Home » Duct Cleaning » How To Know When Your Air Ducts Need Cleaning

How To Know When Your Air Ducts Need Cleaning

If dust accumulates quickly around your home or even lingers on surfaces in areas that are not near air vents, this is an indication that it is time to clean your ductwork. This is due to dust and dirt particles accumulating and being blown into your home every time the HVAC system turns on. You must know the importance of Air Duct Cleaning Salt Lake City for your home.

air duct cleaning

Allergies

Air ducts are notorious for trapping dust, pet dander, and other contaminants that pollute your indoor air. When a home’s ductwork becomes dirty, it’s important to have it cleaned regularly to ensure that pollutants don’t circulate throughout the entire house. If you’re unsure whether your ducts need cleaning, the best way to find out is by watching how they react when your HVAC system starts working. If you notice that a puff of dust comes out of your vents when the system kicks on, it’s time for a professional cleaning.

If you haven’t had your air ducts cleaned in some time, the accumulated dirt can cause problems with the overall efficiency of your heating and cooling system. The ducts will work harder to move air through them, and this can lead to increased energy bills. You may also notice that certain rooms in your home are cooler or warmer than others. This is caused by a build-up of dust in the ducts, which prevents airflow. Dirty ducts can also affect the air quality of your home, which can trigger allergies and respiratory problems in family members.

Another common sign that your ducts need cleaning is musty smells or visible mold in the vents and other parts of your home. As the ductwork gets dirty, it can become a sheltered superhighway for rats, mice, and other rodents. As they travel through the ducts, they leave behind droppings that can grow into mold colonies. These mold spores are then released into the air, which aggravates allergies and respiratory issues in family members.

Duct cleaning can help to reduce these problems, but it’s important to be cautious when hiring a company to perform this service. Some companies recommend the application of chemical biocides and sealants to duct surfaces, which have not been proven safe or effective under all circumstances.

The most obvious sign that it’s time for a duct cleaning is the presence of dust on flat surfaces around your home, especially near air vents. This is a result of dust and other pollutants blowing from the vents during air circulation. The same can happen after construction or remodeling, as contractors must open and close vents in rooms as they work.

Decreased Comfort

If your allergies seem to be getting worse during the spring or fall, your dirty air ducts might be to blame. Allergens like pollen, dust mites, pet dander, and mold accumulate in your ductwork and then circulate throughout your house with the air conditioning system.

The irritants can aggravate your allergy symptoms and cause them to flare up even when you’re indoors. A glance at your air vents will tell you whether or not they’re the source of your troubles. If the vents look dusty or even covered in a thick coating of dirt, you need to have your ductwork cleaned immediately.

Another sign that your ducts need cleaning is an increase in your energy bill. Dirty ducts force your HVAC to work harder, which can lead to higher bills than usual.

You should also look at your home’s energy bills over the past year to see if there are any significant fluctuations in cost. If your costs are suddenly much higher for no apparent reason, it’s time to have your ductwork cleaned.

Rodents, mice, squirrels, and other vermin can get into your ductwork and leave behind all sorts of harmful contaminants. Mice droppings, fur, and fecal matter can spread bacteria throughout your house and exacerbate allergies, asthma, and other respiratory conditions. Rodents can also cause structural damage by chewing through the metal of your ductwork.

If you have pets, their shedding can leave a lot of hair and dander in your air vents and in the air that flows through them. This can wreak havoc on those with allergies and asthma and contribute to the buildup of mold and mildew in your ductwork. HEPA air filters can catch some of this, but if you’ve noticed a musty smell in your home or spotted visible signs of mold around vent areas, it’s time for a duct cleaning.

It’s important to have your air ducts cleaned regularly to help prevent them from becoming clogged with allergens and causing health issues for your family members. If it’s been a while since you last had them cleaned, or if your ductwork is exhibiting one of these signs, contact COIT to schedule a professional cleaning.

Musty Smells

If you notice musty odors coming from your vents, it’s a sign that your ventilation system needs to be cleaned, sanitized, and deodorized. Musty odors are often the result of mold, and the presence of mold in your air conditioning system can lead to health problems for you and your family members.

If the musty odor is particularly pungent, it could be a sign of dead animals trapped in your ducts. Rodents such as mice and rats, as well as other animals including pigeons and opossums, can become trapped in ventilation systems and emit a foul, rotten odor that may be difficult to remove without professional help. Dead animals can also carry bacteria and viruses that may make you sick, so removing them as soon as possible is essential for your family’s health.

Another sign that your ventilation system needs cleaning is a sudden and unexplained spike in your heating and cooling costs. This can be caused by a build-up of dirt, debris, and dust in your ducts. Dust can also restrict airflow, causing your AC to work harder than it should to maintain the right temperature.

Similarly, if you have recently undergone construction or remodeling in your home, your ductwork has likely been exposed to plenty of dust and dirt. This can cause a build-up of musty smells as well as allergies and other respiratory issues.

Keeping an eye on the time since you last had your air ducts cleaned is a good way to know when it’s time for them to be cleaned again. If it’s been over five years, or if you’re starting to see signs that your ducts need cleaning, it’s probably time to give COIT a call. They have the equipment to professionally clean your ducts, ensuring that they are free of dust, mold, and other contaminants. Their services can improve your home’s air quality, as well as increase its energy efficiency. Contact them today to schedule a consultation. They offer a variety of flexible scheduling options to fit your busy lifestyle.

Increased Dust

If you find that dust is constantly settling in your home or that your air filter needs to be replaced more often than usual, your ductwork may need cleaning. This is a sign that microbial organisms like mold and mildew are breeding inside your ducts, spreading their spores throughout your home as they circulate air. These spores can cause respiratory problems and should be addressed promptly to maintain indoor air quality and health.

Another sign that your ductwork needs cleaning is if you notice that one room in your home is warmer or cooler than the rest. This indicates that there is a blockage in one of your ducts, restricting the flow of air and straining your HVAC system to compensate. This will result in increased energy bills.

Rodents and other vermin love to take up residence in ductwork, turning it into their highway. If you suspect that rodents are living in your ductwork, you should have your ducts cleaned immediately to remove their droppings and other debris from the air. Rodent feces and dander can cause serious health issues, so you do not want to breathe in their waste particles.

If you have recently done construction work or renovations, this is another sign that your ducts need cleaning. Unless you are very careful and keep the HVAC system off during renovations, construction dust, drywall pieces, and dirt will get into the vents and ductwork. This will then be blown through your house, which can trigger allergies and other respiratory conditions.

It’s also a good idea to have your ducts cleaned after a pest infestation. Rats, mice, and other rodents can leave behind their dander, droppings, and other debris in your ductwork, which then gets blown through your home with every heating and cooling cycle. This can make you and your family sick, so a quick and thorough duct cleaning is in order.