It’s important to routinely schedule professional air duct cleanings. Your air ducts are a vital part of your heating and cooling system. They deliver warm or cool air to all the rooms throughout your home. Unfortunately, they can get dirty over time. If there’s a buildup of dust and other allergens inside them, it can cause poor indoor air quality. Taking advantage of our air duct cleaning services not only contributes to a healthy indoor environment but also improves the efficiency of your HVAC system by improving airflow. Watch for the following warning signs that tell you it’s time to call us.
High Energy Bills
It costs enough to heat and cool your home without risking anything that may add to those charges. No matter what time of year it is, your energy bills should be consistent with previous years. If you notice a sudden spike in these charges, it could be due to your HVAC system.
If your ductwork is blocked or full of debris, the air won’t flow properly. This causes your heating and cooling system to work harder to provide you with the comfort you desire. You may notice the system turning on and off more frequently. The additional energy consumption will show up on your monthly bill. If you’re experiencing this, duct cleaning is a must.
Unpleasant Odors
It’s normal for a heater to have a dusty odor when it starts up for the first time that year, but unusual odors are a warning sign. If you notice an unusual odor in your home but can’t figure out where it’s coming from, it may be your ductwork. That smell may also result from pest infestation or mold issues. We can inspect your ductwork as we clean it to ensure there isn’t any damage that will contribute to further unpleasant odors.
Poor Airflow
Your heating and cooling system circulates the air in your home. It pulls in the air to heat or cool it, and it then sends that air through the air ducts and throughout your home. Your vents should deliver the same quality and consistency of airflow to each room. Inconsistent airflow from one room to another is typically due to a build-up of dust, dirt, and debris. This buildup results in blockages that prevent air from reaching certain areas. Air duct cleaning will remove the buildup that’s keeping the air from getting through.
Infestations
No one wants to think that there’s a pest infestation in their walls or ductwork, but it happens. Small animals like mice, along with a variety of insects, can find their way into your air ducts. Once inside your air ducts, they’ll instinctively make nests. Since this is their new home, they’ll be leaving waste material behind. The air going through your ductwork picks up fecal spores from those droppings and will spread them. This contributes to poor air quality.
If you find droppings or other signs of pest infestation, you should schedule air duct cleaning as soon as possible. This will prevent the spread of allergens and disease-carrying microbes. Vermin dander, bacteria, insect droppings, and viruses can lead to serious health issues.
Excessive Dust
Are you continually cleaning and dusting your house? Your air ducts shouldn’t be adding substantial dust to your home. When there’s a buildup of debris in the ductwork, you may notice that surfaces become dirty quickly.
Watch for dust on the grills of your air vents. This is a huge warning sign that the ductwork is the source of your dust problem. This is because that buildup of dust in them is escaping into your home every time your heating or cooling system starts up.
Also, keep an eye on your HVAC system’s air filter. You need to change it periodically, but it shouldn’t clog with dust and debris after only a few days or weeks. Excessive dust may be due to dirty ductwork, so cleaning them can both improve indoor air quality and make it so you don’t have to clean as often.
HVAC Updates
If you need to replace parts of your heating and cooling system, you should also clean your air ducts. Dirty ductwork can contaminate new portions of the system. Professional air duct cleaning will protect these components and allow your HVAC system to be as efficient as possible.
You Have Pets
If you have pets, you know how hard it is to keep everything clean. They shed on furniture, rugs, and more. Pet hair can also get into your ductwork. Your HVAC system’s filters capture a lot of it, but you should still schedule air duct cleanings more frequently with pets around.
No Prior Cleanings
If you live in an older home and have not maintained your air ducts in the past, we can perform a thorough inspection and cleaning. You may not be experiencing any warning signs, but it’s certainly an excellent preventative measure. Normally, you should schedule air duct cleaning every three to five years.
You’re Renovating
Construction work can create a huge mess. The dust and debris from a renovation project can find their way throughout your home, even when you’re being careful. That dirt and debris can easily find its way into your ductwork. Once your renovations are complete, schedule air duct cleaning to avoid any future issues.
Allergies and Respiratory Issues
While it’s normal to experience sneezing and have dry, itchy eyes during the spring and summer months, you shouldn’t have to deal with these issues all year long. If your air ducts need cleaning, allergens like pet dander and pollen will be building up inside of them. As your HVAC system runs, these allergens find their way into every room in your house. This can cause an increase in allergies and asthma. If you don’t normally suffer from allergies, but suddenly, you’re feeling like you have a cold when you’re in your home, it could be time for our air duct cleaning.
Mold and Mildew
Mold and mildew are huge red flags when it comes to the urgent need for air duct cleaning. Your HVAC system will experience condensation on its interior and in its ducting. Unfortunately, any type of moisture provides a place for mold and mildew to thrive. If mold takes hold in your air ducts, and your HVAC system blows air through them, that air will carry mold spores with it.
Mold can trigger allergies and respiratory issues, such as wheezing, coughing, and shortness of breath. If you find mold in your home, we can clean and inspect your air ducts to prevent further damage.
Your Air Duct Cleaning Experts
Here at Cool Experts AC in Richardson, TX, we want to help you create a comfortable and healthy home. In addition to our air duct cleaning service, we offer heating and cooling repair, installation, and maintenance that will ensure your home is comfortable all year long. We also provide indoor air quality products like whole home purifiers. Contact Cool Experts AC today to learn more about our air duct cleaning and other useful services.