Have you noticed that your apartment vents are covered in dust or have a musty smell? These are signs that it is time to call a professional duct cleaner.
Health professionals have debated the correlation between air duct cleaning and indoor air quality. However, properly cleaning by a qualified contractor can make your home more comfortable and improve indoor air quality. Contact Air Duct Cleaning Salt Lake City now!
The dust, dander, pollen, and mold spores that accumulate in dirty ductwork are circulated throughout your home, causing allergy symptoms. Regular cleaning of your air ducts is recommended if you or a family member suffers from allergies. You may also want to consider investing in an air purification system.
If you’re considering hiring an air duct cleaning company, be sure to choose a reputable one. Unfortunately, many unscrupulous companies lure homeowners in with low “whole-house special” pricing and then perform an inferior job, cleaning only what’s visible to the naked eye and sweeping debris under the carpet. They then try to up-sell homeowners on add-on services. Be sure to ask for references and to read reviews before committing to any company.
Dirty ducts can harbor allergens that trigger allergic reactions, such as runny nose, itchy eyes, and hives. They can also aggravate breathing problems, such as asthma and pneumonia. Long-term exposure to the pollutants and microorganisms that circulate through dirty ductwork can weaken your immune system, causing fatigue and other health issues.
Pets and smoking can also cause allergens to build up in your ductwork, diminishing indoor air quality and triggering allergy symptoms. People with asthma should regularly clean their ducts to help prevent triggers from aggravating their symptoms.
Ducts are a breeding ground for dust mites, which feed on dead skin cells and release waste that can trigger allergies and asthma in people with sensitive lungs. These organisms can easily clog your air conditioning and heating systems and make them ineffective.
Air ducts can also become infested with rodents, who will leave behind droppings and feces. These contaminants can trigger respiratory problems and even lead to a sewage backup in your home. You can prevent these problems by regularly cleaning your ductwork, sealing the vents, and securing them with pest-proof covers.
They Can Decrease Energy Efficiency
Air ducts can trap and circulate dust, pet dander, mold spores, mildew, and other harmful pollutants. These toxins can cause respiratory problems and exacerbate existing ones. They can also affect the immune system, leading to eye irritation and skin rashes. These conditions can be particularly aggravated by the elderly, children, and those with weakened immune systems. The best way to avoid these risks is to have your air ducts cleaned regularly.
Dirty ducts can cause your HVAC system to work harder than it should, forcing it to use more energy to keep your home at the desired temperature. This can increase your utility bills, which is something no family wants to deal with. By keeping your ducts clean, you can save money on your monthly bills while improving the quality of your home’s air.
Most experts agree that you should have your air ducts cleaned every five years. However, it’s important to consider how often you use your HVAC system and other factors that can lead to dirt build-up. For example, if you or your family members smoke in the house or there are remodeling projects underway, extra airborne contaminants may accumulate in your ductwork.
When you hire an experienced air duct cleaning professional, they’ll use tools to remove the build-up from your ducts. They’ll vacuum your vents to remove surface dust and check for blockages that can hinder airflow. They’ll then clean the ducts with rotating brushes and air-whipping tools while applying negative pressure. You’ll hear the sound of the vacuum cleaner and the banging of the tools, but this is normal for this type of service.
When you’re ready to have your ducts cleaned, choose a company that has extensive experience and follows NADCA’s industry best practices. Look for a licensed and insured contractor with certifications and references from past clients. This will ensure that your ducts are properly cleaned and that the job is done right. If you have any questions, contact the contractor to ask them. They’ll be happy to explain the process in greater detail so you can make an informed decision about whether or not to proceed.
They Can Cause Damage to Your Furnace
Besides the dust, dirt and pet hair/fur mentioned above, dirty ducts can also contain mildew, mold spores, fungus and other biological contaminants. These toxins are blown into your home, polluting the air and irritating your family members with breathing problems. This is especially true for those with asthma, allergies or other respiratory conditions.
Dirty ducts cause your furnace to work harder. As the air is pushed through the vents, it must pass through all that detritus, increasing energy usage and straining your system to the point of failure. This will not only cost you money on your utility bills, but it could ultimately lead to the need for costly repairs or even replacement.
Another problem with dirty ducts is that they can allow rodents and other pests to live in them. If this happens, it is likely that the rodents will leave behind chewed materials, droppings and other telltale signs of their presence. Once the rodents are there, they will contaminate the rest of your home with their fecal matter and other bacteria.
Over time, these organisms can lead to sinusitis in your family. This is a very common illness and can cause symptoms such as coughing, congestion, sneezing, weakness and fatigue. Cleaning your ducts can help reduce these symptoms and improve the health of your family.
If you have a gas furnace, the toxins in your ducts can actually damage it. If the dust enters the motor cabinet, it can cause the pistons and bearings to wear out, causing acrid smells and screeching sounds. In addition, it can inhibit the burner unit from igniting, which will require professional repair or replacement.
Some duct cleaning companies offer chemical biocides and other treatments to kill microbial contaminants in the ducts and equipment housing. These practices are not yet fully vetted and should only be used after the ducts have been thoroughly cleaned of all visible contaminants.
They Can Decrease Indoor Air Quality
If you or someone in your family has allergies or asthma, dirty ducts can increase symptoms as toxin-filled air circulates throughout the home. Regular duct cleaning can remove these harmful substances and create a healthy living environment. The cleaning process helps to eliminate dust, pet dander, mildew, mold and other allergens from the ductwork. Keeping the ductwork clean reduces allergy symptoms and helps people feel better overall.
If someone in your family suffers from respiratory conditions like bronchitis, emphysema, sinusitis or asthma it’s important to keep the ductwork as clean as possible. Dirty ducts can exacerbate these respiratory conditions by circulating toxins through the home. The toxins are made up of dust, pet dander, pollen, mildew and mold spores.
When dust and dirt particles settle on duct surfaces, they get stirred up when the HVAC system blows air through them. This can cause the airflow to decrease. During the cleaning process, our technicians clean the interior of your vents and can even sanitize them to prevent the growth of mold and bacteria.
Some duct cleaning services include the application of chemical biocides or the introduction of ozone into the ductwork to kill bacteria and fungus that can grow in damp areas. The ozone also contaminates the surrounding air, which is why it’s important to choose a professional service.
The quality of indoor air is affected by a number of factors, including combustion sources such as gas, tobacco and kerosene; furnishings made from pressed wood that off-gas volatile organic compounds; and building materials that contain phenols. Without these pollutants being removed from the home, indoor air quality (IAQ) will remain poor.
Having clean air ducts is crucial to improving IAQ. However, it’s important to understand that duct cleaning alone has never been proven to cure health problems. It’s more important to regularly maintain your ductwork, and monitor the cleanliness of your home or office. By comparing the air quality before and after duct cleaning, you can determine whether it has improved. In addition, you should monitor your allergies and breathing and pay attention to how the home or office feels.