The air ducts in your home are one of the areas that are largely “out of sight, out of mind” but dust and other debris accumulates in them over time, and when they become dirty, it can actually have a large impact on your home. Continue reading to learn why duct cleaning is important and get answers to other common questions about this topic.
When is duct cleaning necessary?
If you’ve been in your home or business building for a while and never gotten your ducts cleaned before, it’s probably a good time to consider having it done. It’s difficult to tell when exactly they might need a cleaning because there isn’t an indicator light that comes on to tell you when it’s time to clean them like you might expect.
However, there are signs that you can look for that might show a cleaning is needed. One obvious thing to look for is debris accumulation. If you can see buildup of dust and other things from the outside of the air ducts through your vents, it’s safe to say the buildup inside is likely even worse.
If you’re noticing other issues in your home such as uneven heating or cooling, other issues that point to your HVAC system not working properly, strange odors, or an increase in allergy/asthma symptoms, these could all also be results from poorly maintained air ducts. Your best option is to call someone in to check out your air ducts and see if duct cleaning can help solve your problems.
When to do duct cleaning is really up to you, but getting it done on a regular basis can help prevent many of the issues mentioned above and ensure everyone is safe and comfortable in the space.
Frequently asked questions about duct cleaning
Now that you know signs to look for that point to a duct cleaning needing to be done, you might have some questions about the service itself. Here are answers to some of the most common questions people ask.
How long does duct cleaning take?
To thoroughly clean a single-family home’s ducts it often takes between two and four hours to clean. But an older home or a home with several pets may take a bit longer to clean.
A business can vary greatly in size in comparison to a home, so it’s harder to provide a general time frame. Someone should be able to give you an idea ahead of time so you know about how long it will take.
Overall it doesn’t take long when you consider the lasting benefits the service brings.
Can duct cleaning damage ducts?/Can duct cleaning damage the furnace?
Duct cleaning is a delicate task. It requires special tools/training and if ducts are cleaned the wrong way, they can be damaged. This is why it’s recommended that only a certified HVAC technician perform ductwork cleaning services. We know how to get the job done right and ensure you don’t end up with damaged ducts, only clean ones.
Will duct cleaning improve the airflow?
If the buildup inside your ducts was bad enough, it could have restricted proper airflow. This results in uneven heating and cooling. Even if your furnace/AC is pushing out air, it can’t get where it needs to go if pathways are partially—or even fully blocked off.
The airflow will definitely improve once the pathways are reopened after a cleaning.
Can duct cleaning help allergies?
Yes! Any buildup of dust, large or small, has the potential to worsen allergies. Ducts hold dust and other debris, which often includes irritants such as pet hair, pollen, etc. As air moves through these ducts and gets pushed throughout the home, there’s a constant cycle of allergy irritants flowing through the air. This can absolutely make allergies worse.
So, if the ducts are cleared out and the irritants are no longer present, the air moving around is cleaner. This should help people literally breathe easier.
Having good air quality inside your home or business is important, especially if people around you suffer from allergies/asthma. Cleaning your ducts is one major step in the right direction for improving air quality.
Can duct cleaning remove mold?
Another major thing that can harm air quality is mold. Thankfully, duct cleaning can actually remove mold too.
Air ducts are an easy place for mold to grow because the conditions are favorable for it. They’re usually warm and humid. Since they’re also not visible, it’s easy for mold to develop little by little without anyone knowing. Regular duct cleaning is key to keep mold away.
Will duct cleaning get rid of mice?
Not exactly.
If you have mice living in your home or business, they can end up leaving hair, urine, feces, water, food, and other things in your ducts. Obviously, breathing in these things is not good for your health. And over time a buildup of these things is not going to smell good either.
The good news is that duct cleaning will get rid of all of those things. However, a cleaning will not get rid of the mice themselves. That’s a job for another professional to handle.
Will duct cleaning help with dust?
Yes! Does it ever feel like you can dust your home, yet turn around a moment later and find a layer of dust coating everything again as if you never cleaned in the first place? You’re not imagining things. Dust truly could be accumulating that quickly. When your ducts are filled with dust, it’s almost as if dust is constantly being showered down in your home as air moves around.
Once the ducts are cleaned and the dust is gone, you should see a noticeable difference in the dust present inside your house.
How duct cleaning works:
Professional technicians use a variety of specialized equipment and tools to clean out the supply, intake, and return ducts throughout your entire home or business. The tools vary but can include different vacuums, compressed air tools, and brushes.
The technicians know how to disassemble and assemble your ducts with ease and can get to hard to reach areas without damaging them.
Air duct repairs:
While air duct cleaning is important, it’s just as essential to have ducts that are in good working condition. If your ducts are clean, but damaged, that can lead to problems as well. Getting air duct repairs as soon as you notice a problem can keep everyone safe and bring you peace of mind.
Who is the best duct cleaning company?
This might be the most important question of all. No matter how many benefits duct cleaning brings, when you’re getting your home worked on, you want to know you can trust the people you’re working with. Cellino Plumbing, Heating & Cooling focus on quality and professionalism and have many years of experience to back up our work. Whether you want to set up an ongoing maintenance plan schedule with us or use us to clean your ducts once, we’ll ensure we’re committed to you throughout the process. Please contact us with any questions or to schedule your duct cleaning as soon as possible!
