Why You Should Clean Your Dirty Air Ducts

a blue bottle with a red lid

You rely on your heating and air conditioning systems every day. You trust that they’re going to pump clean, temperature-controlled air throughout your home. The last thing you’re worried about is your HVAC system spreading allergens or pollutants throughout your home. And you definitely don’t plan for the system to conk out on you and leave you freezing cold in the middle of winter or burning up on a July afternoon. There are many different common problems you may experience as homeowners with your HVAC unit. One of these that can affect many different areas is your air duct system.

Dirty air ducts can affect your system, your home, and even your health. The air ducts are what carry air throughout your home. When they get dirty, they may also circulate debris and contaminants into the airflow. Cleaning your air ducts and committing to regular maintenance are the best ways to guarantee your units can function properly for a long period of time. Let’s take a look at just a few specific reasons why you should clean your air ducts for the most efficient HVAC system.

Avoid illness due to bad air quality.

Your heater and AC spread air throughout your home. They have the biggest impact on your air quality. If you’ve been noticing health problems or exacerbation of your allergies or asthma, it may be the impact of dirty air ducts. Your indoor air quality may be something you take for granted. After all, pollen isn’t going to make its way inside, right? While you may be safe from that allergen, dirty air ducts can circulate dust, mold, and pet dander around your home.

There are a few different illnesses or diseases you may notice if dirty ducts are impacting your indoor air. To start, when debris and contaminants get into your lungs, you may start to develop respiratory issues. Regular colds or coughing fits can be a sign you may need a good air duct cleaning. Make your family’s health a priority by avoiding these illnesses and prioritizing good indoor air quality.

Save money on energy bills.

When your air ducts are filthy, they can cause blockages for airflow. This can force your HVAC system to work twice as hard to regulate the temperature of your home. You may also notice this difference and crank up the heat or AC higher than you usually would. This can end up costing you a lot more money on your energy costs and utility bills. By cleaning the air ducts, you’re setting your system up to operate more efficiently, therefore, saving yourself more money down the road.

Help your HVAC unit function better and longer.

Forcing your HVAC unit to work twice as hard because of a dirty duct system will end up wearing it down more quickly than you want. Your system is delicate and requires special care and attention. By cleaning out your air ducts, you’re allowing your heater and AC to function properly and work at the right pace to spread air throughout the home. If you want a system you can rely on for many years, you need to take care of it first.

Avoid pest problems.

A build-up of moisture and dirty air in your home doesn’t just cause health problems for you, but it can attract unwanted visitors. If you don’t clean your air ducts, they may attract pests and rodents. They will make their home in your air vents and can spread toxic dander and cause serious health problems, not to mention the annoyance of needing pest control to eliminate these unwanted visitors. Avoid this nuisance by cleaning your air ducts ahead of time.