Air quality is a top priority for many homeowners, and the health of your home’s ductwork plays an important role. Dirty ducts can cause poor air quality and increased energy costs, but how can you tell when they need to be professionally cleaned?
If your house constantly looks dusty despite your best efforts, it’s time to schedule an air duct cleaning.
Nasty Smells
Dirty ducts will push dust, pet dander, mold spores, and other particulate contaminants into your home. They will also cause your HVAC system to work harder, which eats up electricity. Dirty ducts can also make allergies worse. If your allergies worsen after cleaning the house or you notice a sudden increase in dust build-up around your vents, it’s time for a professional air duct cleaning.
Various sources, including mold, mildew, vermin, and sewage, can cause nasty smells. A foul odor can be particularly inconvenient if it comes from your air vents or other HVAC components. These smells are hard to eliminate and the worst likely lingering inside your dirty ductwork.
Inconsistent Airflow
Many homeowners will shrug off the idea of a problem with airflow until they notice that one room in the house is warmer or cooler than another. That’s when it’s time to call a professional for an air duct cleaning service.
Harmful contaminants and microorganisms can aggravate allergies, asthma, and other respiratory disorders in children and adults. Periodic air duct cleaning and mold removal can reduce the amount of recirculated allergens throughout the home.
Dust Build up
It’s normal for dust to build up on flat surfaces in your home, but if every surface you touch gets covered in dust just moments after you finish dusting, this could be a sign that it’s time to clean your air ducts. Air duct cleaning helps reduce dust accumulation, improves indoor air quality, and increases HVAC system efficiency.
Dirty air ducts can provide a warm, cozy home for pests like rodents and insects. Once they settle in, they’ll leave behind droppings, fur, chewed-up materials, and unpleasant smells.
Unpleasant Smells
If you’ve noticed dust wisps puffing out of a vent or found piles of pet hair and dirt coating your air conditioner’s grill, it’s a sign that your home’s ductwork needs cleaning. When left uncleaned, these grimy particles are blown into your home and can trigger health problems and decrease the efficiency of your HVAC system. Nasty smells like mildew, mold, or rotten food can signify dirty ductwork.
Dirty ductwork is a breeding ground for vermin, who use it as a sheltered superhighway. They leave behind droppings and other unpleasant odors distributed throughout your house with each gust of air from your HVAC unit. If the smell is incredibly stinky, it could indicate dead rodents in your ductwork.
Unpleasant Odors
Whether it’s rotting roadkill or the stench of a bloated whale carcass, unpleasant smells are always unsettling. These odors can also harm your health and are often a sign of a problem with your home’s air ducts.
Dust can accumulate in air ducts and recirculate throughout the house each time your HVAC system turns on. When dust settles quickly on every flat surface in your home, it’s a clear sign that your home’s ductwork needs cleaning.
If your home has recently undergone major repairs or renovations, construction debris has likely ended up in the air ducts. Look for droppings, chewed-up materials, and signs of vermin infestation, such as minor scratches or insect husks and shells. These signs indicate that it’s time to call for professional help.
