The Importance of Air Duct Cleaning for Winter: How It Affects Your Home’s Air Quality
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Air duct cleaning isn’t something most homeowners think about often, but did you know that regular duct cleaning helps prevent negative consequences to your home and your health? It’s important to have your ducts cleaned every two to five years on average to ensure your furnace works at peak efficiency and your air stays clean year-round.
The EPA recommends getting your air duct cleaning done by qualified professionals who clean all system components. Pollen, dust, and debris may damage an HVAC system over time, and moisture can cause mold growth if the system isn’t cleaned properly.
A home’s duct cleaning needs depend on the complexity of the system, who is living in the house, and how often the heater is turned on in the winter and the AC in the summer. If you’re not sure when your ducts were last cleaned, now’s the time to call AC Plus Heating & Cooling. We’re available now to give your ducts a top-to-bottom cleaning that’ll ease your mind — and your breathing!
The Role of Air Ducts in Maintaining Indoor Air Quality
One of the biggest benefits of air duct cleaning is the improvement in your home’s indoor air quality when it’s done. Clean air is especially beneficial for individuals with allergies, asthma, or other respiratory disorders, who may find poor air quality causes their symptoms to worsen. A clean air duct distributes clean, conditioned air throughout the home, letting you breathe easier.
Why Air Duct Cleaning Is Essential Before Winter
Regular air duct cleaning is important because clogged or dirty air ducts stifle airflow, forcing your HVAC system to work harder. This reduces efficiency, increases your energy bills whenever the heat is on, and reduces the service life of your furnace.
Having your ducts cleaned before you start running your furnace full-time removes pet dander, dust, allergens, pollen, and other debris that have accumulated there through the warmer months. Once the weather gets cold, you can turn your furnace on with confidence, knowing the air coming from your vents is clean and healthy.
Key Benefits of Professional Air Duct Cleaning
The following are some of the biggest benefits of having your air ducts cleaned by the professionals at AC Plus Heating & Cooling.
Improved air quality
If you’re wondering how air duct cleaning improves air quality, first, you need to consider what causes poor indoor air quality. Pollutants like smoke and air pollution may cause some air quality issues, but most indoor issues are caused by the air circulating through your home. A good furnace filter helps, but when there’s detritus in the vents, this also gets pumped into the air, causing air quality concerns. Clean air ducts means not having to worry about breathing recirculated contaminants.
Reduced allergens and dust
Clean ducts reduce allergens and dust in the air, like pet hair and dander, pollen, mold spores, and other problematic particulates that impact your allergy symptoms and respiratory health. You’ll breathe easier when your air ducts are cleaned by an AC Plus expert.
Increased HVAC efficiency
Regularly scheduled air duct cleaning helps improve your HVAC system’s performance. The more debris, dust, mold, and other blockages in your system, the harder your furnace needs to work to pump air. Over time, an overworked furnace will start to break down, increasing its environmental impact and costing you more in energy bills.
Signs Your Air Ducts Need Cleaning
Some of the biggest signs you should clean your air ducts include the following:
- Visible mold, both on the sheet metal surfaces of the ductwork and in other parts of the home heating system
- Signs of vermin living in the ducts, like insects or droppings, hair, and nests from rodents and other pests
- Excess dust, debris, and grime in the vents that disperse through your home, making your house dustier
- Musty or otherwise bad-smelling odors blow through your home when the heat or AC is on
- Inconsistent airflow, which could be caused by blockages or other duct issues
- Worsening air quality that makes you sneeze, cough, or experience allergic reactions or respiratory issues when at home
How Often Should Air Ducts Be Cleaned?
The frequency of air duct cleaning depends on your household. If you live alone in a small, clean space and keep your HVAC system well-maintained, you can likely get away with going three to five years between cleanings. On the other hand, if you live with pets, it’s better to have cleanings done more frequently, as hair and dander infiltrate the entire system over time, even with frequent furnace filter changes.
You should also have your ducts cleaned every one to two years if you or others in your family would benefit from better indoor air quality. For example, if you suffer from allergies, something as simple as duct cleaning can improve your quality of life. If you don’t know the last time your ducts were cleaned, it’s probably time to do it now.
It’s also a good idea to have your ducts professionally cleaned if you’ve had construction done on your home or have completed home renovations. These activities add dust and particulates into the air, which settle in the ducts.
Choosing the Right Professional for Air Duct Cleaning
How do you find the right professional air duct cleaning company for your needs? Look for a company that offers:
- Timely, expert service
- Excellent warranties and guarantees on their work
- Fair prices on services, parts, and HVAC systems
- Financing options
At AC Plus Heating & Cooling, we’ll help you prepare your ducts for winter, clean them out thoroughly, and make sure your heating system is working as it should. We offer expert maintenance services to prolong the longevity of your system and help it run more efficiently so you can enjoy excellent air quality year-round, even when the furnace is blasting.
During air duct cleaning, we use a video-assisted Rotobrush® air duct system. This technology allows us to remove contaminants and debris by brushing and vacuuming without any harsh chemicals, solvents, or sealants. We’ll also review your ducts for issues and do repairs as needed.
Whether you want to schedule professional air duct cleaning services today or you have questions about your HVAC system, contact us today. We serve the Inland Empire and High Desert areas around San Bernardino County. We offer Californians top-quality home comfort and peace of mind.
Start the Winter With Cleaner, Fresher Air
Our home service company has been committed to keeping California homes cool in the summer and cozy in the winter since the year 2000. We’re known for our reliability, prompt service, and reasonable pricing.
Our contractors are trained to provide excellent customer service. We’ll listen to your concerns and treat you with the respect you deserve every time. Contact us today, and we’ll enhance the efficiency of your HVAC system, improve your air quality, and reduce allergens with duct cleaning.
Written By Matt Postoian
Matt Postoian has been in the HVAC industry for over 20 years and is dedicated to providing homeowners in Southern California with total home comfort.
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