Ductwork plays a huge role in keeping you and your home comfortable throughout the year. A series of ducts is responsible for carrying conditioned air from your HVAC system to your home’s living areas.
However, since ducts are often out of sight and out of mind, many homeowners fail to give them the proper maintenance they deserve. Over time, mold, mildew, dust, debris and viruses can build up in the ducts. When these pollutants and contaminants make their way into your home’s living areas, they can have an adverse effect on the health of you and your family, especially those with asthma, allergies and other respiratory illnesses.
Fortunately, the team of indoor air quality specialists at Schebler Heating and Air can provide your home with the best duct cleaning services in the Quad Cities. Contact us today to learn more about our services or to schedule an appointment.
How Often Do Ducts Need to Be Cleaned?
If there are no apparent issues with your ducts – and your home’s air quality seems fine – ducts only need to be cleaned every 3-5 years on average.
However, factors inside the home can lead to the service needing to be performed more frequently. Those include:
Vermin and mold
Mold is an issue that needs to be addressed immediately, as it can cause health issues such as headaches, difficulty breathing, and coughing. Rodents or insects, meanwhile, can leave harmful bacteria behind that can also lead to unhealthy living conditions.
You live with pets
You love your furry friends, but they can cause an excess amount of pet dander and hair to build up in your ductwork. We recommend having your ducts cleaned about every two years if you own pets.
Someone in your home smokes
Consider having your ducts cleaned more frequently if a member of your family smokes. Air duct cleaning can remove tobacco smoke residue from inside the ducts.
Dust floating around in the air
Dust is normal in any home, but if you notice more dust than usual, it may be time to have your ducts cleaned. Dust film on air registers is also a tell-tale sign the ducts are dirty.
Clogged filters
HVAC filters should be replaced about every three months on average, or according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. If your filters are becoming dirty and clogged more frequently, your ducts could be to blame.
Insufficient air flow
Ducts that are filled with debris or have developed leaks will negatively affect the air flow across your home. This will cause your HVAC system to work harder to properly heat or cool your home, which will raise your energy bills and increase wear and tear on the system.
Odor in the air
If there’s a funky smell in your home, it could be originating from your ducts. Mold can cause a mildew smell around your home and should be inspected and removed as soon as possible.
If you’re not sure if the ducts have been cleaned in the past few years, reach out to the indoor air quality technicians at Schebler. We can thoroughly inspect the ductwork and make any recommendations as to whether they need to be cleaned or repaired.
The Importance of Duct Cleaning
By now, you’ve identified if your ducts are in need of cleaning, but unfortunately, people are often not motivated to make the call until they hear about the benefits that come along with regular, professional duct cleaning.
Not only do dirty ducts increase allergies, headaches and breathing problems, but they can also hike up your energy bills. Below are just a few of the other benefits you and your family will enjoy after a thorough duct cleaning:
- Better indoor air quality
- Improved air flow
- Reduced allergens
- Trapped contaminants
- Reduced odors
- Improved HVAC system efficiency
- Lower energy bills
Contact Schebler for Air Duct Cleaning Services
The indoor air quality specialists at Schebler care about the health of your home and family, which is why we offer comprehensive air duct cleaning services. Contact Schebler today to schedule an appointment and get your ducts in a row.