Four Benefits of Regular Duct Cleaning

What Are the Benefits of Regular Duct Cleaning?

For many, the advent of warm weather means just one thing: it’s time for a thorough spring cleaning. And if you take advantage of the spring cleaning season to also clean your home’s air ducts, you could find yourself reaping some unexpected benefits. Read on to learn more about four of the main benefits you can realize by having your home’s air ducts regularly cleaned.

Dirt and Dust Can Cause HVAC System Failures

Your home’s HVAC system relies on proper airflow around the coils and other components. Dirt, dust, hair, and other debris that can block this airflow will force your HVAC to work harder to heat and cool the air, potentially shortening its lifespan. Replacing your HVAC can cost anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000, making it one of the more expensive repairs you’re likely to face as a homeowner. Having your air ducts cleaned regularly is one of the simplest and most inexpensive steps you can take to extend your HVAC’s lifespan, potentially providing you with years of trouble-free use.

Dirty Ducts Can Cause Illness

According to the American College of Allergists, around 50 percent of all illnesses are either caused or aggravated by polluted air. And even if the air in your home feels and smells clean, if it’s been a few years (or longer) since you’ve had a full duct cleaning, you’re probably breathing in skin flakes, pollen, dander, fungi spores, and dozens of other potentially harmful pollutants with every breath. Cleaning your ducts will help your house smell fresher and protect you against airborne illnesses; it will also help your body fight off other illnesses more effectively since your immune system isn’t being taxed by constant exposure to pollutants.

Dust and Dirt Buildup Can Reduce HVAC Efficiency

The reason a duct cleaning can extend your HVAC’s lifespan is because it allows the HVAC to work as intended instead of forcing it to cycle on and off more frequently. It doesn’t take an excessive amount of dust or dirt to cause problems; a buildup of only 0.042 inches (or about 1/20th of an inch) on a heating and cooling coil can decrease the efficiency of the unit by 21 percent. Cleaning your ducts to ensure that the coils are clear and unobstructed should significantly boost efficiency. Not only will this cleaning extend your HVAC’s lifespan, but it should also reduce your energy bills in the process.

Cleaning Vents Can Eliminate Some Allergies

Around one of every six people who suffer from allergies do so because of the fungi spores and bacteria proliferating in their home’s duct system. Eliminating these airborne particles through a thorough duct cleaning can reduce or even eliminate these allergies, as well. If you find yourself waking up with a stuffy nose or scratchy throat each morning, only to find that your symptoms abate once you’ve come outside for some fresh air, you’re likely suffering from air-duct-induced allergies that are at their worst once you’ve had 6-8 hours of constant exposure. Throw away your allergy medications once and for all by scheduling a duct cleaning today.