Whether you live in the beautiful city of Fresno or anywhere else in Central California, keeping your home’s air ducts clean is essential. Air duct cleaning is vital to good routine home maintenance, but how often should you clean them? The experts at Monarch Home Services have some tips and information regarding the importance of duct cleaning, signs your ducts need to be cleaned, how often you should clean them, and more.
Importance of Regular Duct Cleaning
The benefits of regular duct cleaning affect more than just the indoor air quality of your home. Regular duct cleaning also helps your home’s HVAC system run more efficiently by removing debris like dust and grime that can impede airflow and create blockages.
Here’s why routine duct cleaning is so important for your home and family:
Better Air Quality
Regular duct cleaning is one of the best ways to maintain indoor air quality. Your ducts harbor various allergens, such as dust, pollen, mold spores, and pet dander, that may worsen respiratory and allergy symptoms. When those contaminants are removed, the air inside your home becomes cleaner, clearer, and healthier.
Improved Efficiency
When your air ducts are clogged, they restrict airflow and force your HVAC system to work harder, making it less efficient. A regular air duct cleaning schedule removes those blockages, leading to better efficiency and lower utility bills. It also helps to prevent other potential problems with your HVAC system, like overheating, premature malfunctions, and costly breakdowns, protecting your investment.
A Healthier Home
A home with clean air may help reduce symptoms of allergies, asthma, and other respiratory ailments. When your ducts are clean, you’ll enjoy a much more comfortable, healthy indoor environment. Duct cleaning also removes mold and mildew that may release spores into the air and cause various health issues.
Signs Your Ducts Need Cleaning
You might not know when to clean the air ducts in your home. Here are some signs that your ducts need cleaning as soon as possible.
- Mold or dust: If you see signs of mold or dust starting to accumulate near your vents or the HVAC system itself, it’s a sure sign that your ducts need cleaning.
- Unpleasant odors: A strong smell of must, mildew, or an odd burning odor indicates that your air ducts should be inspected and thoroughly cleaned.
- Respiratory issues: If you or a family member starts to experience an increase in allergy, asthma, or other respiratory-related symptoms, it’s likely a sign that your air ducts need to be cleaned.
- Uneven airflow: Sudden uneven heating or cooling in your home or extremely high energy bills could be due to an air duct blockage restricting the airflow from your HVAC system, forcing it to work harder to maintain the proper temperature.
- Pest issues: An increase in pests or signs of pests, such as shells or droppings, near your vents or ductwork may be a sign that your ducts need cleaning.
Recommended Frequency for Duct Cleaning
You may wonder how often your ducts should be cleaned. Ideally, you should schedule routine duct cleaning every few years or sooner if they have not been cleaned for some time. There are certain instances when duct cleaning might be required more frequently, such as:
- If you have a large family or several pets living in the home.
- Your home recently underwent significant remodeling or construction.
- You notice a decrease in HVAC efficiency and airflow.
- There are persistent moisture buildup or dust accumulation issues in your vents and air ducts.
Professional vs. DIY Duct Cleaning
DIY duct cleaning is less expensive than professional duct cleaning services, but it’s also less effective. Here are some differences between professional and DIY duct cleaning.
Professionals Use Specialized Equipment
The average homeowner may not own the specialized equipment required for thorough duct cleaning. When you hire the pros at Monarch Home Services, you’ll benefit from our technicians using modern, specialized equipment designed to provide a thorough cleaning. Unless you have access to and know how to use this equipment, it’s a task best left to the pros.
Peace of Mind
If you don’t know how to clean your air ducts properly, you risk damaging them, which could result in a higher cost to repair them. The pros know how to clean your ducts correctly while preventing damage to this vital part of your HVAC system. Overall, this task should be assigned to professionals who know how to clean your air ducts without causing damage that costs you even more money.
Time
Cleaning your air ducts DIY means you can get them cleaned at your leisure and according to your schedule. However, trained experts will clean your ducts in one shot, saving you time and frustration. The average time to complete a professional duct cleaning job is between three and five hours, so your ducts will be cleaned in no time, and you’ll have peace of mind knowing the job was done right.
What To Expect From a Professional Service
So, what does a professional duct cleaning service entail? Here’s what to expect when you call Monarch Home Services for professional service:
- We start by thoroughly inspecting your ducts to find damage and blockages and designate a clear path for cleaning.
- A large vacuum system applies negative pressure to the supply side to send air back to your furnace or AC unit.
- Adhesive covers are placed on the registers to create a vacuum. Then the vacuum is turned on to suck particles into the collection system.
- Your ducts are agitated as a technician uses several tools to dislodge and remove dust and debris.
- Once the ducts are cleaned, we recommend cleaning the major components of your HVAC system for a thorough cleaning.
Call Monarch Home Services Today
Don’t wait for issues to arise — proactively maintain your ductwork this spring. The Monarch Home Services team is ready to serve our customers throughout Central California. Contact us today to schedule your duct sealing appointment and ensure a comfortable and energy-efficient home environment!