Because air ducts are usually located in the ceiling or under the floor, we often forget about them. However, they play a big part in not only our comfort, but also our health. They circulate air throughout our homes, and therefore their cleanliness directly relates to the cleanliness of the air we breathe every day. Think you may have something else wrong with your air conditioning services contact us now! Here are some signs that it is time to have your air ducts cleaned:
- Air Quality – if you notice dust building up more than usual, it may be time to clean your air ducts. When your air ducts aren’t properly cleaned on a regular basis, they can start to collect dust. As the amount of dust builds up, more and more of it is picked up in the air stream and then redistributed throughout your home or office. So essentially, you or your loved ones are breathing in a lot more dust than you should be. While this may seem more like an annoyance than a health concern, it actually can be detrimental to your health – especially if you have any respiratory issues. Being exposed to an excess of dust can lead to lung infections, asthma attacks, and other things. Dust is composed of airborne particles like dead skin, pet dander, and bits of dead bugs. Even more harmful particles include the chemicals that are found within the home – cleaning chemicals, hair spray chemicals, particles from smoke – whether it’s cigarettes or cooking smoke. None of these are things that we should be breathing in regularly.
- Mold or Mildew – if you notice mold or mildew growing somewhere within your home, and water damage doesn’t seem to be the cause, it could be coming from unclean air ducts. Ducts that aren’t functioning properly can become breeding grounds for mold and mildew because they can trap spores and harbor humidity. Once the mold has found an ideal place to grow within the ducts, it can then produce more spores which are caught in the air flow and circulated throughout the rest of your home. Not only are mold and mildew gross, they are also detrimental to the health of your home.
- Pests – rodents and insects can take up residence within your ductwork. They can find it especially homey if the ducts are not clean. Before hiring a pest control service to exterminate these pests, you need to have the ducts thoroughly cleaned. If you don’t, then you will probably be hosting these intruders again, in time.
- Odor – if you notice a not-so-pleasant smell every time your air conditioning or heat comes on, that could also be a sign that your ducts are in need of attention. Unclean ducts can host mold or mildew, rodent droppings, or many other nasty things that can cause your home to smell. The ducts’ job is to help circulate air throughout your home and if it is the source of an odor, not only are you smelling it, you are breathing in particles of whatever is causing it.
Having clean air ducts is important for your overall well-being. Most HVAC companies recommend having them cleaned every 2 to 3 years, but you may want to consider doing it sooner if you live with someone with respiratory issues or if your home has a higher level of air contaminants (lots of pet dander, indoor smoking, etc). Don’t continue to breathe in dirty, harmful air. Get in touch with our team at Reliance Home Comfort today to schedule an air duct cleaning and discuss other ways to improve your air conditioning services.