Just because your air ducts are out of sight doesn’t mean they should be out of mind. Ductwork is essential to your HVAC system as it maintains airflow throughout your home. When you overlook these critical HVAC components, your household’s respiratory health, bank account, and overall comfort could be in jeopardy.
At ACS, we are committed to optimizing your home’s indoor air quality. Our certified HVAC technicians perform top-quality duct cleaning, repairs, and installation to maximize your heating and cooling efficiency and minimize the wear and tear of your HVAC system. Below, we’ve compiled a list of warning signs indicating that your ductwork needs cleaning.
1) Mold Growth
It’s safe to say that mold is a bad sign in any situation, but when it comes to HVAC, mold should urgently set alarms off in your head. It’s normal for your HVAC system to build up condensation over time. However, if you fail to monitor your system’s ductwork, this condensation often leads to mold buildup in your air ducts, vent covers, and even throughout structural parts of your home.
If you discover mold in your air ducts, you must act quickly before the problem worsens and harms indoor air quality. Contact a local air duct cleaning technician immediately for an extensive duct cleaning and energy assessment. And along with professional help, you should take additional precautions to prevent mold from resurfacing, like installing a whole-home dehumidifier and optimizing your thermostat settings.
2) Dusty Vents and Surfaces
Another clear sign of dirty ductwork is excessive dust throughout your home. If you notice that no matter how much you clean, dust remains on all flat surfaces in your home, it’s time to get your ductwork inspected and cleaned. In addition to household surfaces, you may also notice dust buildup on your vents, which disperse air throughout various rooms in your home. If these grills are visibly dirty or dusty, the best practice is to remove them and inspect further into your ductwork. If the metal is also covered in dust, it’s definitely time for a cleaning.
Luckily, there are many ways to prevent future dust buildup in your ductwork. At ACS, we recommend frequently replacing your HVAC system air filters and installing an air purification system to capture airborne contaminants like dust, smoke, and bacteria before they invade your air ducts.
3) Worsened Allergies
Are your allergies feeling worse than usual? This could be a sign that your ductwork needs cleaning. Whether it’s dust mites, insect droppings, mold, or pet dander, many dirty particles circulate throughout your home and accumulate in your air ducts. As you and other household members inhale these particles, you may experience indoor allergy symptoms like sneezing, stuffiness, runny nose, or itchiness in your throat. If you notice an increase in these respiratory symptoms, you’ll want to inspect your air ducts for excess dust, dirt, or dander.
4) Higher Power Bill
If your power bill is higher than usual, dirty ductwork could be the culprit. When air ducts get dirty or clogged, it makes it more difficult for air to flow efficiently throughout your HVAC system. As a result, your furnace and air conditioner are forced to work harder to maintain your desired temperature, resulting in added energy expenditure and higher utility bills.
In addition to debris buildup, duct leaks and airflow inconsistencies can cause your HVAC system to work overtime. All in all, you should schedule regular HVAC maintenance to clean your ductwork and reduce any wear and tear on your system.
At ACS, we are committed to helping you get the most out of your heating and cooling systems. Whether it’s ductwork cleaning, AC repair, or heating installation, no job is too big or too small for our team of certified HVAC technicians. If you’re looking for ductwork cleaning in Covington, Milledgeville, and surrounding areas, connect with our team today!
