Checking access doors is one of the easiest ways to tell if air ducts need to be cleaned. If the technicians didn't drill any holes, the ducts aren't clean. The indoor air flow must be of the same quality, as the ventilation grilles provide a constant flow of air. If this is not the case, ask a technician to ensure that all ventilation ducts are clean.
But what's worse, dirty air ducts can endanger your health and well-being. Read on for 12 signs that your air duct needs cleaning. Mold or mildew are a sure sign that it's time to clean the air conditioner. It's common for condensation to build up in the HVAC system. This can manifest as the formation of mold near the air duct grille.
But it can also cause mold to start growing in different parts of the house. If you have a moldy air duct, your air conditioning system expels those spores throughout the house. If you're having trouble keeping mold away inside your home, you should call an HVAC technician to help you clean your air ducts. Call someone right away if you think you may have mold in your air ducts. Mold spores in the air can cause serious health problems. You could be ingesting dust, mold, or other particles that are making your allergies worse.
If you think you're experiencing an allergic reaction to something, be sure to check the air ducts. As mentioned before, your HVAC system will blow air into your house. That air will carry everything it collects in the air ducts. The smell of mold is unmistakable and once you know what it smells like, you'll never forget it. The mold smells like wet clothes that have “turned sour”.
It's that horrible smell you get when you open shaggy bread or enter a damp basement with specks growing on the walls. We call the smell “rancid” because it is associated with humid and unattended places, such as air ducts. As dust builds up in layers inside metal ducts, it can hold humidity. Once that happens, the mold spores, which are always in the air, will take hold and begin to form a colony. The mold cologne creates and releases more spores; the first sign of this is a musty smell. After that, your family may experience allergy symptoms, headaches, and constant nausea.
If these signs manifest themselves, a thorough cleaning of the ducts can eliminate mold and the health hazard in your home. In addition to the musty smell, you can also detect mold starting to grow on the walls and ceiling near the vents. A house with a lot of dust is a classic sign that it's time to clean the ducts, and you'll be surprised to see how dust-free your house is left after an expert team connects the vacuum truck to the ducts. Regular duct cleaning prevents the spread of harmful bacteria and mold spores. These spores can enter the home through cracks in walls, windows, doors, and even ventilation grilles. Regular cleaning of the ducts also reduces the risk of respiratory diseases. If you're staying in an older house without remembering when the air duct was last cleaned, get a technician to inspect and clean the air duct.In addition to cleaning moldy HVAC ducts, technicians will recommend that you invest in a household dehumidifier, as mold and mildew grow in humid areas.
Visiting a professional air duct cleaning service every 3 to 5 years can prevent many maintenance and health problems before they appear. That's why it's important to regularly check the condition of the air ducts to see if they might need air duct cleaning services. Air duct cleaning professionals are also trained to detect other problems in an HVAC system that the average homeowner may not know how to look for. Hospitals also need air duct cleaning services on a much more regular basis because they are concerned about any type of particle that could pose a risk to patients. Larger duct cleaning systems mounted on trailers or vans usually use low-power motor compressors and generate more suction, usually 400 at 1000 CFM. Inspections are a good time to repair ducts to re-seal air ducts and keep them cleaner in the future. If any of these 12 signs appear in your home or office building, it's time for an air duct cleaning. Don't wait until it's too late; contact an experienced HVAC technician today!.
