Many Des Moines homeowners wonder how often their air ducts should be cleaned. The HVAC experts at Lenz Heating & Cooling recommend cleaning the air ducts after a large remodel or construction job or after a new home purchase. It’s important to get your air ducts professionally cleaned, since improper cleaning can lead to poor efficiency of your HVAC unit and health hazards. But there are some air duct cleaners who will try to sell you a service citing health benefits as the reason to get your ducts clean. While cleaning the air ducts is sometimes necessary, we want to make sure you make the best-informed decision as possible when it comes to your health and home.
Air Duct Cleaning & Health Benefits
The EPA says there has been no conclusive evidence to suggest that clean air ducts prevent health problems; however, if mold and other contaminants are growing in the ductwork, cleaning the air ducts is highly recommended. Homeowners and families who do not suffer from allergies probably do not need to have the air ducts cleaned regularly, since a light accumulation of household dust is normal. People who are sensitive to allergens may consider periodic air duct cleaning to prevent the spread of dust and dander throughout the home.
If anyone in your home has been experiencing sudden health problems, such as headaches, fatigue, and upper respiratory issues, talk to your doctor and your heating and cooling contractor about the air quality in your home. In some cases, the HVAC unit itself could be the source of these health problems if it is dirty or damaged.
Reasons to Get Your Air Ducts Cleaned
Even though there are no proven health benefits of cleaning the air ducts in your home, there are some valid reasons to consider when it comes to hiring a professional to clean your air ducts.
Mold: If you can see mold growing on the inside surfaces of the ducts, that is a good reason to clean the ductwork. Keep in mind that additional testing may be required to verify mold is growing in your home by mold testing and remediation experts. Health hazards vary depending on the type of mold that may be growing in the air ducts.
Recent Construction: Construction and remodel projects in and around your home create excess dust and debris that cause your HVAC system to work harder to circulate clean air. The type of dust generated during construction is much different from household dust and should not be cycling through your home.
Infestation: Rodent feces or dead insects inside of air ducts must be thoroughly cleaned to prevent the spread of harmful bacteria that may be circulating in your home from these sources.
Noticeable Particles: If you see debris, cobwebs, or clumps of dust blowing out of the supply registers in your home, that is a good indication there is more than just a normal accumulation of household dust in your ductwork. A thorough air duct cleaning may be required to restore your indoor air quality.
New Home Purchase: Similar to getting the carpet cleaned, many homeowners opt to clean the air ducts after buying a new home. After all, many people prefer not to breathe someone else’s dust and pet dander.
Keep in mind that dust and debris that are caught in the interior of the ducts may not cause problems for your home. Changing your unit’s air filter and getting it cleaned regularly will often keep the indoor air quality clean and healthy. Lenz Heating and Cooling technicians install, repair, and maintenance residential air conditioners and furnaces. We serve homes in Des Moines, West Des Moines, Winterset and the surrounding areas.
