It is not unusual to put little thought into the areas of our homes that we do not readily see. However, when it comes to your home’s air ducts, it might surprise you to learn how important it is to maintain them even though they aren’t visible. Every day that your HVAC system is running, be that for air conditioning, heating or just the fan, it is circulating air throughout your home and through the ductwork. It might seem that this would keep the ducts clean all the time, but this isn’t actually the case.
If you think about dust in your home, you know just how quickly it can seem to materialize out of nowhere and land on your furnishings. This dust and other contaminants are also going through the ductwork, and each time your HVAC system cycles off, it settles to the bottom. Many of the contaminants have enough stickiness to them that they not only adhere, but trap dust and dander, too.
The problem is that some of the things that are now in your air ducts are far from healthy, particularly to those with respiratory issues such as asthma or allergies. Not all of these contaminants stay stuck to the ductwork indefinitely. Many keep getting circulated, making your home a less-healthy environment.
A person with respiratory issues may be more susceptible to the hazards of a dirty air duct system, but anyone can experience sinus and respiratory infections. That’s why homes and offices should call for air duct cleaning on a regular basis. For homes, the frequency will depend on such factors as whether you have pets, if you cook a lot without using a kitchen fan, if there are smokers in your home, and if you leave windows open frequently, permitting pollens and dust to enter.
Be sure to call a professional air duct cleaning company that has experience with homes and offices in your area. They should be more than willing to inspect the ductwork and give you a quote for cleaning it, as well as answer any questions you may have.
