Every person who buys and installs a new HVAC system at home gets a constant reminder from the supplier or manufacturer about duct cleaning. There always seems to be an emphasis on making sure that the home’s ductwork is regularly inspected and maintained. But as someone who isn’t an expert in heating and cooling systems, it is normal for you to ask questions. What if you just let the ducts work their thing and ignore them? What happens if you do not clean them?
Well, you should know that in one session of duct cleaning, an average of six pounds of dust and dirt is collected. Now if you do not clean them, just imagine how much dust and dirt you are collecting at home. The thing with every home, no matter how religious you are in keeping it clean, is that there always will be small particles brought by the circulation and distribution of air. This includes dust, dirt, pet dander, and pollen. As the furnace for heating or the air conditioning system draws air, airborne particles and debris is pulled, and they bring with them contaminants that eventually collect inside the ducts. When that happens, there is an eventual reduction of air flow and the comfort level inside your home decreases.
Similar to heating and cooling systems, the air ducts must be cleaned and maintained on a regular basis for them to perform at the optimum level. Likewise, keeping them clean corresponds to energy efficiency and the substantial improvement of air quality.
Air duct cleaning is a process that involves clearing of any debris from the air ducts, as well as the grilles, registers, and other parts of the forced air system. It is certainly a big challenge for an average homeowner to clean the ducts because they are mostly hidden behind the walls and ceilings. Hence, it is virtually impossible to manually clean them. Instead, you need to use vacuum and compression systems in order to successfully clean every part. In fact, this is the very reason why most home and property owners simply choose to hire the pros to clean the air ducts for them.
If you happen to have pets indoors or is quite sensitive to low indoor quality, it only means duct cleaning must be done frequently. Also, the ducts must be cleaned right after a major home renovation since all the dust produced will sit in your forced air system, waiting to be distributed once it is turned on.
Aside from maintaining good air quality, regular air duct cleaning also helps in boosting energy efficiency. When dust and debris collects and settled in the forced air system, they eventually restrict airflow from the components of the HVAC. When ducts are clogged, the heating system or air conditioning unit are forced to use more energy to be able to maintain a comfortable temperature inside. This only means that clean ducts play a very important role in achieving peak efficiency of your system at home.
Furthermore, regularly cleaned and maintained air ducts lead to better protection for your heating and cooling equipment. Every homeowner, including you, must understand that ignoring a dirty ventilation system lead to clogging in the air conditioner coils and contaminating the blower wheels. If either of those issues happens to you, it eventually leads to very costly repairs. Duct cleaning, even if you hire someone to do it, is obviously a lot more affordable compared to covering heating and cooling repairs. There really is nothing to worry about since there are numerous duct cleaning and maintenance companies out there for you to hire. They come equipped with the right tools and equipment to ensure that your ducts perform optimally as they are clean and free of any debris that could compromise the function of both the heating and cooling systems.