Sometimes You Need To Vent: Cleaning Ducts And Vents Does Have Its Place
Posted on: 19 June 2015
If you're a homeowner who has been thinking of getting the vents and ducts of your home's HVAC system cleaned out, you've no doubt found that duct cleaning is a somewhat controversial activity. While marketed as something that needs to be done regularly, studies such as those from the Environmental Protection Agency have found that regular duct cleaning might not be such a necessary thing -- in fact, if done incorrectly, the cleaning could make air quality worse in your home. But there are times when duct and vent cleaning is very worth it, if not necessary.
You See Stuff
If a visual inspection of the ducts reveals a lot of unwelcome stuff -- dust, rodent nests, or even leftover construction materials -- get the ducts cleaned. Dust and debris make inviting homes for pests, and you just don't want trash sitting in the system.
You Want a Fresh Start
If you've just bought a home that's new to you but that hasn't had its ducts cleaned in a while, go ahead and get them cleaned. You'll have a fresh starting point regarding the state of the ducts, and the cleaning inspection is another way to ensure the ducts are in great shape.
You're Getting a New HVAC System
Power is everything in HVAC ducts, and if you increase the power of your system, you risk having anything in the ducts blown out. In other words, if you buy a home where people have never had air quality problems and have never cleaned out the ducts, and you install a system that has a lot more power and a stronger fan, then you might end up with a problem as anything sitting in the ducts suddenly has to contend with a stronger force.
You Smell Stuff
After Apartment Therapy posted an article about not needing to clean out ducts, reader after reader posted about how cleaning out ducts in old homes cleared out stubborn smells like old cigarette smoke. If you've been noticing odors that just won't go away, try getting the ducts cleaned. The particles that create the smell might get cleaned out along with the dust, creating much better air.
Remember, the cleaning must be done properly. You don't want anything getting propelled into the air when it doesn't have to be. If you'd like to find out more about how to get those ducts clean, contact HVAC cleaning and maintenance services in your area now.
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