Have you ever thought about how little of your house you really see on a daily basis? Sure, you can dust your bookshelves, mop the kitchen floor, and wipe up the sink — but inside the ductwork, behind your walls, dust, debris, and even mold could be growing unnoticed.
Should you have your home air ducts cleaned? Let’s take a look at a few reasons to do so and what kind of benefits you might see.
What is Air Duct Cleaning?
Air duct cleaning is the cleaning of various heating and cooling system components (usually forced/central air), including the supply and return air ducts, heat exchangers, heating and cooling coils, and more.
It’s most often recommended immediately after a family moves into a newly-built home, as plenty of construction debris can end up in the air ducts, bringing down the air quality in a new home you only just got the chance to enjoy.
It’s also suggested at semi-regular intervals every few years after that, to ensure the highest possible indoor air quality and prevent pollutants from building up.
What Kind of Pollutants End Up in Your Air Ducts?
We mentioned debris from home construction (which could range from sawdust to empty potato chip bags), but the simple debris of everyday life can also build up in your air ducts and begin to affect home indoor air quality!
Especially during spring, summer, and early fall, windows open to catch a cool breeze could easily be letting in more than just the wind.
Some pollutants that end up in home air ducts include:
- dust
- pet dander
- dirt
- particles from pesticides and herbicides
In some cases, moisture in your air ducts could lead to mold growth, and this should be considered if your family is prone to allergies or seems to always be sneezing and coughing indoors.
Does Air Duct Cleaning Provide Any Benefits?
The biggest benefit that comes from having your home air ducts cleaned is improved air quality! You’ll breathe easier indoors without all that dust, debris, and pollution lurking in your air ducts, and it can help your HVAC technician discover mold growth before it becomes a seriously expensive emergency fix.
You may also notice lower energy bills! All that buildup inside your air ducts can force your HVAC system to work harder and harder to get the same amount of air to every room. If you’ve noticed a slow uptick in your bills every year, you may want to consider having your air ducts inspected and cleaned to ensure more efficient heating and cooling.
How Much Does Home Air Duct Cleaning Cost?
The costs vary immensely based on home size, date of construction, and whether or not any air duct cleaning has been performed in the past. Odds are good any quote you find online is going to be wildly inaccurate, since it won’t take into account any unique details about your home.
It’s worth giving your local HVAC repair company (we like to think that’s us) a call to get an accurate quote.
Make Air Duct Cleaning Part of Your Preventative Maintenance Tuneup
Our Gold Star Members receive two preventative maintenance HVAC checkups each year, and if you’re concerned about your home indoor air quality, ask us about adding on an air duct cleaning while we’re at your house.
If you’re not a Gold Star Member yet, you can learn more about becoming a member right here, or you can always schedule a preventative maintenance visit even without a membership. We’re always happy to help!
Give Donnelly’s Plumbing Heating and Cooling a call today at [hls_phone_number] or contact us online just by clicking the banner below.
