You’re coughing, sneezing, itching, but it’s not allergy season. Even laying in bed at home won’t shake this feeling. So, what could it be?
It’s possible that you need a good air duct cleaning. When is the last time you cleaned your home’s air ducts? How often should air ducts be cleaned anyway?
Read on to learn exactly what you need to know.
So How Often Should You Clean Your Air Ducts?
Different factors help answer the question, “how often should air ducts be cleaned?” As a general rule, air ducts need to get cleaned every 3 to 5 years.
You may have to contact professional air duct cleaning services more often for the following reasons:
- Someone in the household smokes
- There are pets in the household that excessively shed
- The home has water contamination or damage
- The home has recently gone through a renovation
- Someone in the home has asthma or allergies
Like any part of an HVAC system, keeping up with regular air duct maintenance is essential to the wellbeing of your unit.
The Importance of Air Duct Cleaning
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the air indoors has concentrations of certain pollutions at a higher rate than outdoor concentrations. This could be up to five times higher.
This is a concerning statistic as Americans spend most of their time inside. In fact, they are spending around 90% of their time indoors.
These concentrated pollutants will recirculate through the air through air ducts harming your home and your family. Although regular cleaning can do wonders for your air ducts, there are certain situations where you’ll need immediate cleaning.
Moving Into a New Home
When moving into a new home, whether it was custom-built or a lived-in, a good duct cleaning is the proper next step. This is especially true if the previous homeowners were smokers or owned pets.
After building a new home, the house might have construction debris like drywall dust and more. Because of this, it is essential to get an air duct cleaning.
Mold or Musty Odors
Cleaning air ducts should be an immediate concern if you spot mold or notice a musty smell in the home. Mold commonly grows in humid or hard-to-reach places, both being in the air ducts.
Knowing how to clean air ducts when you have a mold problem is difficult as mold spores can linger. Homeowners should hire a professional if this is the case.
Pest Infestation
Pests that make their home in your air ducts can actually contaminate the air because of their odor and debris. If you notice any pests around or in the air ducts, a good cleaning can fix your pollutant problem.
Do You Need to Clean Your Air Ducts?
So, how often should air ducts be cleaned?
If you haven’t cleaned your air ducts in over three years, it’s probably time to get it done. Although you can do this on your own, professional assistance is recommended especially when you have one of the above issues.
Whether you just moved into a new home, spotted mold, or have come across a pest infestation, cleaning your air ducts is a necessity once you have eradicated the problem.
At Fay’s, we care about the health of you and your family. That’s why we offer a free estimate for residential homeowners looking for air duct cleaning. Contact us today to get started.