Having allergens and dust polluting the air you breathe inside your home isn’t something you just have to deal with. Nor is it something you should ignore. Instead, you can take action. And by doing so, you will improve the health and overall quality of life of your household. Is duct cleaning an effective way to improve your home’s indoor air quality? Read on below to find out more.
Why Is Air Quality So Important?
Ductwork not only circulates air throughout an indoor space, it also recirculates it. Within that air can be contaminants like dust, dander, mold, pollen, and chemicals. As these are recirculated, they can start to build up in ductwork.
And that buildup can cause problems, making indoor air less comfortable to breathe. Poor air quality can lead to or exacerbate certain health issues. This is extra bad for people with allergies, respiratory issues, and autoimmune diseases.
For more information, the EPA has plenty of resources.
How Can I Tell If I Have Poor Indoor Air Quality and Need Duct Cleaning?
Are allergens, dust, and pet dander bothering you more and more lately? Does there seem to always be a layer of dust, no matter how much you clean and vacuum? Have your energy bills have unexpectedly gone up? Any of these might indicate you’re dealing with poor indoor air quality. Other signs air quality is affecting people’s health include nausea, itchy eyes, a scratchy throat, and headaches.
The signs might also be within the duct-work itself, but not everyone has ducts that are visible.
What Is Duct Cleaning? How Does It Work? What Should I Expect?
Whether it’s for a residential or commercial building, duct cleaning is a service that should be performed by a qualified HVAC technician. These experienced technicians will use specialized equipment to vacuum and remove the buildup of dust, debris, and other pollutants from your duct system. The exact tools and methods can vary.
Before tackling the problem, professionals will also use their expert knowledge to inspect your duct system. While the solution may just be a simple cleaning, you want to make sure there isn’t a bigger issue affecting the air quality.
Since duct systems can be cold, dark, and damp, there are other risks to air quality aside from everyday dust and dander. If technicians suspect mold, mildew, or even asbestos in your ducts, they may recommend additional services.
Once it’s clear what the problem is, technicians will move to cleaning. Protective layers will be placed around the house. Cleaning methods include vacuuming, brushing, and dislodging. In some cases, pest removal is necessary. To prevent future issues, technicians may also replace damaged insulation and duct sealing.
How Can Indoor Air Quality Be Improved by Duct Cleaning?
The buildup of dust, dirt, and debris is already an irritant. It also provides a habitat for mold and mildew to thrive. This hurts air quality even more. For individuals with asthma, mold and dust mites can be very harmful.
By cleaning the duct-work, you’re getting mitigating the problem. And it also clears a path so that new contaminants can be effectively cycled through the air filter and removed, instead of piling up on one another. Duct cleaning removes the pollutants that have been accumulating for years. Decades, even. Getting rid of clogs that old will refresh the air so much it’ll feel like a new building.
If you live in an old house or own an old building, duct cleaning can get rid of those old, musty smells. And if the building previously used oil or coal for heating, the residue left over will also be cleared out.
Even if there’s no existing problem, duct cleaning helps maintain good indoor air quality.
How Often Should I Get Duct Cleaning to Maintain Air Quality?
To prevent poor air quality, duct cleaning services should perform every three to five years. However, if residents are more sensitive to air quality, duct cleaning should be every two to three years. People with asthma and allergies are considered high risk. And air quality is extra important for infants, toddlers, and elderly individuals.
If you recently remodeled indoors, you may want to get duct cleaning or at least an inspection. Particles like sawdust and sheetrock dust accumulating in vents aren’t good for air quality.
Other reasons you may want to clean air ducts more often include:
- Multiple pets who shed a lot
- Living in a high-traffic area that attracts extra dirt and dust
- Moist/damp environments
- Old houses
What Are the Other Benefits, Aside From Air Quality, of Duct Cleaning?
In addition to air quality, duct cleaning services will benefit your household in numerous ways. For instance, duct cleaning also makes sure your HVAC system continues to work effectively. Efficiency can boost from 20 to 40 percent.
By improving operation, duct cleaning can even prevent HVAC equipment failure. Keeping your system efficient will prolong its life.
Duct cleaning can save you from the costs of installing a whole new HVAC system. But that’s not all. It has also been to save people money on their utility bills.
Also, has there been a mysterious smell in your home or commercial building? That may be due to clogged ducts, so cleaning can help with that too.
What Are Other Ways to Maintain Air Quality in Addition to Duct Cleaning?
It’s imperative that you regularly change your air filters. A filter is to catch irritants like dust and pet dander, but it can’t do its job if it’s overfull. If you don’t regularly replace the filter, it will clogged and contribute to poor indoor air quality.
Luckily, replacing filters is a simple task you can do on your own. In addition to air quality, this also improves airflow and HVAC system performance. When you get uninterrupted cool air on those scorching hot summer days, you’ll be glad you didn’t let the filter get too clogged.
What Qualities Should I Look for When Hiring an HVAC Duct Cleaning Service?
For the most improved air quality, duct cleaning should be by professionals who meet certain standards. Before technicians start, ask to see their credentials. Do research ahead of time and make sure to choose an HVAC service that:
- Follows the EPA guidelines for duct cleaning
- Has technicians use a high-efficiency air particulate filter, a.k.a. HEPA
- Has certifications from OSHA, BPI, ACCA, PTCS, etc.
It’s always wise to choose a company that has plenty of experience and a good reputation. Ideally, the HVAC service company would have experience cleaning ducts in residential and commercial properties, so you could turn to them for all your air quality needs. In the Pacific Northwest, for instance, Entek has over seven decades of providing excellent service to the area. Entek duct cleaning services follow EPA guidelines, have the right certifications, and are approved by both Angi and the Better Business Bureau. If you’re in the Portland or Vancouver area, give them a call.