Updated: August 29, 2024
Like many people in the metro Atlanta GA, area, you probably spend a good deal of time in your home. You relax at home after a long day of work. You sleep there at night, and you enjoy spending time with your family and friends at home. Unfortunately, many homes experience poor indoor air quality that can affect the health of the occupants inside. From inadequate levels of humidity to a high prevalence of particulates, several air quality issues may be present in your home right now. Professional duct cleaning services can help remedy this situation.
What is an Air Duct Cleaning?
Each home is different regarding what kind of contaminants are present, but the most common issues are pet dander, dust, pollen, and mold spores. For people who suffer from allergies, these particulates can cause an increase in itchy eyes, a runny nose, and sneezing. Some people even experience an increase in asthma attacks or respiratory illnesses when their indoor air quality is poor. When a professional comes to your home to perform a duct cleaning, they will use a high-powered vacuum, compressed air, or a series of brushes to remove these particulates and debris from your ducts. They will also inspect various interior components like the compressor, condenser coils, plenum, etc.
The Health Benefits of Professional Air Duct Cleaning
The benefits of having your ducts professionally cleaned extend beyond simply protecting the integrity of your HVAC system. This is an important part of keeping you and your family safe and healthy when you’re at home.
Removal of Mold Spores
Because your ducts are so dark and sometimes humid, they are an ideal breeding ground for mold. Mold exposure can be extremely damaging to your health, triggering allergy symptoms, breathing issues, and even nervous system problems. Mold can affect your gut health and even make you feel extremely tired. If a professional spots a very extensive mold problem, they will advise you on what you should do to immediately protect yourself, your family, and your home. This may include professional mold remediation services, which remove the mold without spreading it to other areas.
Decreased Allergies
Regularly exposing yourself to allergenic particulates can make you feel unwell, even if you’re not typically prone to allergy symptoms. A duct cleaning only takes a few hours at most, but particulates are quickly removed and disposed of so that you’re no longer breathing these things in each day. Many people report that they experience clearer nasal passages, healthier skin, and a decrease in sneezing when they have recently had their ducts serviced and cleaned.
If you’ve been living in the Dallas area for a while now, then you’re probably no stranger to seasonal allergies. When pollen starts to fly and accumulate on every outdoor surface, you need a safe place to retreat. You can find relief inside your home if your ducts are cleaned, and you can rest easy in the knowledge that you have healthy indoor air quality.
Improved Smell
While you might not be allergic to the smell of your home, it’s not pleasant to come home to a musty, dusty smell each day. Over time, this smell will only increase as particulates continue to build up inside your ductwork. They circulate throughout your home as well. After a professional duct cleaning, you’ll notice that your indoor air smells fresher and healthier.
Improved Comfort
A duct cleaning every few years doesn’t just affect your ducts; it can also protect the integrity of your HVAC system as well. During a duct cleaning, other interior components of your heating and cooling equipment will be addressed. As particulates build up inside your furnace and AC, this can lead to decreased performance. The air circulating in your home will feel less comfortable, and you might even notice that certain rooms feel more uncomfortable than others. By servicing your HVAC system, you can enjoy better comfort overall. This can also prevent your system from having to run frequently to keep up with your set temperature, which decreases your monthly utility bills.
If ductwork is clogged with particulates, air will circulate less easily, leading to a stuffy feeling. Clear ducts will allow for optimal airflow through all the different pathways of your ducts. Each room of your home should feel more comfortable, whether you’re trying to bring the temperature up or down with heating or cooling. When you feel more comfortable in your home, you can sleep better, relax more, and feel motivated for the day ahead.
Addressing Humidity
While having your ducts cleaned doesn’t necessarily directly affect the humidity levels in your home, this process can provide a professional with an idea of how humid your home is inside your ducts. As we mentioned, this promotes an optimal breeding ground for mold. If your technician determines that humidity is. The weather in Dallas can get humid during the warm months, which can lead to a moisture problem. Experts will recommend a whole-house dehumidifier to prevent moisture from building up in your ducts and passing into your home.
You might also have a problem with your indoor air being too dry as well. When you combine very dry indoor air with dirty ducts, allergies are sure to follow. A whole-house humidifier is an option for this problem. It is installed in your HVAC system to add moisture to your indoor air as it passes through your ducts and out through the vents in your home. You can control the amount of moisture that is being expelled, as well as turn the unit off completely if you don’t feel it’s necessary based on the time of year.
Indoor Air Quality Assessments
An indoor air quality assessment is a great way to determine what kind of contaminants you’re dealing with in your home. Before having a duct cleaning performed, talk to a professional who knows what they’re dealing with. This allows them to use the correct equipment and processes to provide you with clean ducts and healthy indoor air.
How Often Should You Have a Duct Cleaning Performed?
General recommendations indicate that you have your ductwork cleaned once every three to five years. This time frame will depend on things like whether you have pets in your home, whether you keep your windows open frequently, and whether you suffer from allergies.
If you have an HVAC professional come to your home once per year for routine HVAC maintenance, they can usually look to see if a duct cleaning should be done that year.
Calling in the Professionals
If you are living in the Dallas area and are interested in finding out more about the health benefits of having your ducts cleaned, reach out to Precision Heating & Air. In addition to cleaning your ducts, we can install and repair heating and cooling equipment, perform indoor air quality assessments, and service your heat pump. Call us today to schedule an appointment.
