Hot air furnaces heat and distribute air through a ducting system. These ducts are typically made out of metal and you can see them when you are in your basement, as they tend to hang from the floor joists. Over time, these ducts collect dust and debris inside of them and as time goes on, the dust gets blown back into the air that you are breathing and living in. Why do you want to know this you might ask? Well, ducts, much like chimneys, need to be cleaned once in a while in order to keep them from pushing the debris back into the air.



Duct cleaning will provide a better indoor air quality, reduce the presence of things like house molds and allergens which makes it easier for asthmatics to breathe and helps to prevent non-asthmatics from developing allergies. People with asthma are extremely sensitive to dust and allergens which means that many of them suffer greatly if there is too much of these things in the air. It also gets rid of house dust which makes it easier to keep the house clean.

Ever wonder why everything looks dusty right after you dust it? Well, it's because your ducts are dirty. Duct cleaning on a regular basis will also reduce energy costs and result in more airflow in the furnace system which means that you will get a better delivery of warm air. This means that you will be able to turn on the furnace for less time and save some money as well as energy!

So how do you know when it is time to clean your ducts? How are you supposed to figure out how often to clean them without hiring an expert to take a look for you? There are a few tell tale signs that your ducts need cleaning. One of the main ones is if you can see that dust and debris are blowing out of your furnace vents. If this is happening, your ducts are long overdue for a cleaning and you should get it done right away. Another sign that they need cleaning is if the airflow is not as good as it normally is. You can tell this by putting your hand over the vent when the furnace is turned on and seeing if you can feel a lot of air coming out. If you can't or it's faint, it's time to clean your ducts.

One really good sign that it is in desperate need of a cleaning, is if you begin sneezing for no apparent reason or if you become stuffed up when ever you are in the house. One of the best times to get your ducts cleaned is in the late summer or early fall. This means that you will have clean ducts all season long and not have to worry about what is being blown into the air that you breathe. Dust in the air can cause allergies even if you don't previously have any. Duct cleaning is a great way to make sure that you and your loved ones have the best air quality possible.

So how often should you clean your ducts? Many experts advise that you should clean them annually, at the beginning of every cooler season although some people do it every two or three months to ensure that there is very little dust in their homes. The choice is really up to you and how you feel about allergens, dust and debris in your air.