Indoor air quality is something that households often take for granted. Just as you worry about the rising outdoor air pollution, you also have to examine the level of air quality inside your home. Especially considering indoor air can be more polluted than the air outside.
The first step to keeping your home free from air pollutants is safeguarding your ventilation. Your HVAC system works nonstop, day in and day out, to keep your home at a comfortable and safe temperature.
The more your heating and cooling systems pump air, the more dust, allergens, and pollutants are drawn in. The quality of air is reduced, and your units are working harder than they should.
So how do you protect your HVAC system’s integrity while making sure you’re breathing clean and unpolluted air? Two words: regular maintenance. It’s important to have your air ducts inspected and cleaned regularly.
The next question is, how regular is regular?
When to Clean Your Air Ducts
Air ducts should be professionally serviced every three to five years, says National Air Duct Cleaners Association. Inspection should be more frequent if you or any of your loved ones has asthma or other respiratory conditions.
Regular cleaning will get rid of pollen, dust mites, and danger that can contribute to allergy triggers while ensuring your HVAC systems are working at optimum efficiency.
Here are other signs that tell you your air ducts should be cleaned:
- There’s a spike in your monthly utility bill. Clogged air vents will put more pressure on your heating and cooling system to work harder as it pumps conditioned air through your home. This extra strain will result in higher energy costs. If you notice that your bill is higher than usual, there’s a good chance that there’s something wrong with your ducts.
- The heating and cooling system isn’t working right. Anything that’s not working as it should is always a bad sign. If your AC unit is acting strange and isn’t performing as efficiently as it used to, you can bet there’s something blocking your air ducts. You can also look out for weird noises from your vents and inconsistent airflow. Chances are, it’s time for an inspection.
- There’s more dust than usual. This may seem self-explanatory. But you’d be surprised by how many people think that faster overaccumulation of dust on surfaces is just because, well, there’s more dust. They don’t account for the fact that it’s due to dirty dents that need to be cleaned right away.
Other Reasons to Clean Your Vent
Your home is constantly subjected to a wide range of elements: dust, dirt, pet dander, cigarette. Beyond that, other possible factors that affect indoor quality include home renovation projects, water contamination, or home damage. These are all good reasons to have your air vents serviced regularly.
Some of your loved ones are more sensitive to the elements than others. If you live with someone with asthma or allergy, children, or seniors, there’s a greater need to pay attention to your air ducts.
Air duct cleaning is possibly one of the last things on your to-do list. But knowing how indoor air quality can affect your health and that of your family, there’s nothing to lose and everything to gain from ; properly maintaining your air ducts.