Since your air ducts are out of sight, when it comes to cleaning, you can easily forget them. Forgetting to clean them doesn’t wreck your HVAC system, but it can make it less efficient. That said, when you see these signs that your air ducts are less than clean, it’s time to give them some attention. Let’s examine eight signs that it’s time to clean your air ducts.
1. Allergies Are Getting Worse
Materials that flow through your ductwork can sometimes collect there. While this could be the end of the story, with the constant airflow, these stuck-on materials can break free and make their way back into the airflow of your HVAC. When it’s allergens like pet dander, dust, building materials, mold, and mildew, it’ll wreak havoc on people with allergies.
If you’re noticing an uptick in allergy symptoms, this could be the result of dirty air filters or air ducts. Our team at At Your Service Heating & Cooling LLC specializes in this kind of allergen cleanup and will come in to rid your home of these materials.
2. Mold Near Air Ducts
You might not notice this immediately, but most people pick up on a musty smell before they see visible signs of mold. It’s essential to manage this quickly to rid your home of it, as mold is toxic and can lead to severe health repercussions. If you’re noticing mold growth near the vents, this means that you may have it within the ductwork as well.
3. Dusty Vent Covers
The vents are the ducts’ main point of entry to your home, so if you’re noticing dust or dirt on the surface of these, it’s a good sign that you need duct cleaning. Seeing dirty vent plates is a prime indicator that you’ll find even more dust and dirt within the ducts themselves.
4. Excess Dust in Living Space
Similarly, if dust is circulating in your home, it’s most likely placed back in the air by your HVAC system. With dirty air ducts, accumulated dust doesn’t just stay on these surfaces. From time to time, the steady airflow will pick up these materials and circulate them around your home. If you’re noticing a decrease in clean air, it’s time to call in a professional to clean your ducts.
5. Poor Airflow
HVAC systems circulate the air in your home. If the air is not moving as it should, there might be an issue. Dirt in the air ducts can limit the airflow in your living space, which can ultimately impact your health.
6. Odd Smells
Odd smells shouldn’t be in your living space, so if they are, it could indicate an issue with your HVAC system, especially if the smell is more noticeable when the heating and cooling systems are on. Dust burns in heating systems, so if you notice this, try cleaning your vents. If the smell does not go away, contact a technician in case there is a more significant issue to address.
7. Excess Noise
If your HVAC is making more noise than it usually does during its day-to-day operation, this is a clear indicator that it’s struggling to push air as it usually does. This is because dust in the ducts is accumulating on the vents, which will cause them to obstruct airflow. When your HVAC overworks, it will cause unneeded wear and tear on components, which makes them noisier during standard operation.
8. High Energy Bill
Higher energy bills are the result of the same overwork that might make your system more noisy. When vents and ducts are dusty, the system works harder to push air evenly throughout your home. This not only prematurely ages components, but it requires a higher energy draw, which increases your monthly energy bill.
Contact a Reliable HVAC Technician
If you’re noticing inefficiency issues with your HVAC system, contact us at At Your Service Heating & Cooling LLC for routine duct cleaning. Make sure to do this at least every three years to keep your system healthy. We have been serving the Baltimore area since 2013, and we maintain the highest level of service for customers in the community. For all of your HVAC and indoor air quality needs, call us today!
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