Are your ducts too dirty? Will having them cleaned improve your HVAC system’s performance or your overall health? The answer isn’t generally as straightforward as people think. If you suspect your ducts need cleaning, get a professional assessment to find out for sure.
A lot of companies claim that you should have your ducts cleaned every year, and that it can remove dust and contaminants from the air, reducing allergies and asthma and helping your HVAC system run more efficiently. In actuality, there’s no hard evidence that duct cleaning does any of those things, and once a year is far more than is necessary, unless your system has other serious problems that should be addressed on their own (such as a clogged or inadequate air filter). Some experts say that your ducts need cleaning every five years or so, while others, including the U.S. EPA, say it should be done only if an inspection turns up a problem. The reasons ducts need cleaning are more serious than simple maintenance issues. If a cleaning is actually necessary, it’s usually due to one of the following reasons:
- Mold growth on your duct walls
- Evidence of an infestation of insects, rodents or other vermin inside your ducts
- Your ducts are so heavily clogged with dust that it’s actually being expelled into your home from the registers when you run your HVAC system.
Beware of companies that advertise low-priced duct cleaning and stress to you the health benefits and the importance of having it done regularly. These are usually scams, and more likely than not, once the technician arrives, he will “find” some serious problem with your ductwork that will end up costing much more than the initial estimate.
The best way to find out for sure if your ducts need cleaning is to call a professional whom you can trust and have them perform an assessment. An HVAC technician can inspect your ducts and show you whether or not cleaning would be in your best interest, including having lab tests done to determine for sure if you do, in fact, have mold growth.
For an assessment of your ducts, or for general home comfort advice, contact our experts at Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning. We provide quality HVAC services to Lorain, Cuyahoga and Erie counties.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about ducts and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area