Most people don’t think about their home air quality, but a little cleaning can go a really long way. If you experience indoor allergies, have chronic health concerns, or just have a lot of dust in the house, it may be time to get your vents and ducts clean. Did you know that, according to the EPA, air inside homes can be 2-5 times more polluted than outdoor air? As a population that spends 60-90% of our time indoors and spends up to 50% of each power bill on heating or cooling, clean air matters more than most realize.
In fact, it only takes about 3-5 years for old dust, allergens, and other particles to build a fuzzy carpet inside your air ducts and vents that puffs back out into the house every time you run the air. But how do you know when it’s time to get your ducts and vents cleaned? That’s exactly what we’re going to explore today.
When Should You Clean Your Ducts and Vents?
While having a duct cleaning routine every few years is a good idea, there are also some very clear signs that can tell you when the dust in your ducts has reached critical capacity. There are also key moments when you might want to make sure your air is as clean and healthy as possible. Here are the top reasons to have your ducts inspected and cleaned.
Major Changes to the Home
Moving into a new home, it’s always a smart idea to have your ducts cleaned because you never know what kind of particles are lingering in the layers of dust. The previous owners may have been pet-owners, smokers, or DIY enthusiasts leaving all sorts of irritants from years past re-circulating out of old dusty vents. The same is true if you remodel or renovate the house. Having your ducts cleaned afterward will remove sawdust and toxic aerated particles that were released during the renovation process.
New Family Members
Are you welcoming a new baby to the family or perhaps hosting an elderly parent? Having your ducts and vents cleaned is a great way to drastically improve both the air quality and immune system safety of your home. Babies will breathe better and even have a lower risk of developing childhood asthma with cleaner air, while older or immune-compromised family members will enjoy controlled and limited exposure to allergens and irritants.
Musty Smells
Any amount of moisture in your ductwork can allow mold spores to take root in the porous layer of dust. This will create musty and sour smells and can become a long-term health hazard until your ducts are properly cleaned. If you smell a musty odor coming from your vents or getting stronger every time you turn on the HVAC, it’s time for an immediate duct and vent cleaning.
Excessive Dust or Debris
Too much dust in your house can also be a sign that your ducts and vents need cleaning. Over time, dust, pet dander, dead skin cells, and allergens build up inside the duct walls. When dust builds up in the ducts, it puffs back out every time the air system blows through. If you find that your home is constantly dusty no matter how many times you wipe down the surfaces, this is a strong sign that it’s time to clean the ducts.
Airflow is Poor
Does your home’s air feel stale or stuffy? Are there hot and cold spots, or rooms that seem to have poor air quality? This can be caused by so much dust and debris in the ductwork that it is restricting your airflow. This is not just bad for your air quality, but can also put more strain on your HVAC which can be seen in a rising power bill. Cleaning your ducts will improve airflow, air quality, and energy efficiency.
Respiratory and Allergy Problems
Lastly, if you or family members experience significant allergy symptoms indoors, if your allergies are worst in the morning, or you have indoor respiratory problems, the issue is like in your air ducts. Repeated cold symptoms, indoor coughs Dirty air ducts can even cause off-season allergies by redistributing pollen from last season (or even years previous) until that old dust is cleaned out.
No matter which symptoms you’ve noticed or reasons you have, cleaning your air ducts every 3-5 years is always a smart move.