Air is obviously critical to your health, and likewise, cleaner, healthier air is better for you and your family to breathe. While you cannot control the quality of air outside, you do have some control over the air quality in your home. As the circulation system for your home, your air duct system has a major impact on your indoor air quality. Like all household systems, periodically, your air duct needs cleaning and maintenance.
If you need air duct cleaning or air duct maintenance, it is best to call a professional HVAC technician. At Castle Home Comfort Heating & Cooling in Champaign, IL, we have over 40 years of experience with nearly all heating and cooling brands and models. We are dedicated to customer satisfaction from your first contact with us to the completion of the job.
Why Have an Air Duct Cleaning
Even if you change the filters on your home HVAC system regularly, your ducts can still accumulate allergens, dirt, dust, and pollution contaminants over time. When your air system runs, it cycles the air through your home repeatedly through the ducts. If you have dirt, dust, and contaminants in the system, running the system also runs these through the system and into the air you breathe.
Not only are these contaminants bad for your indoor air quality, but they cause your HVAC system to work harder. In turn, your HVAC unit will cost more to run, have higher maintenance costs, and have a shorter life. Scheduling regular cleanings on your air ducts (every three to five years) can help counter these problems, which means your system won’t have to work as hard, you can save money on maintenance in the long run, and your system will last longer.
What Is an Air Duct Cleaning
Duct cleaning generally refers to having the parts of your forced-air system cleaned. That includes:
- Supply and return ducts
- Fan motor
- Fan housing
- Condensation or drip pans
- Heat exchanger heating and cooling coils
- Air handling unit housing
- Grills and diffusers
If not regularly cleaned, these parts and components can gather pollen, dust, dirt, and contaminants. If moisture gets in your system, it could grow mold, and spores will release into your home’s air as the system runs.
When you decide to have your air duct cleaned, it is important to have all of the components cleaned by a qualified technician, like those at Castle Home Comfort Heating & Cooling in Champaign, IL. A partial cleaning can cause the remaining contaminants to be spread through the system. You can trust our technicians to clean to industry standards.
Benefits to Air Duct Cleaning
There are several benefits of having an air duct cleaning. Your HVAC system will run more efficiently, which means it will use less energy. Also, if your system had been circulating dirt and dust through it, having it cleaned will result in a cleaner interior: less dust on surfaces and better quality air. Finally, a clean system will reduce unpleasant odors or smells that may have been circulating through your home through the dirty ducts.
It is very likely that after an air duct cleaning, you and your family will notice better air quality in your home. With regular cleaning and maintenance on your air ducts, you can maintain better indoor air quality.
How Do I Know If My Air Ducts Need Cleaning?
Obviously, if you haven’t had your air ducts cleaned ever, or it has been a while, then it is time to schedule a cleaning as part of good air duct maintenance. However, there are also some obvious signs that your air ducts need cleaning by a professional service like Castle Home Comfort Heating & Cooling.
New Home or Major Renovation
If your home is new or has just had some major renovation, it is a good idea to have your air ducts cleaned. Construction and renovation produce dust and debris, which can quickly get into your air ducts. Some of this dust may contain particulates from construction that aren’t healthy to breathe.
Dust
If your home is prone to dust, you may have dirty air ducts一no matter how often you clean. While everyone dusts from time to time, you shouldn’t be seeing your surfaces re-coated with dust soon after cleaning, especially if you regularly change the air filters on your HVAC system.
Moreover, if your vents or air supply and return are visibility dusty, you likely need an air duct cleaning. If you carefully remove a vent cover and see dust in the interior, or if you notice dust when your HVAC system comes on, it is definitely time to call the experts.
Mold
Mold can spread quickly through your home and make allergies and respiratory problems worse. If your heating and cooling system develop condensation, it can result in mold, especially if you live in a climate with humidity. Champaign, IL, has its share of humidity, especially in the summers, so this is a valid concern in our area.
Mold is visible if it grows on the air vents, but you may not see it if it’s in your systems. Since mold can cause serious health issues, you should call a technician immediately if you think you may have mold issues.
Vermin or Rodents
Sometimes, insects, squirrels, mice, and other rodents get into air ducts because they try to escape the cold winters in Champaign, IL. If they do end up in your ducts, they can leave behind bacteria and damage, which will put your home and your family at risk.
If you have vermin in your air ducts, you will probably hear them, possibly see them, and likely smell them. Not only will an infestation require cleaning, but it could result in structural damage and the need for air duct repair or HVAC repair.
Increasing Energy Costs
Heating and cooling costs for your home should be fairly predictable from year to year. If you are noticing increasingly high energy costs, it may be time for an air duct cleaning. Dirty ductwork can interfere with your HVAC system’s ability to function efficiently. If it is working harder, it will use more energy to run.
Another sign of air ducts in need of cleaning can be if your rooms aren’t heating and cooling at the same rate. If your vents are open and clear, the airflow into each room should be consistent.
However, sometimes debris and dust aren’t why your HVAC system is less efficient. You could also have a leak in your air ducts. If you have a leak, you’ll need air duct repair by an expert technician.
Air Duct Repair
If your air duct system needs repairing, it is best to contact a professional. Lack of proper seals in an air duct system can reduce HVAC efficiency by 30% or more. Our knowledgeable professionals can carry out any air duct repairs to your complete satisfaction. We can repair complicated problems or common air duct problems:
- Unbalanced airflow in your ducts
- Leaks in your ducts
- Insufficient insulation
If you think you might have an air duct problem, our technicians can inspect your system and give you the advice you can trust.
Contact Us
If it is time to schedule an air duct cleaning, air duct maintenance, or repair, or you need to find an “HVAC technician near me” in Champaign, IL, contact the experts at Castle Home Comfort Heating & Cooling. We can help you improve and maintain the indoor air quality in your home.