Air Duct Cleaning
We currently know air quality plays a crucial role in our overall health and well-being, in today’s article we will explore the advantages of air duct cleaning and why you may want to give it some consideration. See references from our research sources in article and at the bottom of the page.
By periodically cleaning your air ducts, you can significantly improve the quality of the air you breathe, creating a fresher and healthier living environment and enjoy the benefits of clean air in your home for you and your loved ones.
Clogged or Blocked Air Ducts
If the air ducts are clogged, whether it be vermin, rodents, insects, excessive amounts of dust/debris or particles, this is a definite sign of having service done immediately. Almost every acronymned association with respect to the home agrees with this, including the EPA.
Importance of Duct Cleaning and Fire Safety
Regular air duct cleaning is crucial for maintaining fire safety within your home. Dust, debris, and flammable particles can accumulate in your air ducts, over time, posing a potential fire hazard. By removing accumulated contaminants from your air ducts, you minimize the fuel sources that can contribute to the rapid spread of flames throughout your HVAC system and living spaces.
Improved Indoor Air Quality
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air can be significantly more polluted than outdoor air. Over time, air ducts accumulate dust, debris, allergens, and even mold, which can contribute to poor indoor air quality. These contaminants can circulate throughout your home when your HVAC system operates, potentially leading to respiratory issues, allergies, and other health problems.
Enhanced Energy Efficiency
There aren’t many current Canadian studies, however if we look to the U.S. Department of Energy – their highlights conclude that a clean HVAC system can operate more efficiently, resulting in lower energy consumption and reduced utility bills. Clogged air ducts force your HVAC system to work harder to distribute air throughout your home, leading to increased energy consumption. By removing the buildup from your air ducts, air can flow more freely, reducing the strain on your HVAC system.
This improvement in efficiency can translate into cost savings and potentially extend the lifespan of your system. Energy Star, recommends regular air duct cleaning to improve HVAC system performance and energy efficiency. Cleaning and changing your air filters can often help with energy efficiency and the volume of debris floating through a home. On some units there is a particular way the filter is to be installed due to air flow.
Odour, Airborne Contaminants, Fungus, etc.
Air ducts can harbor various sources of odours, including pet dander, tobacco smoke, cooking smells, and cleaning product residues. These odours can circulate repeatedly throughout your home, affecting its overall freshness.The National Library of Medicine article highlights the importance of reducing the number of contaminants in the home with air duct sanitization especially with regards to fungus.
Quote from the report: “Further, HVAC sanitation appeared to reduce the number of fungal colonies entering and leaving the HVAC system, suggesting that the HVAC contained a significant percentage of the total fungal load in these homes. This data suggests that HVAC sanitation may be an effective tool in reducing airborne fungal populations in residential environments.”This is provided that the duct cleaning service comes with sanitization – be sure that if allergies are a factor, that the service does in fact include sanitization.
HVAC System Lifespan
Dust and debris that accumulate in air ducts can find their way into the HVAC system, affecting its performance and efficiency. By keeping your air ducts clean, you reduce the risk of system malfunctions and prolong the life of vital components, and potential fires from debris ending up on the heat exchanger or other parts. Professional HVAC contractors often recommend air duct cleaning as part of routine maintenance to ensure optimal system operation and durability. Wearing and especially rubbing parts on the furnace contribute greatly to the energy efficiency of the unit. Some contractors have seen efficiency increase 50% just by furnace maintenance alone.
Importance of Duct Cleaning with Pets:
For households with furry friends, air duct cleaning becomes even more crucial. Pets can shed hair and dander, which easily find their way into the air ducts. Let’s be frank, all that pet hair doesn’t get swept up, and just with regular traffic flow can seep down the vents. Over time, this accumulation of pet-related pollutants. Regular air duct cleaning can help remove pet-related contaminants.
New Construction / Older Homes with Major Renovations
It’s amazing where drywall dust, fiberglass, sawdust and just general construction sweep up, doesn’t all get out to the bin, shall we say, and even the Canadian Government talks about New Construction Air Duct Cleaning: https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2011/schl-cmhc/nh18-24/NH18-24-29-2007-eng.pdf
Water in the HVAC
If you’ve had a water issue where it resulted in moisture getting into the duct system, then even the Canadian government is suggesting mold growth may be an issue, have them cleaned and disinfected https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2011/schl-cmhc/nh18-24/NH18-24-29-2007-eng.pdf
Wood Stoves and Rural Homes
With rural homes and wood stoves, there can often be a greater volume of debris in the home due to country fields, roads, dirt driveways and soot from the woodstove. This may also be of consideration when booking your next air duct cleaning appointment.
The typical house is about every 5 years, those with lots of fur babies, construction/renovations, or rural properties may want to consider sooner. Also, for consideration, is not the just the time you have been there, but when were the vents cleaned by the previous occupant.
Considering air duct cleaning is a wise decision when it comes to maintaining a healthy living environment. By improving indoor air quality, enhancing energy efficiency, reducing odours and allergens, and potentially extending the lifespan of your HVAC system, you can make a valuable investment in your home and the well-being of your family. Remember to schedule periodic air duct cleaning with reputable professionals to ensure optimal results.
Sources:
National Library of Medicine
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8267249/
EPA
https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/should-you-have-air-ducts-your-home-cleaned#deciding
Government of Canada
https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2011/schl-cmhc/nh18-24/NH18-24-29-2007-eng.pdf
Types of Buildings:
- Offices: high rise, low rise and ground floor, Warehouses
- Retail stores & Grocery stores
- Medical buildings & Hospitals, Spas, Hair Salons
- Schools; Elementary, Secondary, Public, Private; Day-cares
- Seniors homes, long term care facilities, retirement homes
- Real estate buildings & holdings, high rises, rental properties
- Detached Houses, Townhouses, walk-ups, low rise, homes, condos, lofts
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