Air conditioning and heating system filters accumulate dirt over time. If not maintained, they can become clogged or inefficient, resulting in air quality issues in the home. However, air duct cleaning is not an easy job. It requires special equipment and knowledge of how to get rid of the dirt that gets trapped inside your air ducts.
What Is Air Duct Cleaning?
Air Duct Cleaning is the process of removing the dust, dirt, and other particles from your home's heating and cooling system. Not only can these elements cause health problems such as colds and allergies, but they can also decrease the efficiency of your system, which will require you to use more energy to heat or cool your home.
How Do You Know Your Ducts Need to Be Cleaned?
There are a few signs to watch, such as:
- Dirt coming out of the vents
- Bad odor inside your house
- Allergic reactions, such as coughing and wheezing
- Energy bills start going up
If you aren't sure whether your air ducts need cleaning, you should call an expert cleaner to conduct a thorough inspection. A professional can also check for leaks in your ductwork that allow conditioned air to escape, leading to higher energy bills.
Do-It-Yourself Duct Cleaning
If you're a do-it-yourself kind of person, then cleaning your system's ducts is not too difficult or expensive. You can go online and purchase a manual vacuum cleaner with a wand attachment and flexible hose and use it to suck out the inside of your vents.
Make sure you put some special cleaner on a cloth and wipe off the fan blades and coils (if accessible) before vacuuming it up. You should also get an air-purifying filter, like a fiberglass mesh with activated charcoal, to attach to your vacuum's hose. Follow the instructions and change your filter often for the best results.
Why DIY Air Duct Cleaning is Not Recommended
Do-it-yourself air duct cleaning is known to spread mold throughout a home if done incorrectly. Thus, be sure to take your time and follow instructions carefully. If you're not comfortable doing it yourself, just contact a professional.
Besides guaranteeing safety during the cleaning process, professionals have the right tools for the job. If you choose to clean the air ducts yourself, you will likely use a standard vacuum cleaner, which will probably take much longer than necessary since the machine is not designed for this kind of work.
For your attention, consumer vacuum cleaners are not strong enough to remove the dust and debris from inside an air duct system. Moreover, they can stir up hazardous particles that may lead to health issues down the line.
The Bottom Line
Air duct cleaning has many benefits, such as reducing the particles and chemicals that circulate around your home and reducing energy bills. However, cleaning your air ducts can be a dirty and daunting home maintenance task. Thus, it's advisable to hire a professional cleaner.
For more information on air duct cleaning, contact a professional near you.
If your home was being appraised today, would you be alright with the condition of the property? Oftentimes, people don't think too seriously about how much they need to do to the space until problems start to occur with their home, which is why it is so important to stay up-to-date with cleaning.
Check out great tips and tricks about cleaning, and learn when it might be time to contact a professional cleaning company instead of taking care of things on your own. By making the right choices now, you could keep your property in great condition, which could save you money down the road.