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Don’t Forget About Duct Cleaning
Comfort Bear here, this time with an important PSA for all homeowners:
Duck cleaning is a scam. Don’t trust anyone who comes to your home claiming that your ducks need to be cleaned. For one, ducks are constantly in the water. And two, it’s called “preening,” not “cleaning.”
That being said, duct cleaning is definitely something you should have performed if you want your HVAC system to run efficiently and smoothly. If there’s ever any concern, you can always consult the National Air Duct Cleaners Association. They were founded specifically to establish the standards for what makes a proper duct cleaning in Kansas City.
Duct cleaning is an essential part of a balanced maintenance tune-up, so I don’t want you to forget about it when it comes time to fire up your air conditioner again this year. Don’t worry, I’ll explain everything:
Why Is Duct Cleaning Necessary?
Every year, the average home accumulates about 40 pounds of dust. A majority of that is swept away during your daily or weekly chores, of course, but can you say the same about the dust that will make its way inside your air ducts?
One part of duct cleaning is to literally clean the ducts through the use of special tools. This helps ensure that dust isn’t blown into your rooms, possibly decreasing air quality. But a “duct cleaning” isn’t just about cleaning the ducts. Some of that dust will make its way into your air conditioner, too. The other part of a proper duct cleaning helps remove contaminants that might settle on these sensitive components and create efficiency issues.
Air Quality Concerns
The amount of dust that a dirty duct can disperse through a room is negligible. The real danger is in the fact that dirty ducts can circulate contaminants throughout your system. Since HVAC systems require a tightly-sealed home to remain efficient, there’s nothing short of an air filter or a proper cleaning to prevent the same batch of contaminants from recirculating through your air space.
This can be especially dangerous if the right mix of air conditions and dirt has created mold inside your ducts. Even those without compromised immune systems can be at risk of inhaling mold spores.
Efficiency Concerns
Your HVAC system comes with an air filter designed specifically to protect it from dust and dirt. However, it’s still possible for dust to get through and into the system through other means, especially if the filter is not diligently replaced every couple of months.
When too much dust gets on the heating and cooling components of an HVAC system, it can gradually reduce the efficiency of that system. The US Department of Energy found that 25 to 40 percent of energy is wasted, and part of that figure is due to HVAC systems struggling to perform against dust and dirt.
When Is it Time For Duct Cleaning?
How often ducts should be cleaned is hard to pin down, but it’s something your HVAC technician can determine for you. This is because ducts may need cleaning more often based on factors like whether there are smokers in the home, how many shedding pets there are, and if there has been any damage to the ducts. Most of all, however, you’ll want to check with the family to see if any members are experiencing increased asthma or allergy symptoms.
To learn more about duct cleaning, contact Climate Control Heating and Cooling, Inc. today. Comfort & Care from the Team with the Bear.
