How To Tell When Your Ducts Need To Be Cleaned And Maintained
Many people ignore their duct system, but not on purpose. It cannot be seen, so it is easy to forget about it. Having your ducts cleaned on a regular basis will keep your indoor air quality healthier, as well as improve the energy performance of your HVAC system.
Dirt
If you start noticing more dust than usual, such as on your shelves, light fixtures, etc., your ducts could be causing this problem. Ducts blow cool and warm air out of the registers. When they are dirty, the dirt blows out with the air, and it travels throughout your home.
If not cleaned when they become dirty, the dirt will build up inside over time, causing even more dust and dirt to get into your air. Once more dirt builds up, you will see it collecting on the registers, as well as walls, ceilings, etc.
Odors
Along with dirt, during the hot humid summer months mold and mildew can build up in the duct system. If there is mold and mildew, you will smell an odor each time your air comes on.
Mold spores need a food source, moisture, and a stable temperature to grow and reproduce. The dirt and dust that is in your duct system provides them with a good food source. This along with moisture that builds up due to the humidity, as well as the temperature of the ducts, gives the mold the perfect environment to grow.
Duct Sealing
If the contractor, like those from Metro Cleaning Service Inc, starts to clean your ducts and notices any type of leaks, they will seal your duct system before they start cleaning it. The process of duct sealing includes:
- Measuring the leak to make sure it can be sealed. If it is very large, the actual ductwork may need to be replaced.
- Blocking off the registers with plastic or foam.
- Injecting an aerosol into the duct system.
- Using a sensor and computer to control and measure the process.
- conducting a post seal test is done to make sure the leak is fixed.
If you have a leak, you will likely notice the air in certain rooms does not blow out of the registers as hard. You will likely notice your energy bills are higher due to the loss of air.
Watching out for these signs, keeping your duct system clean, and in good shape can save you money, as well as keep your home cool or warm for you and your family.