The ductwork system in your Shawnee, KS home is often forgotten about. However, it’s an extremely important part of your home’s HVAC system. To achieve healthy indoor air quality and keep your home at a comfortable temperature, it’s imperative that your ductwork is routinely inspected and cleaned. If you’re wondering how often you should schedule this service, let’s discuss some of the different factors and details you need to know.
What Does an Air Duct Cleaning Include?
When you schedule a duct cleaning with our team, our technicians will thoroughly clean out all of the ducts that are part of your HVAC system. This includes the ducts as well as registers, intake vents, heat exchangers, your furnace’s interior components, and more. The purpose of this process is to remove the particulate matter and debris that has built up over time. While this accumulation is normal, it can damage your heating and cooling equipment, damage your ductwork, and decrease your indoor air quality if ignored.
This process also involves an inspection of your ductwork. While we’re performing the cleaning process, we may notice that there is damage to your ducts. We can make repairs as necessary. There may be upgrades that we can make to increase the efficiency of your system, such as ductwork insulation.
The Frequency of Your Duct Cleanings
It’s ideal that you schedule a duct cleaning every three to five years, according to the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA). You may benefit from more frequent cleanings if you live in a home with pets or in an area that experiences high levels of pollution or pollen. Keep in mind that this process is different from the annual HVAC inspection that you should be scheduling. This process does not include having your ductwork inspected.
You should also consider a one-off duct cleaning if you’ve recently had remodeling work done in your home. This process can kick up a lot of dust and debris, which eventually makes its way into your ductwork.
Signs That Your Ducts Should Be Cleaned
There are several key things you should watch out for that indicate it’s time to schedule a cleaning for your ductwork. This includes:
Unusual Odors
Does your home smell musty when your HVAC system is running? There may be a lot of debris inside of your ductwork that is causing the smell. You may also notice an odd smell if mold spores have started to form somewhere in your ducting.
Your Home is Very Dusty
Have you noticed that the surfaces in your home are very dusty? Have you needed to clean your home more frequently because of this dust accumulation? You may even be experiencing an increase in allergy symptoms such as itchy eyes, a cough, or sneezing. This dust can come in from the outside and include particulates like pollen, but you may also be circulating these particles from inside your HVAC system.
Decreased HVAC Efficiency
If you’ve recently had your HVAC system inspected and serviced but you’re still experiencing decreased efficiency, there may be more to blame than just an aging unit. The dust accumulation inside of your ductwork may be causing your equipment to work harder to bring your home to a preset temperature.
How Do We Clean Your Ducts?
The process of having your ductwork cleaned includes the use of specialized tools to remove particulate matter from inside your ducts, registers, intake vents, etc. High-powered suction is used to remove debris. Some homes provide enough access through their registers and intakes, but there may be a need to cut into different spots on your ductwork to gain access to every inch of your ductwork. The result is a completely clear system that is much healthier for you and your family.
What is the Risk of Forgoing Duct Cleaning?
We here at Air Care Heating & Cooling understand that it can be difficult to keep up with all of the routine maintenance and repairs that your home needs. However, having your ducts cleaned is something that should be done regularly to keep your indoor air quality at a healthy level. Dust and debris in your ductwork are just one way that your indoor air quality is impacted, but it’s a very important consideration.
Your average furnace and air conditioner will last anywhere from 15 to 20 years. If you would like to prevent having to replace this equipment prematurely, routine duct cleanings can help. By removing the particulate matter in your ducts, this places less strain on your heating and cooling equipment. You can heat and cool your home more efficiently, but you may experience fewer repair needs over time as well.
How Long Does It Take to Have Ducts Cleaned?
The process of having your ductwork cleaned will only take a few hours. The time frame may be longer if you have a very large house with an extensive system of ductwork. You may also experience a longer appointment if there turns out to be damage to your ductwork that needs to be fixed.
Is Duct Cleaning a DIY Process?
While there are certain things you can do to maintain your HVAC system, such as changing your filters regularly, cleaning your ductwork isn’t something you can do yourself. It requires professional service to ensure the process is done safely and efficiently. As we mentioned, specialized equipment is needed to perform an exceptional job. If you’re not properly trained in this field of work, you could end up doing more harm than good to your HVAC system.
Can I Reduce My Need for Duct Cleanings?
While it’s recommended that a duct cleaning be performed every three to five years, there are steps that you can take to maintain optimal indoor air quality and reduce particle accumulation in the meantime. Make sure that you’re keeping your home clean. Weekly dusting and vacuuming are ideal. This can prevent particulate matter from entering your ductwork. You should also consider running a portable or whole-house purification unit to trap things like pet dander, pollen, mold spores, dust, dust mites, etc.
Maintaining a healthy indoor humidity level between 35% and 50% can prevent mold from forming. You can accomplish this with a whole-house dehumidifier. An upgraded thermostat can help you monitor the level of relative humidity in your home. If you opt for a smart model, you can monitor these levels remotely and even control your HVAC system and dehumidifier from wherever you are.
If you would like to learn more about the process of having your ductwork cleaned, including the schedule frequency that you should be following, reach out to the team here at Air Care Heating & Cooling in Shawnee. We have been in business for over 40 years and have more than 22,000 happy customers. In addition to cleaning ductwork, we also install, repair, and maintain all types of heating and cooling equipment. We also provide services for indoor air quality, geothermal heating and cooling, water heaters, tankless water heaters, and more. Contact Air Care Heating & Cooling today to schedule an appointment.
