The typical homeowner would be surprised to find out just how dirty their ductwork really is. All kinds of filth can accumulate over time, which may not be healthy for you or your family. That’s why it’s definitely a good idea to make sure that your home’s ducts are cleaned every two to three years, depending on the home environment. (Duct cleaning should be performed more frequently if you leave your windows open or if your home environment has smokers and pets.)
The duct cleaning process we use begins at the registers, which are furthest from the unit itself. We push the accumulated filth back to the unit. At the same time, we brush and vacuum as we go. When we’re almost done, we’ll spray an EPA approved sanitizer that leaves the duct system with a nice fresh smell. The end result is a very clean system.
The air filters in air conditioning systems do a great job of capturing lots of the particulate in the air. However, they don’t catch everything. Some of the finer particles can get through your filtration system. As a result, a certain amount of dust will eventually make its way into the ductwork and fall to the bottom.
Of course, you should have good filtration in place along with a regularly maintained filter. It’s also a good idea to leave the system’s fan set to ‘on’ instead of ‘auto’. That way, the air will continually circulate in your home. That means you’re constantly running air across the filter, giving it the opportunity to remove more of the particles. The best strategy is to combine these good habits with a clean duct system.
Benefits
If you haven’t ever had your ducts cleaned before, you don’t have a baseline of comparison. It’s not until you’ve had duct cleaning performed before you can see the difference. Airborne particles can contribute to respiratory issues like asthma or allergies. Dirt in the ductwork can also eventually accumulate on your heat pump or air conditioner coil. In turn, that will reduce the efficiency of those appliances.
Duct cleaning removes most of the dust and other particulates from circulation by the air in your home. While duct cleaning won’t completely eliminate the need for dusting, it will decrease its frequency. (Think about how much dust you’re introducing into your home on a regular basis.)
Of course, our system isn’t perfect—if it was, we’d be able to actually get into the ducts and see everything. However, the brushes we use are extremely flexible and do a good job of getting most of the particles. There are different areas of ductwork, like tight corners for example, that could be very difficult to reach with any duct cleaning system.
Remember, duct cleaning every two to three years is a great way to improve air quality and maximize your system’s efficiency. To learn more about Boulden Brothers’ duct cleaning services, give us a call or contact us online.
