Part of maintaining the HVAC system in your Maryland home is caring for your ducting. This long, complex network carries all of the conditioned air that your furnace, AC, or heat pump produces. If it’s riddled with debris, your indoor air quality will decline and the performance of your HVAC system will suffer. Dirty HVAC ductwork can lead to damp, muggy conditions, problems like short cycling and overheating, and unnecessarily high energy bills. However, whether regular duct cleaning is a worthwhile investment remains a common subject of debate.
What the Experts Have to Say About Duct Cleaning
The Environmental Protection Agency doesn’t consider routine air duct cleaning as necessary for maintaining a high IAQ. In fact, it only recommends scheduling these services on an as-needed basis, such as when air ducts are:
- Clogged
- Infested
- Filled with visible mold
However, the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) recommends cleaning ducting every two to three years. According to the NADCA, this is the best schedule for supporting efficient HVAC operation, keeping indoor air clean, and avoiding duct-related airflow issues.
The Benefits of Professional HVAC Air Duct Cleaning
Regardless of the duct cleaning schedule you maintain, these services can provide a generous range of benefits. Far more than simply removing buildups of lint-like debris that lie just behind air vent covers, professional duct cleaning addresses:
- Blower motors and blower fans
- Evaporator and condenser coils
- Return and supply air ducts
- Duct plenums and plenum boxes
- Indoor air handlers
As needed, duct cleaning services additionally include deodorization and sanitization so that conditioned air doesn’t pick up trapped pathogens or unpleasant smells during distribution.
Boost Your Indoor Air Quality
The thick, mat-like buildups that develop just behind HVAC air vents are often largely comprised of blown-off filter debris. When homeowners run their heaters or air conditioners without performing regular filter changes, small clumps of accumulated hair, carpet fibers, pet fur, dust, dander, and pollen break free. These clumps travel through ducting and eventually make their way to air vents. When HVAC systems have leaky air ducts, unfiltered air from dirty, low-lying areas like basements and crawlspaces can find its way in and add to trapped debris.
HVAC air ducts can also collect and retain ultra-fine matter that passes right through standard filter mesh. For instance, if you run your air conditioner during times of heavy wildfire smoke, many chemical contaminants and tiny particulates can create tough, tacky build-ups on duct walls.
HVAC air ducts are a prime target for many common household pests. These networks provide private, secure shelter and easy access to rooms with water and food. When pests make their way into ducting, they leave things like feces, fur, exoskeletons, wings, and other detritus behind. No matter what causes your air ducts to get dirty, professional duct cleaning will prevent all trapped allergens and contaminants from entering or re-entering your indoor air.
Eliminate Persistent Odors
When heavy buildups of in-duct debris inhibit HVAC airflow, condensing furnaces, air conditioners, and heat pumps have a hard time regulating humidity. Dirty ducts can leave your home feeling damp, clammy, muggy, or downright oppressive as a result. Dirty ducts can also create the conditions in which dangerous, odor-causing bacteria thrive. If turning on your HVAC system fills your home with rank, moldering odors, it’s probably time to have your air ducts cleaned.
Limit Your Risk of Mold Infestation
High levels of moisture due to declining humidity control can also set the stage for stubborn mold issues. According to the EPA, mold spores and mildew tend to thrive when indoor humidity levels are 60% or higher. Moreover, dirty ductwork can both support mold populations and circulate mold spores.
Improved HVAC Performance and Health
In addition to promoting better humidity regulation, clean air ducts prevent a lot of unnecessary HVAC system stress. Having your air ducts cleaned according to the NADCA’s recommended schedule could help you sidestep many costly repairs and extend the lifespan of your heating and cooling equipment. Absent of airflow obstructions caused by dirty ducting, your HVAC system will also work less and use less energy to create and maintain the conditions you want. This, in turn, could lead to noticeably lower energy bills.
Times When HVAC Air Duct Cleaning Is Essential
The EPA’s list of recommended times for scheduling duct cleaning is hardly exhaustive. You don’t need to have visible patches of debris or mold in your ducting to benefit from duct cleaning service.
Following the Ingress of Wildfire Smoke
When the outdoor air quality is dangerously low, your indoor air quality often declines. This is especially true during times of high wildfire smoke in the region. Gaseous chemical contaminants from these events can enter your home via cracks and gaps in building materials, exhaust vents, and other points of ingress. Cleaning your air ducts could be necessary for eliminating pungent smoke odors and boosting your IAQ. This is also true following many indoor fires such as grease fires in your oven or on your kitchen stove.
Following Building Renovations
Cutting into drywall, knocking down walls, or pulling up carpeting can leave your ductwork riddled with allergens and contaminants that affect your indoor air quality, resident health, and the functionality of your HVAC system. Thus, even when contractors practice diligent dust control, it’s a good idea to have your ductwork cleaned following any major renovation projects.
During or After Pest Infestation
Duct cleaning can remove both pests and their waste. More importantly, when it’s paired with sanitization and disinfection, it can also prevent pest infestations from recurring. For instance, if your ducts were recently infested with rats or mice, duct cleaning will remove the oily, pheromone-rich residues that rodents leave behind. These odorous streaks are calling cards to other rodents. Getting rid of these attractants is a great way to ensure the long-term success of your pest treatment.
As Part of Mold Remediation
Cleaning your air ducts after mold treatment will ensure that new mold spores aren’t circulated throughout the entire building the next time you turn your HVAC system on. However, as per the EPA, duct cleaning isn’t a mold treatment on its own. Until the underlying cause of mold growth is identified and resolved, the problem will recur.
When Indoor Air Quality Is Consistently Low
You should schedule air duct cleaning if your indoor air quality is consistently low. Some homes have perpetually dirty ducts and low IAQ as a consequence of their locations. For example, if you live near a busy freeway or an active construction site, your indoor air and your air ducts will have more dust and other debris than normal. In locations like these, following NADCA’s recommended schedule for duct cleaning is best.
We help residents of Frederick, MD and surrounding areas maintain clean, comfortable, and all-around healthy homes. We offer top-notch heating, cooling, and plumbing services. We also provide water heaters, drain cleaning, and HVAC air duct cleaning. To schedule an appointment or find out about our preventative maintenance plan, contact Markool Heating & Cooling today.