Print Article for : Heating And Air Ducts

Your Online Guide » Home Decor » Home Improvement Tips

[H234]Heating And Air Ducts

by Moe Tamani, Moe

Is the air in your home clean? All of us breathe air when we are inside the home and most people are unsure about how clean the air inside their home is. Just like the air outside your home has several contaminants and pollutants, the air inside your home also have several contaminants. So if you breathe this air full of contaminants, the health risks increase multifold. You will be prone to various respiratory diseases, which can further get aggravated and take the form of allergy, asthma, persistent cough, nausea, headaches, and even fatigue. The root cause of these illnesses is the contaminants who have found their way into your home because your air duct or HVAC system is dirty.

Reduce health risks by cleaning Ducts

Contaminants in the air duct or your ventilation system are in different forms like fungi, Mold, allergens and bacteria. Allergens like pollen, dust, and pet dander are quite common and can get inside the HVAC system in your home, which will circulate it right into the air that you breathe. Such a scenario will pose higher health risks and create negative health consequences on a long-term basis. According to the American College of Allergy almost 50% of illnesses are caused by pollutants that exist in the air inside your home due to improper vent cleaning.

As a result, it is important to clean your HVAC system on a regular basis. It is not only the health perspective in question here but a clean air duct system will provide higher performance as compared to a dirty system. Efficient running of your air duct or HVAC system will help in reducing your energy bills. Cleaner air duct systems will have a longer lifespan and will have less technical problems. So there are many more advantages of having a clean HVAC system other than the fact that it will keep the air in your home cleaner.

Factors That Affect Cleaning

Vent cleaning is a must and needs to be done on a regular basis. The industry standards recommend that you should have an expert inspect your air ducts and vents once every two years, and also initiate vent cleaning once every 5-7 years. Of course there is no harm in initiating a vent cleaning process once every 3-4 years also but all this depends on the conditions within your home.

On the other hand the NADCA or National Air Duct Cleaners Association does not recommend any specific time frame for air duct cleaning. According to them air duct cleaning should be initiated by a homeowner when they feel it is necessary and have outlined certain factors that will lead to frequent vent cleaning. According to them, vent cleaning becomes necessary within a short period of time if:

1. Smoking is done in the house
2. There are pets in the house that shed hair and dander
3. There is damage or water contamination in the home or to the HVAC system
4. NADCA also recommends air duct cleaning prior to occupancy of a new home.

Cleaning Methods

The most effective way of air duct cleaning is by using source removal methods. A powerful vacuum cleaner is used as a part of this method and it can suck air with dirt from your air duct and ventilation system. There are certain devices, which are inserted into the air ducts like brushes, skipper balls and air whips to dislodge any dirt or debris that is stuck to the inner surface of the ventilation system.

You can choose a duct cleaning contractor who is an expert in vent cleaning and will be able to clean your piping, registers, ductwork, and blower motor. These professional vent cleaning experts also use vacuums mounted on trucks, which can clean according to NADCA standards. The vacuums mounted on trucks are very powerful cleaners.

You need to be careful while hiring air duct cleaning contractor. You can start with several contractors who will inspect your air duct and ventilation system and then offer you their best quote. You need to make sure that the air duct cleaning contractor visually inspects the air ducts and the various components of your HVAC system before offering you a cleaning solution.

If you hire NADCA contractors then you will be rest assured that your vent cleaning process will be based on NADCA guidelines. Check the license of the vent cleaning company and ask for at least 3 references. Last but not the least; don’t hire someone who offers you the lowest price because that will translate into inadequate cleaning.

As a homeowner, you have probably wondered if your air ducts should be cleaned. Air duct cleaning companies are constantly advertising about the need for their services. They show you disgusting pictures of dirty air ducts, mentioning that there are all sorts of little critters living in your air if your ducts are dirty. However, the cost of an air duct cleaning is quite substantial, so you should make sure that your air ducts need to be cleaned before you sign up for cleaning services.

Look at Your Family's Health

The first, and probably most important, thing you can look at to decide if your air ducts need to be cleaned is your family's health. When your family members start experiencing breathing problems, unexplained illnesses of any sort, or a sudden onset of asthma, your air ducts could be to blame. Poor indoor air quality can cause a wide range of physical problems for the family that is living in a home.

Keep in mind, however, that there have been no studies done to conclusively prove that having your air ducts cleaned can fix health problems. The particles in the air that are causing the health problems in your family may not e coming from your air ducts. However, cleaning your air ducts cannot make the problems worse, and sometimes it does appear to help, especially when family members are suffering from breathing problems.

Have You Had Unexpected Guests?

If you have had a recent infestation of insects, mice, rats, or some other unexpected and unwanted guest, you should have your air ducts cleaned. These little critters love to live in air ducts, and they leave behind dead bodies, waste, hair, and dirt. These cannot be completely removed without the help of a professional air duct cleaning service. Also, you may not know exactly where in your air ducts the little critters are living, so getting them professionally cleaned will ensure that you got all of your unwanted houseguests.

Do Your Air Ducts Look Dirty?

One of the most obvious signs that you need to have your air ducts cleaned is the way they look when you inspect them visually. If you can see dust and debris in the air ducts, then chances are they need to be cleaned. You can stick a vacuum hose down the air ducts, but you will not be able to reach all of the gunk. Only a professional has the right equipment to reach all of the space inside your air ducts.

Also, if you can see a film depositing itself on the walls or floor around your air ducts, then they need to be cleaned. This film is the junk that is being put back into your air whenever your furnace or air conditioner kicks in. Again, only a professional can reach all of this debris.

Got Mold? Get a Cleaning!

A final indication that you need to have your air ducts cleaned is visible mold growth inside your air ducts or HVAC system. This requires professional cleaning, and is definitely not something to be ignored. Mold spores cause health problems, so get those air ducts cleaned if you spot mold growth.

After you have cleaned out the mold, contact an HVAC professional to help you determine the cause of the mold. Remember, mold will return if the cause is not corrected. This will mean you will have to have your air ducts cleaned yet again, so get the professional help you need to stop regrowth of the mold you have just removed.

With these tips, it is easy to know whether or not you need to have your air ducts cleaned. If you do, schedule a cleaning with a qualified and licensed air duct cleaning company. Soon your family can be breathing clean, healthy air again!

Article Source : Let Me Go Home Song

About Author

Both Moe Tamani & A Nutt are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Moe Tamani has sinced written about articles on various topics from Affiliate Programs, SEO Search Engine Optimization and Internet Marketing. David Marquardt is the owner of the leading company based in Austin Texas dedicated to providing the most reliable. Moe Tamani's top article generates over 550000 views. to your Favourites.

A Nutt has sinced written about articles on various topics from . Heat Seal Equipment is a manufacturer and provider of professional and accessories, such as the insulation blower machine. Your #1 sourc. A Nutt's top article . to your Favourites.