Did you know the average home generates about 40 pounds of airborne dust a year? Don’t be alarmed, it’s perfectly normal. Every time you open and close your doors, walk across the floor, or even scratch an itch, you’re contributing to household dust. If you have kids and pets in the home, the amount of dust generated is even greater.
But, although dust is normal, it’s not as innocuous as the name implies. Dust is made up of dirt, skin cells, hair, fibers, microscopic plastic particles, dead bugs, mold, bacteria, parasites, pollen, and all sorts of other contaminants. What’s more, about forty-thousand dust mites can live in just one ounce of dust! While you may remove surface dust with regular household cleaning, a vast majority of it is circulated through your air ducts. As it travels through your HVAC system, dust either becomes trapped, gets dispersed throughout your home, or begins to build up on your central heating and air conditioning system’s components. All the places dust and contaminants end up, either in your home, in the air, or within your air conditioning system, can cause serious problems for you and your family.
There are many more benefits to air duct cleaning than just less dust in the home, too. Below are some of the most important.
1. Clean air ducts result in better overall air quality.
A clean, well-maintained, and properly functioning HVAC system is designed to filter dust, harmful particulates, and odors from your home. But when air ducts become dirty, your air conditioning system doesn’t work as efficiently and indoor air quality becomes diminished. Dust buildup in air vents can create a breeding ground for bacteria. Mold and mildew can quickly grow and multiply in a dark, humid environment. Odors, pollen, and allergens become trapped in dirty vents where they attract pests and rodents that build nests and create waste. Then, as air is circulated through the system, these potentially dangerous contaminants are then spread throughout your entire home into the air you, your family, and your pets breathe.
2. Having your air ducts cleaned can reduce allergens, mold, and mildew in the home.
A professional air duct cleaning includes not just the air ducts, but also supply and return registers, vents, and other components within your HVAC system where dust, allergens, mold, and mildew can accrue. Thoroughly cleaning and removing those contaminants means they won’t continue circulating through your home.
3. Air duct cleaning will help to lessen odors throughout the home.
Although the act of cleaning air ducts alone will reduce odors in the home as trapped dust and odor-trapping particles are removed, a professional air duct cleaning service performed by AC by DC LLC includes duct fogging. When duct fogging, your HVAC technician will use a special device to spray a disinfectant solution into the air duct system. In addition to killing indoor air pathogens, duct fogging will rid your air duct system of odors caused by pets, cigarette smoke, mold, mildew, musty smells, cooking odors, and more.
4. Clean air ducts are vital for efficient airflow through your HVAC system.
Buildup and contaminants within the ducts and components of your heating and cooling system cause it to work harder to heat and cool your home. Over time, the increased load will shorten the life of your HVAC system. Through routine air conditioner maintenance and a thorough air duct cleaning every 10-15 years, it will be easier for your system to keep your home at the temperature you desire.
5. Having your air duct system cleaned can actually save on cooling and heating costs.
When your HVAC system is working efficiently, it requires less electricity to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. A clogged air duct prevents your system from properly circulating and exchanging air resulting in your system using more energy to accomplish the task. Not only will duct cleaning lead to lower monthly heating and cooling costs, it will extend the life of your entire HVAC system.
When should I have my air ducts cleaned?
In general, it’s recommended that air ducts be professionally cleaned every 10 to 15 years and more frequently if you have pets, smoke in your home, have respiratory conditions that make exposure to dust and airborne toxins more dangerous, or live in a warm climate and run your air conditioner continuously. As part of your regular maintenance program, have your HVAC technician inspect your ducts yearly.
If you’re unsure how long it’s been since your air ducts have been cleaned, some additional signs will indicate that it’s time to call a professional:
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Moldy, mildewy, or musty smell in the home when the air conditioner comes on,
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Visible dust, dirt, or debris blowing from vents,
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Stains on and around air vents,
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Signs or sounds of pests inside your air vents.
Professional air duct cleaning by AC by DC LLC includes an inspection and thorough cleaning of supply and return air ducts and registers, vents, grilles, and diffusers, blower motor and housing, and washing of evaporator coil in place. Once your system is clear of build-up, duct fogging is performed to disinfect, kill germs and mold, neutralize pet, smoke, and mildew odors, and prevent indoor air pathogens from returning.
If you’re in Baker, or the surrounding areas of Crestview, or Niceville, Florida, contact AC by DC for a free estimate and service you can trust.
