Have you ever wondered when you should clean your air ducts?
Air ducts are important for the health of your family. They are the pathway for air to flow through your home. If you don’t get them cleaned, then you could be breathing in dust, debris, and potentially mold spores that have collected over time. With the changing weather, our homes need to be well-ventilated to avoid any respiratory problems. Air duct cleaning can also improve your home’s energy efficiency, reduce allergens in the air that you breathe, and improve the overall health of your house.
In addition to improving the quality of indoor air, it also has the potential to help reduce carbon monoxide (CO) emissions from appliances and furnaces—which is especially important if you’re living in a multi-family unit. Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas that can cause dizziness, headaches, confusion, and even death if inhaled in a large enough dose.
These benefits aren’t just theoretical—they’re backed by science. According to a study, poor indoor air quality in buildings can decrease productivity and can eventually cause dissatisfaction among its occupants. Around 6-9% of office work performance is greatly affected by poor indoor air quality. Got dust on your desk?
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also recommends having your air ducts cleaned every 3 to 4 years depending on how many pets you have, whether or not you have a new baby in the house, or if there was new construction done in recent years. If you have pets or children in the home, then it’s particularly important to get your air ducts cleaned regularly. This is because they can be exposed to bacteria and viruses that might not show up on a surface-level cleaning—and if those are left in your ducts, they can cause serious health problems down the road.
How often you should get your air ducts cleaned? It depends.
The answer to this question is not as straightforward as you might think. It depends on many factors. It also depends on how often you use your heating system and how dirty the vents are. Dirty or dusty air ducts will need more frequent cleaning than clean ones.
Here are a few things to consider in deciding how often should you get your air ducts cleaned:
How old is your home?
Is it built on a foundation or made of brick or stone? These materials can trap dust and grime that settles in the ductwork over time. A professional will be able to tell you how often they recommend checking on your ducts so they don’t become too dirty to effectively clean. We suggest even cleaning a brand new home due to contractors using the vents as garbage disposals.
What is the size of your home?
Does it have central heating or cooling? If so, then having someone come out every 6 months may not be necessary. On the other hand, if you live in a place where cold winters mean using space heaters, then having someone come out every 3 months is recommended.
How many people live in your home?
And whose allergies are we talking about here? Having people with asthma or allergies breath through clean air will help keep their symptoms under control and prevent them from getting worse!
It’s also important to note that the dirt and debris that gets into your air ducts are not just a problem for your home. It also can cause problems with the operation of your heating system. If there’s too much dust and dirt in the ducts, then it can clog up filters or damage equipment.
