Duct Cleaning: Breathing Fresh Air into Your Home
Duct cleaning is an often overlooked part of homeownership. I once heard a homeowner of a 1924 Craftsman Bungalow say their home inspector told them there was no need to invest in duct cleaning because the filter on your furnace should be getting the job done just fine, despite visible buildup in the duct work and no evidence in the HVAC system of prior cleaning. However, after years of heeding that advice, his wife grew fed up with dusting daily and dealing with dust-related allergies.
It’s true, a thorough duct cleaning in your Wyomissing home will breathe new life into the air! Dust, dirt, allergens, and even mold could be hiding in your duct work. Regular cleaning will not only reduce the amount of debris in the air, it will also prolong the life of your HVAC system and potentially make it more efficient. That, in return, means saving you money!
Still not convinced? Here is what the EPA says about when it might be time to consider calling in a duct cleaning company, like Team Hitchcock:
- There is substantial, visible mold growth inside the ducts or on other components of your HVAC system.
- There are insects in the duct work.
- Ducts are clogged with excessive debris and dust, and/or particles are actually being released into your home.
- People in the home are experiencing unusual or unexplained symptoms or illnesses potentially related to the environment inside your home.
Going back to that first bullet point, mold testing can be done through a company like Team Hitchcock to confirm whether or not there is mold in your home and HVAC system. If you have insulated air ducts and the insulation itself gets wet or moldy, it is often necessary to remove and replace the insulation all together. It is important to note if the source of the mold is not properly corrected, it is very possible the mold will simply grow back and cause issues all over again.
If you choose to have your air duct system cleaned, it is key that the entire system is done, not just a portion of it. Cleaning one or two parts of the large HVAC system and not others can mean quick recontamination of the newly cleaned areas by dust, debris, mold and other particulates that were allowed to remain in the system and not cleaned properly.
Once the cleaning is done, there are some things you can do to keep those ducts breathing clean air into your home:
- Change your furnace filter regularly. Set a calendar reminder on your phone, and purchase a few filters at a time, so you have no excuse to skip this easy chore.
- Be sure there are no gaps around the filter.
- If you are having your heating or cooling system checked or maintained, request that the technician also clean the cooling coils and drain pans.
- If you are undergoing a renovation project in your home, be sure to cover up the return registers and other vents to keep debris from piling up in areas that are difficult to clean.
Lastly, one of the best ways to keep your HVAC system clean and efficient: dust and vacuum your home regularly!
