Stated by an HVAC contractor in Dallas, you don’t give your air conditioner a second thought until it stops working. But performing routine maintenance is a sure way to keep your system running efficiently and ensure it performs reliably for years.
Your AC’s air ducts are like the circulatory system for your home, and just like the arteries in your body, dirty or clogged air ducts affect your system and your health.
In this article, we look at why ductwork is essential; how they affect your health when dirty, and how to keep your ducts clean.
Air Duct Cleaning Defined
It may shock you, but most times, the air inside your home dirtier than the air outside. Think about it; you’re cooped up in a closed space with pet dander, dust, mold, mildew, and other particles floating in the air. These pollutants float around the house affecting everyone inside including your pets.
So, air duct cleaning happens when you hire an HVAC technician to come in and clean the ducts and the components of your air conditioner. Like anything else in your home, keeping the AC system clean is essential to the health of you and the system. With dust, dirt, and other debris building up every day, week in and out, it’s essential to schedule regular cleaning. If you’ve never had your ductwork cleaned, now’s the time to call an HVAC contractor for an appointment.
Dirty Air Ducts & Your Health
As mentioned above, dirty air ducts can affect the health of everyone in the house. According to the EPA, we Americans spend about 90% of our time in our homes, so imagine breathing in all that dirty air.
Here are just a few of the health problems you can suffer from the polluted air in your home:
- Sore throats
- More severe allergies
- Upper respiratory infection, coughing
- Aggravated asthma symptoms
- Weakened immune system
And it’s not just dirt, dust, and dander you have to worry about either; sometimes rodents get into your ductwork and die or leave waste. Imagine the bacteria and germs from that blowing through your home and being inhaled by you and your children!
Air Duct Cleaning
If your air ducts need a good cleaning, it’s best to call in a professional air duct cleaning service to get it done thoroughly. However, if doing it yourself is your thing, check out these tips:
- Cover your registers to keep dust to a minimum
- Run the fan to move dust for easier cleaning
- Keep your AC filter in so it can absorb more dirt
- Use a vacuum with a hose to clean registers
- Turn off the power and vacuum the blower compartment
- Change out the dirty filter for a clean one when you’re done
If getting a pro to do the job is how you want to go, rates vary from company to company but expect to pay anywhere from $300 – $500. It may seem high, but consider it an investment in your family’s good health.
