Without functioning air ducts, there would be no way for warm or cold air to make its way throughout your home in an efficient manner. However, one of the potential drawbacks of typical ducts is that anything in them can also be circulated throughout your house. Therefore, without regular cleanings, you could face the prospect of breathing in dust, mold, or anything else that gets into your home’s duct system.
Ducts Can Be Cleaned Whenever You’d Like
While some trade organizations will say that you should clean air ducts every three to five years, this isn’t necessarily true for your home. If you have pets, live near a forest, or otherwise have experienced poor indoor air quality, you may want to have your ducts cleaned every year.
The same may be true if you have allergies, asthma, or are otherwise sensitive to contaminated air. Cleaning ducts regularly may also make the air smell better, which is a positive if you like to host weekly dinner parties or have family members over for the holidays.
At Rosenberg Plumbing & Air in San Antonio, we offer thorough and timely duct cleaning services to ensure that you and your family are comfortable throughout the year. We can also perform indoor air quality assessments to determine if other steps need to be taken to make your home as clean as it can be.
Benefits of Regular Duct Cleanings
Regardless of how often you clean your home’s ducts, there are several benefits to doing so. First, getting rid of dust, pollen, and mold means that there is less stuff that can potentially be distributed throughout your house whenever you turn on the furnace or air conditioner.
Next, cleaning air ducts gives you a chance to inspect them. During a cleaning, technicians may notice holes, cracks, or other gaps that could be allowing air to escape. They may also notice that a duct has come loose, is sagging, or is otherwise not in proper position. Assuming that the issue is caught when it first arises, you may be able to fix it without spending a lot of time or money.
At a minimum, the stuff that accumulates inside of a duct can become very heavy. In some cases, the weight of the gunk that builds up in the duct can cause it to sag or otherwise put it at risk of being damaged. Removing that weight helps to ensure that your duct system has a fair chance of making it to the end of its useful life.
Finally, cleaning a duct means that air has more room to navigate on its journey to various vents. Therefore, you’ll likely notice that your heating and cooling systems work more efficiently and can evenly heat or cool your home. You’ll also likely notice that your heating and cooling bills are lower than they were before the ducts were cleaned.
What Happens If Ducts Aren’t Cleaned?
You shouldn’t panic if it has been more than five years since your home’s ducts have been cleaned. If you live in an environment that is free of pets, kids, or trees, you may be able to get away with cleaning them less frequently. However, even if your home is located in a more typical environment, your best course of action is to simply schedule a cleaning as soon as possible.
It’s also worth noting that indoor air quality problems may persist even despite regular air duct cleanings. This could be because the source of polluted air is coming from the furnace or the condenser unit outside. It could also be because of a lack of ventilation in your home that is preventing contaminated air from being replaced with fresh outdoor air.
Ultimately, your goal should be to clean all facets of your home regularly to maximize indoor air quality. You are also encouraged to refrain from smoking and to consider getting rid of carpets or other materials that can trap dust, dirt, or mildew.
If you are looking to improve the indoor air quality of your home, don’t hesitate to call Rosenberg Plumbing & Air today! We can also install a new furnace, maintain your current air conditioner, or help with any heat pump issues you might be having. Emergency service is available if you need help right away.
Tags: Air Ducts