Owning a home means you have to keep track of all sorts of maintenance issues. Some of the necessary tasks that come with homeownership happen in such a dramatic fashion that you instantly know when they need to be taken care of. For example, when your roof suddenly leaks, you replace it and if you wake up in a cold house in January, you know it’s time to replace the furnace.
For other homeowner responsibilities, the answer to when you should take care of specific issues is: It depends. Cleaning your air ducts falls into that category.
The National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) recommends cleaning ductwork every 3-5 years; however, your lifestyle and the health conditions of your family members might dictate having your ductwork cleaned more frequently.
Here’s a list of questions to consider to help you decide if you should have your air ducts cleaned.
Has your home recently gone through renovations?
Knocking down walls and removing old flooring all release an enormous amount of fine particles into the air. Plus, the dust from drywall joint compounds will also be released into the air. It’s impossible to keep all this dirt and contaminants out of your ductwork, so having them cleaned is the best way to protect the air quality inside your home.
Should I clean my home air ducts after discovering water damage?
Sometimes water damage happens suddenly; a flood happens and you’re forced to deal with it.
It’s more common, however, for water damage to happen from slow leaks from sinks, water heaters, or toilets. And, high humidity levels in your home, can cause condensation on windows, which in turn could cause water to be slowly seeping into the floors or within the walls. What does this have to do with your air ducts? Excess water can be a breeding ground for mold.
Do you have mold in your home?
You might see black mold in your basement, laundry room, or bathroom. Or, you might notice a musty, almost earthy smell in your home. Having mold in your home is a clear signal it’s time to have your air ducts cleaned. Like we mentioned above, slow water damage might not be noticed and can cause mold spores to get into your ductwork.
Does anyone in your family have asthma, COPD, or allergies?
Pollen, pet dander, dust mites, and chemical pollutants from carpets and furniture can linger in the air ducts, which reduces the air quality in your home. Cleaning your air ducts eliminates these irritants. Clean air ducts enable your family members to breathe easier.
Should I clean my ductwork if I recently moved into an existing home?
You might not have pets or smoke in your home, but you have no way of knowing what the previous owners did inside the home. Without knowing exactly what happened in the house, you have no way of knowing what could be lingering in the air ducts. That’s why many people choose to have their ductwork cleaned to remove the biological footprint of the previous owners right before they move into the home.
Are you having a new furnace or air conditioner installed?
Cleaning the air ducts will make sure your new HVAC system runs as efficiently as possible. The buildup of dust, dirt, and debris can reduce the airflow, even after the installation of new equipment. At Bactronix, our air duct cleaning process comes with a certification and a 1-year warranty. Contact us today and learn how you can improve the air quality in your home.
