By not bothering to replace or clean it, you in turn dramatically reduce the lifespan of your HVAC. In the worst case scenario, an extreme. You and your family won't be the only ones who feel worse, either. All that accumulation of dirt and dust can obstruct the heat or cold that your HVAC is trying to circulate, leading to potential issues that may require Duct Cleaning near Hilton Head Island SC.In the worst case scenario, an extremely clogged filter will cause total premature failure, as your HVAC uses too much energy to operate.
Indoor air pollution: Air ducts become dirty when dirt and debris build up in them over time. Dirty air ducts will negatively affect the air quality in your home or building; if you don't clean them, it will pollute the air and greatly decrease the purity of the indoor air. Illness: Poor air duct maintenance can easily lead to illness; not cleaning air ducts is basically an invitation to let viruses into your home. Dirty air ducts can also cause asthma and allergies in household members, especially children and the elderly.
Rodents and insects: It's no secret that most vermin are attracted to dirt, and if you don't clean your air ducts, you could attract some unpleasant visitors to your home, such as rats, cockroaches, spiders and other pests. If your air ducts are dirty, it's in your best interest to immediately call an air conditioner repair team at your residence. Odors: Mold and mildew can form in dirty air ducts. Not only are these hazardous to your health, but they can also bring bad odors to your home.
Broken heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems: Air ducts become dirty when they are allowed to accumulate dirt and debris, and if you don't clean them, dirt could prevent the system from working fully. Replacing a broken heating, ventilation and air conditioning system is expensive, so regular maintenance and a little cleaning could go a long way in avoiding this expense. If any of the conditions identified above exist, it usually suggests one or more underlying causes. Before cleaning, modernizing, or replacing ducts, the cause or causes must be corrected, or the problem is likely to recur.
Some research suggests that cleaning components of the heating and cooling system (e.g., however, there is little evidence that cleaning just the ducts improves system efficiency). You may consider cleaning the air ducts simply because it seems logical that the air ducts will get dirty over time and need to be cleaned from time to time. As long as the cleaning is done properly, there is no evidence to suggest that such cleaning is harmful. The EPA does not recommend that air ducts be cleaned routinely, but only when necessary. However, the EPA recommends that if you have an oven, stove or fireplace that burns fuel, you inspect them for proper operation and check them before each heating season to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning.
If you decide to clean the air ducts, take the same precautions as you would normally take to evaluate the competence and reliability of the service provider. If you decide to clean your heating and cooling system, it's important to ensure that the service provider agrees to clean all components of the system and is qualified to do so. In addition, the service provider may propose the application of chemical biocides, designed to eliminate microbiological contaminants, inside the ducts and other components of the system. Some service providers may also suggest applying chemical treatments (sealants or other encapsulants) to encapsulate or cover the interior surfaces of air ducts and equipment housings, because they believe that this will control the formation of mold or prevent the release of dirt particles or fibers from the ducts.
These practices have not yet been thoroughly researched and you should be well informed before deciding to allow the use of biocides or chemical treatments in the ducts of air. They should only be applied, if at all, after the system has been properly cleaned of all visible dust or dirt. Knowledge about the potential benefits and potential problems of cleaning air ducts is limited. Since the conditions in each home are different, it's impossible to generalize about whether cleaning your home's air ducts would be beneficial or not.
On the other hand, if family members have unusual or unexplained symptoms or illnesses that you think could be related to your home environment, you should discuss the situation with your doctor. The EPA has published the following publications as a guide to identifying potential indoor air quality problems and ways to prevent or address them. On the other hand, if a service provider doesn't follow proper duct cleaning procedures, duct cleaning can cause indoor air problems. For example, an inadequate vacuum collection system can release more dust, dirt and other contaminants than if the ducts had been left alone.
A careless or inadequately trained service provider can damage your heating and cooling system or ducts, which could increase heating and air conditioning costs or force you to perform difficult and costly repairs or replacements. The EPA does not recommend that air ducts be cleaned, except as necessary, because of continued uncertainty about the benefits of duct cleaning in most cases. However, the EPA recommends that if you have an oven, stove or fireplace that burns fuel, you inspect them for proper operation and that you check them before each heating season to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning. Some research also suggests that cleaning dirty cooling coils, fans, and heat exchangers can improve the efficiency of heating and cooling systems.
However, there is little evidence to indicate that simply cleaning the duct system will increase system efficiency. If you think duct cleaning might be a good idea for your home, but you're not sure, talk to a professional. The company that services your heating and cooling system can be a good source of advice. You can also contact professional duct cleaning service providers and ask them about the services they provide.
Remember that they are trying to sell you a service, so ask questions and insist on getting complete and well-informed answers. A thorough visual inspection is the best way to verify the cleanliness of your heating and cooling system. Some service providers use remote photography to document conditions inside pipelines. All parts of the system must be visibly clean; you should not be able to detect any debris with the naked eye. Show the service provider the checklist for the consumer after cleaning before work begins.
After completing the work, ask the service provider to show you each component of the system to verify that the work has been performed successfully. If you answer no to any of the questions on the checklist, this may indicate a problem with work. Ask your service provider to correct any deficiencies until you can answer yes to all the questions on the checklist. You may be familiar with air ducts that are made of sheets of metal.
However, many modern residential air duct systems are built with fiberglass or sheet metal ducts lined inside with a fiberglass coating. Since the early 1970s, there has been a significant increase in the use of flexible conduits, which are generally internally lined with plastic or some other type of material. Experts agree that moisture should not be present in the ducts and, if there is moisture and dirt, there is a possibility that biological contaminants can grow and be distributed throughout the house. Controlling humidity is the most effective way to prevent biological growth in all types of air ducts. Neglecting regular maintenance and cleaning of air ducts can result in several major problems that can affect your health, increase energy bills, and cause the HVAC system to be repaired.
If you notice any of these signs, it's time to schedule air duct cleaning services. Schebler Heating and Air equipment can provide the necessary maintenance to remove allergens, debris and other microorganisms from ducts. Whether out of ignorance or lack of desire to do the job (or to hire someone else to do it), these people often choose to give up completely cleaning your air ducts. To find companies that provide duct cleaning services, check the yellow pages on duct cleaning or contact the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) at the address and phone number listed in the information section at the end of this guide.
Prioritizing the cleaning of the air ducts is as important as cleaning the rest of the air conditioning unit, not only because of the many health risks that dirty air ducts can cause, but also because of the potential damage that dirt and debris can cause. Regardless of whether or not you decide to clean your home's air ducts, preventing water and dirt from entering the system is the most effective way to prevent pollution (see How to Prevent Duct Contamination). While the debate over the value of regular duct cleaning continues, there is no evidence to suggest that such cleaning is harmful, provided it is done correctly. Duct cleaning is not considered a necessary part of the annual maintenance of your heating and cooling system, which consists of regular cleaning of drain pans and heating and cooling coils, regular filter changes, and annual inspections of heating equipment. Most organizations that deal with duct cleaning, including the EPA, NADCA, NAIMA, and the National Association of Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors (SMACNA), do not currently recommend the routine use of sealants to encapsulate contaminants in any type of duct.
Duct cleaning is the process of removing dust, dirt, debris, and other contaminants from the air ducts of the air conditioning system. Knowledge about cleaning air ducts is in its early stages, so a general recommendation cannot be given as to whether you should clean the air ducts in your home.
