Have you observed small clouds of dust blowing out of an air duct whenever you switch on your home’s HVAC system? Have you noticed dust or pet hair stuck in a vent? Or maybe there’s a layer of dust covering the grill on the return air registers? These could be signs that your home’s ductwork is in need of a thorough cleaning.
Keep your ducts in a row
Within your HVAC system, fine dust accumulates on the surfaces of air ducts, vents, motors, and coils. Dead skin flakes, hair, and pet dander cling to this dust, gradually forming a thick, mat-like layer where bacteria, mold, dust mites, and allergens can thrive. While air filters capture most of these particles from the airflow, they don’t reach all areas of the HVAC system. This is why it’s essential to periodically inspect the condition of your air ducts to determine if they need cleaning or even replacement.
Top 5 dirty air duct indicators
Any of these indicators indicate that your HVAC system is being negatively affected by a large amount of dust and dirt:
1. Remove one of your vent covers and check inside for dirt, debris, or clumps of dust.
2.Inspect the return air registers for any dust accumulation, especially if there are thick, fuzzy layers of dust.
3. Take out the air filter. If it’s clogged with dust, airflow is restricted, allowing more dust to settle and accumulate in the return ductwork.
4. Open the furnace compartment and check the blower fan, motor, and furnace controls for dust buildup. The more dust you find, the bigger the issue.
5. Examine the air conditioning coil (you may need to remove a panel). If it's dusty or has dust clinging to the housing walls, this indicates the air filter hasn’t been functioning properly.
Top 5 dirty consequences
So what's the problem with a little dirt and dust? A lot of it. There are a number of problems that dirty ducts cause, from higher energy costs to health problems:
1. Dirt and dust limit your HVAC system’s ability to heat and cool. In the winter, clogged heat exchangers can’t heat the air as efficiently. In the summer, clogged condensing coils can’t cool the air as well. Both of these things increase the run time of your HVAC systems, requiring them to use more fuel and energy to heat and cool your home.
2. Dirt and dust restrict airflow. Let’s say your system is doing a good job of heating and cooling the air. But if the blower fan or motor can’t spin because of dirt or a clogged air filter, the system won’t be able to properly distribute warm or cooled air throughout your home. However, it will run longer and use more energy.
3. The longer your HVAC system runs, the more wear and tear it will experience. Long periods of operation can shorten the overall life of your HVAC systems, from AC compressors to hydraulic pumps, burners, and motor bearings. Your home’s HVAC systems will wear out faster.
4. Dust contains not only fine dirt, but also dead skin, pet dander, microorganisms from cat litter (toxoplasmosis), and other particles such as pollen, mold spores, fungi, and even rodent feces. If dust is left to contaminate your HVAC system, it can become a breeding ground for bacteria, mites, and other pests.
5. Dirt and dust spread quickly in a home with dirty ducts. No matter how diligent you may dust and clean your house, fine particulate contaminates, including dangerous allergens, quickly flow from room to room to cover tables, smartphones and children's toys.
Top 5 benefits of air duct cleaning
Visiting a professional air duct cleaning service every 3 to 5 years can prevent many maintenance and health problems before they start. Plus, you’ll start saving money on heating and cooling:
1. Better overall performance and reliability of your HVAC system.
2. Less costly repairs due to wear and tear and longer life for your HVAC system.
3. More energy efficient, reducing energy bills.
4. Reduced risk of respiratory problems and allergies.
5. Less dust makes it easier to clean and maintain your living space.
Properly cleaning your HVAC ducts is not an easy task that you can do yourself. Complete air duct cleaning can only be done with standard equipment designed to handle the size and volume of all types of homes.
