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There is debate between HVAC services, the Environmental Protection Agency, and other researchers that have conducted official studies about why homes and businesses require HVAC duct cleaning and the suggested frequency. However, all of these groups agree upon one thing: air ducts attract dust, dirt, debris, and mold. As the airways become more constricted, it slows down the airflow through the duct work, causing the air conditioning and heating system to run more often.
The easiest way to demonstrate how a central heating and air conditioning system operates is to think of your circulatory system and your arteries pumping blood through your body. This is similar to your home or office's central heating and air conditioning system. In the human body, if artery walls become clogged with cholesterol and fatty deposits, it makes the heart beat harder and faster because of the decrease in the available space and restriction in blood flow. Eventually, if you do not do anything to remedy this problem, the artery can become clogged and cause a heart attack or stroke.
With a HVAC system, it becomes less efficient as dirt, dust, and debris deposits build up on the walls of the air ducts. Not only does the air conditioning and heating system run more frequently, but you are also causing unnecessary wear and tear on the blower motor, heating and cooling elements, and other working parts within your HVAC system. These parts are the heartbeat of your central heating and cooling system. In essence, without regular air conditioning services to clean the ducts in your home or office, you are contributing to the poor health of your HVAC system and eventually it will have a "heart attack" when the motor burns out or other parts stop working.
Are There Health Benefits of HVAC Duct Cleaning?
For those people who suffer from asthma, allergies, or other breathing conditions, HVAC duct cleaning is beneficial. Cleaning the duct work helps remove dust, debris, and growth that has built up on the interior walls of the air ducts, and prevents you from breathing these in, by increasing the air quality within the home or office. Spending the money to clean your ducts on a regular basis is a good investment to reduce allergies and prevent asthma attacks.
Studies have not established a link between dirty air ducts and other types of illnesses or diseases. However, dirty air ducts mean your home or office gets dustier faster, requiring more detailed cleaning on a frequent basis. Whenever your central heating and air conditioning system runs, it draws in fresh air, blows it through the ductwork, and recycles the air through an air return. The air return is where the air filter is installed. High quality air filters do help remove many particles, dust motes and pet dander from the air, but are not able to keep duct work clean. So the dirt and dust are simply blown into the rooms in the home or business and accumulate onitems like bedding, chairs, desks, cooktops, televisions, and bookshelves.
Four Signs of Dirty Air Ducts
1. If you notice dust accumulates quickly in your home.
2. If you see mold growing around register vents.
3. If you suffer from respiratory conditions and notice breathing is becoming more difficult while at home.
4. When you see clouds of dust being blown out of the register vents.
How Can I Tell If I Require Air Duct Cleaning?
The easiest way to tell if you need to clean your air ducts is to take a look inside the ducts by removing the floor or ceiling air vent cover. If you notice a large amount of dust and debris on and around the air vent opening, they might need cleaning. Using your smart phone or digital camera, slide it into the vent as far as you can reach, being careful to not drop it. Take a few flash pictures with the device, and then review those to see how much dust and debris are on the interior duct walls. If there is just a small amount of deposits around the air vent openings, you can use a vacuum and clean this yourself. For those deposits out of reach, or for heavier accumulations, call in a professional.
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