5 signs the duct work needs cleaning
May 13, 2011
As long as the heating and cooling unit runs smoothly, many
homeowners never give a second thought to the ductwork that runs
through their home. But things can go wrong long before there is
any indication of an issue, so it is important to check those ducts
regularly.
Not sure if your ducts need to be cleaned? This checklist can
help you decide if it is time to call a professional in for
service.
Air duct inspection checklist
- Clean all the registers. Carefully remove the registers and
clean them inside and out with a damp cloth. Vacuum any dust that
has collected around the corners of the register holes. Do a visual
inspection of each section of the duct before you put the register
back on.
- If there are any signs of insects or vermin inside your air
ducts, it is time to have a professional cleaning done. Signs might
include small scratches on the inside of the duct, droppings along
the sides, or the shells and husks of insects that were once in the
ducts.
- Any sign of mold should be immediately checked out by a
professional heating
and cooling contractor. Mold in the air ducts can cause serious
breathing problems for anyone inside the home, especially if it is
allowed to flourish unchecked. Mold can also indicate moisture
issues that need to be resolved immediately in order to prevent
further problems.
- If your ducts are filled with dust and debris, especially if
they are blowing particles of it out into your home every time the
system is turned on, cleaning the ducts might dramatically increase
airflow.
- The Environmental
Protection Agency recommends that ducts be cleaned only on an
as-needed basis. There is still some debate as to whether cleaning
ducts actually puts more pollutants into the air of your home than
simply leaving them alone. However, if you aren't sure whether your
ducts need to be cleaned, ask a professional to help you
decide.
When you do hire someone to clean the ducts for you, take care
to ensure that they clean the entire system, not just the ductwork
you can see. Ask to see the chemicals they use, if any, and make
sure their vacuums are venting outside of your home. If they can't
do that, the duct cleaning company should be using the appropriate
filters to keep the dust particles out of your house.
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