The ductwork of your home or business’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is the oft-neglected component of HVAC equipment. Not that that’s really a problem because, with no mechanical or electronic parts, the ductwork doesn’t need regular maintenance and rarely experiences breakdowns or malfunctions. However, you should consider getting your ductwork professionally cleaned on a periodic basis.
The HVAC experts at Tallahassee’s Air Control Heating and Cooling recommend cleaning the air ducts to enhance your air conditioning system’s energy efficiency, prolong its operating lifespan, and protect indoor air quality. Let’s look at these three factors, starting with indoor air quality.
Air Duct Cleaning to Protect Indoor Air Quality
Dust, dirt, dander, debris, mold spores, and other contaminants inevitably find their way into the ductwork. As this all slowly accumulates within the ductwork, the HVAC system inevitably circulates some of it throughout your living or working spaces, and it becomes the air that you and others breathe. Professional ductwork cleaning can help reduce these airborne pollutants and protect the lungs and health of those breathing the HVAC-treated air. This is especially important for any family members or workers who may struggle with respiratory issues like asthma, allergies, emphysema, or other related health issues.
If accumulated dirt and debris in the ductwork gets damp due to humidity, spillage, or other causes, it can encourage mold growth, and the HVAC system will circulate any subsequent harmful spores into the air. Air duct cleaning reduces the potential spread of mold and helps remove airborne odors and mustiness that might emanate from ductwork dirt and debris.
Air Duct Cleaning Supports Energy Efficiency
Every bit of dirt and debris accumulating in your ductwork impedes air flow through it. A thin coating of dirt and debris might not make much difference, but years of accumulated buildup can start having an effect. By clearing the ductwork of buildup, you enhance airflow, so the HVAC system does not have to work as hard to circulate the air. This improves HVAC efficiency, resulting in savings in energy costs.
Air Duct Cleaning May Extend an HVAC System’s Operational Lifespan
In a related duct cleaning reaction, clear airflow through the ductwork can prolong the operational lifespan of your HVAC system by reducing its workload, which lessens the longer-term wear and tear on it. Again, a bit of dirt and debris in the ductwork isn’t going to impede airflow enough to make a difference, but years of accumulation will.
How to Know When It’s Time to Clean the Ductwork
Absent several tell-tale signs that might indicate that it’s time to clean your ductwork, HVAC experts recommend periodic cleaning every three to five years. However, more frequent duct cleaning may be warranted to optimize indoor air quality for those with respiratory health issues. Homes with pets that shed also warrant more frequent cleaning to prevent the buildup of hair and dander in the ducts. Signs and conditions indicating your ductwork may need cleaning include:
- Musty smells or bad odors emitted from the ductwork
- The presence of visible mold growth in and around return vents and registers
- Excessive dust in the air and accumulating on surfaces
- Evidence of insects or vermin in the ductwork
- Poor HVAC airflow
- Higher energy bills
- Recent renovation work
For Duct Cleaning in Tallahassee, Call the Experts at Air Control
Air Control Heating and Cooling stands ready to provide your Tallahassee-are home or business with professional air duct cleaning. Our “Dustbuster” indoor air quality experts have decades of air duct cleaning experience and offer advanced air purification system installations for those interested in optimizing their air quality.
To further ensure the operational performance of your HVAC system and delivery of clean air, consider joining our Air Control Club. Our cost-saving HVAC inspection and preventative maintenance program helps prevent breakdowns, boosts efficiency, and extends HVAC operational lifespan.
For all your home and business HVAC needs, consult with the NATE-certified experts at Air Control Heating and Cooling. Providing expert HVAC service in Tallahassee, Havana, Quincy, Monticello, and Crawfordville since 1968, you can contact us at (850) 695-3461.