The air duct system is an important system of the house;  it’s responsible for air circulation and distributing the heating and cooling throughout the house.  Like most household systems, air ducts need to be cleaned and maintained every now and then to function properly and efficiently.  Air ducts do not need to be cleaned as often as other areas of the home but it is beneficial for homeowners to be aware of when they need to be cleaned.

The following are common signs that it is time to get your air ducts professionally cleaned.

1. Mold or Mildew

If you notice mold or mildew growing anywhere in your home or within the air duct system, it is a good idea to have the air ducts cleaned.  Mold produces spores that spread to other areas by traveling through the air and they can very easily end up within the air duct system where they can get distributed throughout the house or cause mold to grow within the ducts.  Having your air ducts cleaned after eliminating a mold problem will help ensure that the mold growth does not reoccur.

2. Health and Respiratory Problems

Over time, dirt, dust, and other debris accumulate within the air ducts and end up getting distributed back into the breathing air of the home when the heat or air conditioner kicks on.  Breathing in this debris can lead to allergic reactions such as coughing, runny noses, or trouble breathing and it can also trigger asthma attacks and other more serious health problems.  If people within your home are experiencing these symptoms on a more consistent basis, cleaning the air ducts could help alleviate the symptoms.

3. Excess Dust and Debris from the Registers

The accumulated dust and debris within an air duct system can reach up to almost 40 pounds on average over the course of one year and this excess dust might gather around the vents or be released back into the breathing air.  If you notice excessive dust build up in the vents and registers, it may be beneficial to have the air ducts cleaned.

4. Reduced Efficiency

As the dirt and debris builds up in the air ducts, it contaminates the component parts and slows the air flow, forcing the system to work harder to circulate air.  This not only decreases the energy efficiency of the system leading to higher bills, but also increases the risk of breaking down.  If you notice that the heating or cooling is turning on more than normal or that your energy bills have increased, it may be necessary to have your air ducts cleaned.

Contact a Professional

It is easy for homeowners to forget about their air ducts but it is important to look out for these signs to make sure you have your air ducts professionally cleaned when it is needed.  Professional air duct cleaning can improve the indoor air quality of your home and the energy efficiency of the HVAC system.  Contact a trusted air duct cleaning service provider to have the air ducts in your home professionally cleaned.

About Vince Sandri

Vince Sandri is a content writer and blogger with more than 12 years of experience. His expertise is in creating content related to disaster restoration, including information about preventing and reacting to natural disasters like flooding, water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold growth, storm damage and more.
Vince has been the main contributor to RestorationMasterFinder.com since 2014. Over that time, he has written numerous service pages and blogs for disaster restoration providers featured on RestorationMasterFinder.com. Vince has done extensive research and covered a wide range of topics relating to disaster restoration to help homeowners, business owners, and property managers better protect their property. He understands the problems that disasters like flooding, fire, smoke, and mold can cause as well as the best ways to respond to these issues to limit the damage.
Vince completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Aurora University and his master’s degree at DePaul University. He has been writing SEO website pages, blogs, and press releases since 2012. Vince is also a musician and can be seen playing in the Chicago, IL area.