How Often Should I Clean My Air Ducts?
All You Need to Know About Air Duct Cleaning
If your home has central heating or cooling, you have air ducts. Air ducts are passageways that transport air through your house. And just like air conditioners or fans, air ducts can collect a lot of dust, debris, and pollutants over time. These particles then blow through your house, potentially harming your family’s health and even home furnishings.
Because of this, routine air duct cleaning is necessary to keep your Sammamish area home healthy and clean. But how often should you have air ducts cleaned? And how are air ducts cleaned, anyway? Let’s take a closer look.
SEE ALSO: Breathe Cleaner, Live Better: Essential HVAC Tips for Indoor Air Quality
What Happens If I Don’t Have My Air Ducts Cleaned?
If you never or rarely clean your air ducts, air pollutants will accumulate and may make your family sick. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that indoor air quality can be two to five times worse than outdoor air—and most of us spend 90 percent of our time inside!
Swirling in the air, you might find dust mites, mold, radon, pet dander, allergens, combustion byproducts, particle pollution, and more. Left untreated, these air pollutants can lead to the following health issues:
- Irritated eyes, nose, and throat
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Respiratory disease
- Heart disease
- Cancer
- Asthma
How Often Should I Have Air Ducts Cleaned?
As a general rule of thumb, we recommend homeowners have their air ducts cleaned at least every one to three years. You may need to clean your air ducts sooner if there’s a smoker in the house, you have pets that shed lots, you’ve had water contamination, or you have severe allergies or asthma. In fact, the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) recommends having your air ducts looked at twice a year.
If you’ve recently undergone a home renovation, construction dust is likely in your ductwork , which can be harmful to your lungs. If you’ve moved into a new house, it’s best to start with a clean slate and have the system cleared.
What Happens If Air Ducts Aren’t Cleaned?
If you never clean your air duct system, your health may suffer. Some people experience ‘sick building syndrome,’ where they feel ill when indoors but start to feel better once they’re out of the house.
Beyond health reasons, if you don’t clean air ducts, your house may look dustier than ever. It may also start to have a musty or unpleasant smell, and heating and cooling costs may increase if your furnace and AC have to work harder for air to flow.
What Is the Air Duct Cleaning Process?
To remove dirt and debris, your contractor (Bob’s Heating) will place the duct system under negative pressure using an ultra-powerful, specialized vacuum. While we draw air out of the ducts, we use brushes, air whips, and compressed air to remove any debris lodged in the ducts.At Bob’s, we go a step further by cleaning your furnace blower wheel, too!
Loosened dust and debris then move through the duct way into the vacuum outside. This prevents particles from becoming airborne inside your home again.
Who Can Clean My Air Duct System?
If you’re in the Sammamish or Greater Puget Sound area, Bob’s Heating & Air Conditioning is here to help. Contact us to learn more about our air duct cleaning services and to get started today!
