior sheet metal of your air duct, it’s time to contact the professionals at Beltway Air Conditioning & Heating and get them professionally cleaned.
If you hear rodents or see other indications of a pest infestation, including seeing their droppings, you want to have your ductwork cleaned immediately. Rat droppings can affect your family’s respiratory system. Finally, if your ducts are clogged with dust and debris to the point that you see that dust is coming out of the registers when you turn on your air conditioner, you need a professional cleaning.
What Is Air Duct Cleaning?
Duct cleaning typically describes cleaning the heating and cooling system and components of your home’s forced air system. This includes the air ducts, registers, diffusers, grills, heat exchangers, coils, drain pans, housing fans, fan motors, and more.
If your duct system is not operated or maintained correctly, it could become contaminated with dust particles and debris. If moisture is introduced, microbiological growth, such as mold, can grow.
Many contaminants increase your family’s chances of allergic reactions or symptoms. Cleaning your ducts includes cleaning all the system components your technician is qualified to do. If you don’t clean all the contaminated systems, re-contamination will happen as soon as you turn the system back on. This will negate all potential benefits of having the ductwork clean.
The methods used to clean ducts will vary depending on the specifics of your home’s HVAC system. At Beltway Air Conditioning & Heating, our technicians will use specialized tools to remove dirt and debris from the ducts and then use high-powered vacuum cleaners to remove the loosened debris.
Depending on the situation, service providers may apply chemical biocide to kill microorganisms and contaminants inside the ductwork and other components. Sealants and chemical treatments could be used to cover the inside surfaces of the ducts to control mold growth and dust accumulation.
When Is the Right Time to Have Your Air Ducts Cleaned?
The conditions in each home are different. It is impossible to create permanent standards about whether or not the air ducts in your home need to be cleaned. If no one in your home has allergies, unexplained illnesses, or respiratory issues, and if, after visually inspecting your air ducts, you don’t see large areas of contamination, you probably do not need to have your air ducts cleaned. On the other hand, if your family members have unusual symptoms or unexplained illnesses that you feel could be linked to your home environment, talk to us about having your air ducts examined and potentially cleaned.
Many people have the air ducts cleaned systematically every three or five years because logic dictates that air ducts get dirty over time and need to be cleaned occasionally. If you see substantial mold growth on air ducts or other parts of your heating and cooling system, it is a cause for concern that would merit having your ducts cleaned.
Several parts of your HVAC system are not easy to access and are not available for visible inspection. During your regularly scheduled maintenance, the technicians at Beltway Air Conditioning & Heating will evaluate your system and show you any mold deposits that might be growing. If you have insulated air ducts and the insulation is affected by moisture, it can get moldy. This cannot be cleaned. You will need to have the insulation replaced to correct the issue.
Additional Factors to Consider
If you decide to have your air ducts cleaned, you need to commit to a solid preventative maintenance program. This is key to minimizing duct contamination.
Use a high-quality, high-efficiency air filter to prevent excess dust from entering your ductwork. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when choosing the size and style. You should change your heating system filters regularly. If you notice that the filters are becoming clogged quickly, change them with greater frequency. Ensure that you’re not missing any filters and that the filters are correctly placed so that dust cannot just bypass the filter and get into your HVAC system.
When you have Beltway Air Conditioning & Heating’s technicians check your system or maintain your HVAC system, talk to us about how we clean coils and drain pans. This is a vital part of keeping debris out of your ductwork.
If you’re going to do renovation or construction in your home that produces a lot of dust, cover oversupply and return registers. Turn off your HVAC system until you have the dust cleaned up.
Make vacuuming and dusting a regular part of your home maintenance. Vacuuming your home with a low-quality vacuum cleaner can put more dust into the air, which will eventually find its way into your ducts. If possible, use a high-efficiency HEPA vacuum cleaner with high-quality filtered bags.
Many HVAC systems have an in-duct humidifier. Use this equipment strictly following the recommendations of the manufacturer. Sticking to a good preventative maintenance program is key to minimizing duct contamination when you choose to have your air ducts cleaned.
Moisture should never be present in ducts. If you notice water or any humidity in your ductwork, contact Beltway Air Conditioning & Heating. Our technicians will help you evaluate the source of the moisture and provide recommendations on keeping your ductwork clean.
We Live to Keep You Comfortable
At Beltway Air Conditioning & Heating, we are passionate about repairing, installing, and maintaining HVAC systems. We have been servicing the Hanover area for several years and have developed a reputation for providing top-notch HVAC services.
We are proud to offer dependable, energy-efficient products to our customers. Whether you need heat pumps, air conditioners, furnaces, or boilers, we have the devices to keep you comfortable all year. Our licensed, trained technicians offer speedy and dependable service.
Customer satisfaction is our number one priority as a locally owned and operated entity. Whether you need duct cleaning, custom ductwork, air purifiers, or whole house humidifiers, we are the only name you need to call for residential or commercial locations. Contact Beltway Air Conditioning & Heating today. We look forward to helping you make your home as comfortable as possible.
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