Maintaining and taking care of your HVAC system can be confusing. If left unchecked, dirty air ducts can affect indoor air quality and your health in a variety of ways.
You might be asking: How do I know if my air ducts need to be cleaned?
Here are five signs you can look for that might mean it’s time to clean them.
1. Visible Mold
Depending on where you live, it may be easy for your HVAC system to develop condensation. This can then lead to the growth of mold, especially if you live in a humid climate.
When you first suspect that you have a mold problem, find an expert to come to take a look. A member of the Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) will be able to tell you exactly how serious the problem is.
Mold found on the surface of your furnace or air conditioner doesn’t mean that there is certainly mold inside the air ducts, but it does increase the chances.
2. Dust That Won’t Go Away
Dusting is a tedious task even for those who enjoy cleaning. If you find yourself continually dusting coats of dust off surfaces only to have them quickly come back, it may be a sign of dirty air ducts.
Look at and inside the vents around your house. If you can visibly see dust covering the metal, it may be time for some duct cleaning.
3. Problems With Pests
Pests like mice and insects love air ducts. If your home has recently suffered from a pest infestation, they may also have made their way inside them.
Even after the pests are gone, any nests and waste products left behind can still leave a mess. A good vent cleaning will take care of these parting gifts and will end your pest problem in the process.
4. Recent Construction/Renovation
Even when working with diligent contractors, construction and home renovations are messy processes.
Dust, and a variety of other types of debris, will cover everything. They can also easily make it into your HVAC system.
Breathing in these sorts of particles can cause severe respiratory problems. Don’t wait until these symptoms begin to show to get around to cleaning your home’s air ducts.
Clean them before then!
5. Increased Heating/Cooling Costs
Your home’s heating and cooling costs should be roughly the same from year to year. If you see a sudden increase in costs, it may be a sign that you need to clean your air ducts.
In some serious cases, dirt and debris can build up to a point where air can no longer flow effectively. This, in turn, causes your HVAC system to work harder, increasing costs in the process.
Air duct cleaning will ensure that all air can flow freely and without a problem.
How Do I Know If My Air Ducts Need to Be Cleaned?
When asking the question, “How do I know if my air ducts need to be cleaned?”, there are a variety of things you can look for.
If you are still uncertain as to if it’s time for a cleaning, Design Air can help.
Contact us today for any of your air conditioning and heating needs.
