Did you know that millions of people suffer from uncomfortable symptoms due to indoor allergies? These hazardous culprits may include mold, animal dander, pollen, and dust mites. Unfortunately, your air duct system can recirculate many of these allergens, preventing you from getting any relief from your allergies.
Regular air duct cleaning can prevent allergy symptoms and offer additional home benefits. However, this process is often overlooked, resulting in a negative impact on your home. Ensure the air your ducts circulate is clean and debris-free by scheduling regular home air duct maintenance.
This blog will discuss the importance and benefits of air duct cleaning. We’ll also talk about our top tips for indoor air quality improvement.
What Are Air Duct Systems and How Do They Work?
If your home has central heat and air, your air ducts are key to keeping you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Air ducts are conduits that supply cool or warm air throughout your home. They facilitate the flow and regulation of air temperature within your home.
Air ducts are made from various materials, such as:
- Fiberglass
- Aluminum
- Galvanized steel
There are several types of air ducts commonly found in homes.
Fiberglass-Lined Air Ducts
Fiberglass-lined ducts are made from metal and have a fiberglass lining on the inside or outside of the duct. The fiberglass functions as a thermal and sound insulator.
It’s important to stay on top of maintenance for these types of ducts. The primary seal on these air ducts can wear down over time from extreme temperature fluctuations. Raw fiberglass fibers can enter the airstream when this happens.
Regular cleaning and maintenance schedules can catch and prevent these problems from worsening. You may need to repair or replace the liner.
Sheet Metal Ducts
Sheet metal ducts have various benefits over other types. These include:
- Easy to customize
- Non-porous
- Durable
Air duct manufacturing companies often make them from aluminum, stainless steel, or galvanized steel. Rust can form on these ducts without proper maintenance and cleaning. Even with that in mind, sheet metal ducts are easy to clean.
Flexible Air Ducts
Flexible air ducts are bendable since they’re lined with flexible polymer plastic with wire coils inside. HVAC techs typically use these air ducts when branching off the main HVAC system. They can quickly deliver warm or cool air to other spots in the home.
Fiberboard Air Ducts
Fiberboard air ducts are made from flat sheets of resin-bonded fiberglass. They have an antimicrobial coating on the interior and a vapor and air barrier on the outside.
How Air Ducts Accumulate Contaminants
There are multiple ways your air duct system can become dirty and contaminated. Understanding the various contamination sources can help you maintain a hygienic and healthy indoor air environment.
Dusty Home
It can be challenging to keep your home dust-free, especially if you live in a busy household. Tiny dust particles are known for floating through the air before they eventually settle in your duct system.
Once they get into your ducts, dust particles partner with moisture, creating the perfect environment for bacteria and mold to thrive. This can compromise your home’s indoor air quality and make you susceptible to illnesses.
Clogged Filters
Air filters are designed to capture a wide range of particles. These include:
- Pet dander
- Pollen
- Dust
- Mold spores
Air filters prevent harmful pollutants from entering your HVAC system and ductwork. However, they can accumulate debris over time, making it more challenging for them to trap contaminants effectively.
When your filters are clogged, your HVAC system must work harder to maintain the desired home temperature. This can cause higher-than-normal electricity bills and poor air quality. It is important to regularly clean and replace your air filters to prevent negative impacts on your duct system.
Construction Work
Debris and dust can find their way into your air ducts during construction and home renovation projects. Even if you seal off the construction areas, tiny particles can get into your HVAC system and contaminate your vents. Some of these items may include:
- Paint particles
- Insulation fibers
- Drywall dust
Ideally, you should hire a professional to clean your duct system after having construction work done on your home. Not only will your ducts get cleaned, they’ll also get sanitized.
Dirty Furnace
Furnaces can accumulate debris, dust, and dirt over time. These particles can settle in different parts of your furnace, such as the:
- Air handler
- Blower motor
- Heat exchanger
The furnace has the potential to transfer these particles throughout your ductwork whenever you turn it on. Dirty furnaces can compromise your system’s efficiency and decrease your indoor quality. Home air duct maintenance can also include the cleaning of your furnace to ensure your ducts don’t immediately get dirty after you have them cleaned.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Air Duct Cleaning
Air duct cleaning isn’t something homeowners should attempt on their own. Many HVAC companies offer air duct cleaning services to help keep your system well-maintained. They have specialized tools and knowledge to ensure they thoroughly clean your ducts and improve your air quality.
Air Duct Inspection
The air duct cleaning technician will start the process by inspecting the return and supply registers before cleaning. This enables them to determine how much particles have built up in the ducts. They can also check for other duct issues, such as leaks, that may need attention.
Negative Pressure Vacuum
Using negative pressure is a great way to have your duct system cleaned. It helps prevent you (and the technician) from breathing in polluted indoor air during cleaning.
The technician will hook the vacuum collection device’s hose to the air duct closest to the air handler. They will then cut a hole in the air duct before inserting the hose and tightly sealing it. They’ll seal the registers before turning on the vacuum unit and creating negative pressure.
The air duct cleaning tech will shut all the air supply registers to improve the negative pressure. They’ll then clean one duct at a time.
Dust Agitation
The cleaning specialist will use suction gear to clean the air ducts as they go through the cleaning process. Air-whipping tools and a revolving brush will work to stir up settled dust and get it sucked into the vacuum. They’ll also remove settled dust from the main lines, helping improve the vacuum’s efficiency.
HVAC System Cleaning
After cleaning the vents and ducts, the cleaning specialist will assess your HVAC system. All of the components should be cleaned, including the following:
- Evaporator coil
- Drain pan
- Blower motor
Cleaning these components contributes to indoor air quality improvement.
Potential Benefits of Air Duct Cleaning
Clean air ducts help prevent your home’s indoor air quality from getting compromised. There are numerous advantages you can experience from cleaning your air ducts.
Improved Air Quality
As we’ve talked about, your air ducts play a vital role in your home’s air quality. If they’re full of dust and other debris, your HVAC system will only recirculate those particles throughout your home. You’ll continue breathing them in if you don’t have your ducts cleaned.
Cleaning your ducts can remove these harmful pollutants from your air duct system. Your HVAC unit will circulate clean air, helping improve your family’s health.
Eliminate Bad Odors
Stale odors can get trapped in your air ducts and continually flow throughout your home. These smells can include:
- Mildew
- Cleaning agents
- Tobacco smoke
- Food
- Paint fumes
Mold and bacteria can also grow in your air ducts and emit terrible smells. Rodents and other outdoor critters can also make their way into neglected ductwork and leave behind their droppings. Other animals can get trapped in the duct system and die, resulting in foul smells as they decompose.
Air duct cleaning can get rid of dead critters and smelly contaminants. It’ll also make your duct system less appealing to animals and insects, as they’re less likely to find hiding spots in clean duct systems.
Increase Your HVAC System’s Efficiency
Large amounts of debris and dust can impede the airflow in your HVAC system. When that happens, your system will likely produce inadequate airflow, resulting in hot and cold spots in your house. Your HVAC system will need to work harder to continue circulating air.
Once the debris is cleared from your ductwork, air can freely travel throughout your system. Your unit can perform at peak efficiency.
Eliminate Irritants
Air duct systems can hold harmful microorganisms. Recirculation of airborne contaminants can result in adverse health conditions, especially if you live with immunocompromised people or seniors. Some of the things that can trigger asthma attacks and allergies include:
- Mold spores
- Pollen
- Animal fur
- Pet dander
Regular air duct cleaning can prevent these allergens from circulating in your home. Clean air makes it easier for your loved ones to breathe, resulting in less sick time and medical bills.
Maintain a Cleaner Environment
Dust particles can accumulate in your air ducts when you shut your HVAC system off. The particles will start to circulate throughout your home once you turn the unit back on. These pollutants will settle on the following objects in your home:
- Floor
- Furniture
- Bedding
- Kitchen and bathroom counters
You’ll need to dust your home continually to keep it hygienic and dust-free. If you notice your home getting dustier than usual, have your air ducts checked and cleaned by a professional. That can help prevent particles from spreading throughout your home.
Prolong Your HVAC Unit’s Lifespan
Dirty air ducts can cause your HVAC unit to run for longer periods to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. That strains your system, causing wear and tear and often resulting in breakdowns during critical times of the year. If your HVAC system is working harder due to dirty ducts, you may have to spend more money on emergency repairs.
Have your ducts cleaned to prevent straining vital components. Schedule routine cleaning to prolong the lifespan of your unit.
Find Other Problems
Your air duct cleaning technician will look for other issues when they clean your air ducts. They’ll look for some of the following problems:
- Poorly sealed or loose registers and grills
- Poor insulation around or in the air ducts
- Leaking ducts
- Mildew or mold growth
- Rust
- Loose connections
If you don’t have your ducts cleaned, you may not know you’re dealing with other problems. HVAC professionals can spot and fix issues before they become more serious.
Keep Your Home Safe
Dirty air ducts can cause fires. Lint, dirt, and other debris can accumulate in your air ducts, potentially causing a fire when they heat up. This could result in significant property damage and put your loved ones at risk.
The risk of fire is even higher if you have an old HVAC system or if you use propane. To reduce your home’s fire risk, work with a reliable HVAC company to clean your air ducts regularly.
Signs You Should Have Your Air Ducts Cleaned
It can be challenging to know when your air ducts should be cleaned. You don’t want to wait until they become so dirty that they cause poor IAQ and affect your quality of life. Let’s talk about some of the most common indications that you need to get your air ducts cleaned by a professional.
Visible Signs of Dust
A clear sign that your air ducts are dirty is if you see visible dust particles floating in the air when you turn your HVAC system on. You may also notice more dust on surfaces throughout your home, especially if they’re near a register. If you notice these symptoms, you should contact an air duct cleaning company right away.
Smells Coming From Your HVAC System
Have you started noticing unpleasant smells in your home but can’t locate the source? Your air ducts might be the culprit, and you may need to get them cleaned. Get close to your air registers and smell them to verify that’s where the smell is coming from.
Clogged Air Filters
Most air filters are designed to last 3 to 12 months. If you’re changing them more often than that, your air ducts might need to get cleaned. This could be a sign that debris is abundant in your ducts.
Presence of Mold or Mildew Around Your HVAC System
Mold and mildew have a more significant impact on your health than dust. They can worsen respiratory conditions and spread quickly throughout your home. You must act fast if you notice mold around your HVAC units and vent covers.
Critter and Insect Infestations
A pest infestation in your house might be a sign your ducts need cleaning. You want to prevent the spread of their disease-causing microbes and allergens. Vermin viruses, bacteria, dander, and droppings can result in serious health issues.
Poor or Unstable Airflow
Another sign that your air ducts might need cleaning is if you have inconsistent airflow in various rooms of your house. Your indoor airflow should be the same quality in every space. If this isn’t the case, you need to have an HVAC technician evaluate your ducts.
Higher Heating and Cooling Costs
Your cooling and heating bills should be relatively predictable throughout the year. Sometimes, they may fluctuate due to increasing energy costs. However, if you notice a major spike in what you’re paying for, that might indicate a more serious issue with your system.
Your air ducts may be blocked, so air can’t easily flow through them. Your HVAC system could be using more energy to maintain the temperature you’ve set on your thermostat. The more power the unit uses, the higher your bills will be.
No Records of Previous Air Duct Cleaning
Can you remember the last time you had your ducts cleaned? Maybe you moved into a new home, and there are no records of the system being cleaned in the past.
Whatever the case, if you’re unsure if your ducts have ever been cleaned, you should have a technician come out and inspect them. Your system might not be showing obvious signs that the ducts are dirty, but there’s a high chance it’s accumulated dust and debris over the years.
Ways to Maintain Clean Air Ducts
While air duct cleaning should be left to the experts, there are some things you can do as a homeowner to keep your system clean for longer. We’re sharing our top tips for slowing particle build-up in your air ducts.
Vacuum and Dust More Often
You don’t want to ignore a sudden increase in the dust in your home, but you should still make sure you have less of it. By getting rid of dust, you’re decreasing the chance of it getting recirculated via your air ducts. We recommend getting an automatic vacuum that can run periodically throughout the day to collect anything that’s landed on the floor.
Replace Your Air Filters
Your air filters are your HVAC system’s first line of defense against harmful airborne particles. Air filters are designed to catch particles of varying sizes – it all depends on the type you purchase.
As mentioned above, you should replace your air filter every 3 to 12 months. Another advantage of routinely changing your air filter is the opportunity to see if they’re suddenly collecting more particles than usual. That could indicate your HVAC system is having issues.
Schedule Routine HVAC Maintenance
Routine HVAC maintenance appointments typically don’t include air duct cleaning. However, it does keep other parts of your HVAC system clean. Some of the tasks that are included in a routine service session include:
- Checking the thermostat performance
- Lubricating moving components
- Measuring the voltage
- Examining electrical settings and connections
- Replacing air filters
You can also ask the technician to check out your ducts if you’re dealing with issues you can’t figure out.
Have Your Air Ducts Regularly Cleaned
How long you go between air duct cleanings depends on how many people live in your home. The more pets and children you have, the more often you’ll need to get the system cleaned.
You can work closely with the HVAC company to create a timeline that takes your lifestyle and needs into account. The last thing you want to do is wait too long, which can sometimes cause more serious problems to arise.
Keep Your Air Supply Registers Open
Keeping the air vents in your home open while your HVAC unit is running can keep the airflow moving through your ducts. Closing various vents could disturb or slow down the airflow in different parts of your system. This allows dust to gather in areas that have reduced air movement.
Clean Your Home’s Air
Indoor air purifiers and cleaners can decrease the amount of airborne dust in your home. Not only are they great at preventing dust and other particles from getting back into your HVAC system, but they’ll also improve your home’s overall air quality.
Control Household Pests
We’ve talked about how insects and other critters can wreak havoc on your air ducts. Schedule routine pest inspection appointments with a local company to keep them out. They’ll find ways unwanted guests could get into your home, preventing the likelihood of them getting into your ducts in the first place.
Reduce Your Home’s Humidity
Dust likes to stick to water vapors in the air, making it more likely to get into your HVAC system. Make sure you use your bathroom vent fan after bathing or showering. Run your cooktop exhaust fan to keep your home’s humidity in check.
Partner With KD Mechanical for Air Duct Cleaning in VA
You and your loved ones can experience numerous health benefits of clean air ducts. Your HVAC system will continue functioning properly when it doesn’t have to work so hard to pump clean air throughout your home. It’s important to hire an experienced air duct cleaning company instead of attempting to do this project yourself.
If you’re looking for professional air duct cleaning in Leesburg, VA, look no further than KD Mechanical. We offer a wide range of HVAC services, including duct cleaning, heating system installation, air conditioning repair, and more. Reach out to our office to schedule a consultation with one of our HVAC technicians.