When it comes to maintaining a healthy HVAC system and a good air quality at home, one of the most discussed topics is duct cleaning. We’ve all heard that it’s advisable to clean your ducts regularly either by yourself or by hiring a professional duct cleaning company but not a lot of people fully understand why.
In this article, we’ll help you explore the importance of cleaning your ducts by showing you what could happen in case you don’t do this regularly.
What happens if you don’t clean your ducts?
Regardless of your air conditioning system, one thing is certain – your air ducts do a lot of work on a daily basis, regardless of whether we’re talking about a business venue, home, or other type of property. Because of the work they do, air ducts accumulate a large amount of dust. This could lead to a range of undesired outcomes that could pose serious threats to your health and wellbeing.
Mould growth
Among the common concerns with dirty air ducts is the chance of mold developing and spreading through the property. If your vent is insulated, the chance of mould growth is even higher. Mould grows in damp areas where there is a lot of moisture. So if water reaches your vents or condensation takes over, you can certainly expect to have a mould problem at home. If left unattended, the moisture will increase, causing more mildew to grow and spread.
Things get even worse considering that the ducts spread the air through the whole property, meaning that if you have mould growing inside, harmful particles will reach the air you breath and therefore harm your immune system and body. Furthermore, the living or working environment will be unpleasant due to a musty odour that is typical for places with mold.
Blocked ducts
Not only can dirty ducts lead to mould growth but they can also clog the system. It’s natural that dust builds up and sticks together inside the ducts and in the surrounding areas around the outlets, vents, and filters. This will cause the quality of the airflow to deteriorate, leading to a less effective HVAC system. As a result, the heating or cooling system will require more energy to maintain the desired temperature. In this case, you’ll notice higher utility bills at the end of the month and the ducts could stop working completely.
Pest infestations
The excessive moisture and the buildup of dirt is also a great invitation for pests to breed in your home. Cockroaches, crickets and even mice and rats all love to establish a living environment inside your HVAC system and could cause a lot of damage in the long-term. You certainly want to prevent this problem by having your air ducts cleaned, advisably by an experienced duct cleaning professional.
Dirty ducts are expensive
Apart from the health concerns of allowing your ducts to be dirty and poorly maintained, there are financial implications too. Dirty ducts call for more energy in order for the heating system to work as normal and to reach the set temperature. The consumption of more energy will lead to higher expenses at the end of the month, which could harm your overall monthly budget. Luckily, this problem can easily be eliminated simply by ensuring your ducts are clean and maintained at all times.
Give your ducts the attention they deserve
As you can see, allowing your ducts to accumulate dirt is not a desirable situation as it can lead to a range of unpleasant consequences. Make sure that you don’t forget duct cleaning by either setting yourself monthly or yearly reminders for the task or hiring a professional who can keep up the condition of your ducts all year long.