Don’t let dirty air ducts reduce your HVAC system’s performance. Contact Topline Heating & Air at (717) 628-6825 for duct cleaning services.
Most homes with centralized heating and cooling systems rely on elaborate ductwork networks to transport warmed or chilled air to different rooms. Air ducts are easy to overlook, but they play an integral role in your HVAC system and require regular maintenance and cleaning.
You might not know how often to clean air ducts to ensure they don’t hinder HVAC performance. However, you can trust Bethel’s skilled HVAC technicians at Topline Heating & Air to teach you everything you should know. Our guide below explains the importance of duct cleaning and when to schedule the service.
Why Is Air Duct Cleaning Necessary?
Before learning how often to clean air ducts, it’s essential to know how ductwork gets dirty. Air ducts are responsible for circulating air from a building’s furnace, air conditioner, or heat pump. Maintaining a comfortable indoor temperature will be challenging without the ductwork and its air vents.
A network of air ducts can easily collect dust, pollen, dander, hair, and other airborne debris. As the HVAC system pumps air through the vents, accumulations will build, and loose particles will spread around the house.
Periodically cleaning your air ducts offers several benefits, including:
- Indoor air quality improvement
- Fresher-smelling air
- Removal of airborne irritants and allergens
Cleaning air ducts also boosts an HVAC system’s efficiency. Substantial debris accumulations will impede airflow, reducing the unit’s ability to cool or warm every room without consuming excessive energy.
When Should You Clean Your Air Ducts?
When wondering how often to clean air ducts, you might assume you need to do the service frequently, but that’s not typically the case. Unlike air filters that need changing at least once every 90 days, you might not need to remove dirt in air ducts as frequently.
To get a better idea of when you should remove dirt, dust, and debris from air ducts, consider the following situations that would benefit from the service.
1. A New Home or Changes to Your Current Residence
It’s best to schedule a duct cleaning service whenever you move into a new house. You might not know the previous owner’s air duct cleaning habits, which means the ductwork could have serious clogs and accumulations. Previous homes of smokers, pet owners, and individuals who did not clean their air ducts in at least three years can leave behind air ducts in serious need of a thorough cleaning.
You should also request the service if you build a new home. The ductwork can collect a surprising amount of drywall dust and other particles. Unless you clean the air ducts before moving into the house, your HVAC unit can quickly blow the debris around the house, reducing indoor air quality.
2. Visible Mold in the HVAC System
Moisture can also collect inside the ductwork. The water comes from condensation that forms because of the hot and cold temperatures inside the air ducts. Condensate typically isn’t a problem because it’s a natural occurrence, but moisture and mold spores can cause trouble.
Mold spores are everywhere, and they are not problematic at acceptable levels. When the spores settle around the moisture inside the air ducts and feed on organic debris, mold and mildew will grow.
Mold and mildew can negatively impact your health. They can also spread quickly, leading to substantial property damage and the need for professional mold removal and remediation.
If you see mold inside or around your HVAC system or detect a musty odor around your air vents, your ductwork likely has a mold problem. You’ll need professional services to eliminate the mold, sanitize the area, and clean the ducts to prevent the problem from reoccurring.
3. Excessive Dust Inside Your House
Scheduling air duct cleaning services is unnecessary for a minor amount of dust, hair, and other airborne debris. You should contact a duct cleaning professional if your ductwork has a substantial accumulation of allergens and pollutants.
You can tell if your air ducts are full of dust if you notice the following:
- Visible puffs of dust from air vents when the HVAC system runs
- Constant layer of dust on surfaces around the house
- Increased allergy symptoms
- Clogged air vents and registers
A light dusting of dirt inside your air ducts is negligible. However, your heating and cooling system can start overworking itself to force air past the substantial dust buildups. As a result, the HVAC system will increase your monthly energy bills due to its additional energy consumption, and its components can wear down more quickly.
4. Pest Infestation
Dust and moisture can attract more than mold to your air ducts, such as pests like rodents, cockroaches, fleas, and other insects. Not only will the water and debris provide sustenance to the critters, but the air ducts will also give them a safe way to travel throughout your house.
If you see any sign of rodents around your HVAC system, such as droppings, gnawed wiring, and nests, it’s safe to assume they’re also inside your air ducts. After hiring an exterminator to get rid of the pests, you should clean the air ducts to ensure they don’t contain a trace of the infestation.
5. Sudden or Worsening Allergy-like Symptoms
Common allergy symptoms include:
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Itchy eyes
- Runny nose
- Difficulty breathing
A sudden appearance of allergy symptoms while indoors or the worsening of existing problems could be due to dirty air ducts and vents. Because the dirt inside the ducts will circulate throughout the house, high levels of airborne allergens can make you feel sick.
Call Topline Heating & Air Today for Reliable HVAC Services
At Topline Heating & Air, our licensed and certified technicians go the extra mile to ensure our clients receive the best heating, cooling, and ventilation services in Bethel, PA, and neighboring communities. Our comprehensive services include air conditioning maintenance services, indoor air quality testing, and more. We also know how often to clean air ducts and easily handle the task.
Call (717) 628-6825 today to request an appointment with Topline Heating & Air.