Dust and dirt accumulates in all homes and can build up in your air ducts. Poor indoor air quality can affect allergy and asthma sufferers, young children, and the elderly. Factors that can contribute for the need to clean the ducts and improve your indoor air quality include occupants with allergies or asthma, pets, home renovation or remodeling projects, water damage to the home or HVAC system, and smokers in the home.
Duct cleaning can help address these issues. Indoor air quality consultants will tell you that fall is the best time to clean your air ducts. Why? The answer is simple. Think about it. Plants bloom and pollen and allergens are in the air in the spring. In the summer, people typically go in and out of the house more often. Winter is the season when air ducts have the most air blowing through them. Since you don’t want them dispersing dirty air throughout your house, it just makes sense to have your ducts cleaned in the fall. A simple indoor air quality solution is to schedule fall duct cleaning on a regular basis.
Benefits of Clean Air Ducts
Your heating and cooling system serves as the lungs of the house. The system takes air in and breathes air out. Dander, dust, chemical residue, and other contaminants and air pollutants are pulled into the HVAC system and recirculated multiple times every day. Over time, this recirculation can cause a buildup of contaminants in the ductwork. Cleaning the ducts can help improve the quality of air you breathe when you’re inside your home, but it also can lead to increased energy savings. Contaminants in the heating and cooling system can cause it to work harder, which can shorten its life span. When an HVAC system is clean, it doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain your temperature setting. Less energy used means improved cost-effectiveness, which means you save money.
Indoor Air Quality Control
While it’s almost impossible to eliminate all allergens inside your home, it’s possible to reduce your exposure to them. Making an effort to improve and control the quality of the air can help keep you breathing easier by helping you minimize allergy symptoms and avoid asthma flare-ups.
Keep it Clean
Indoor air quality companies will tell you that keeping your house clean—particularly if you focus your efforts on reducing the accumulation of pet dander, mold, and dust in your home—can significantly help improve the quality of the indoor air you breathe. Follow these simple strategies:
- Flooring – Carpets, rugs, and hard-surface flooring (which can help reduce allergens) should be vacuumed at least once each week using a vacuum cleaner that has a HEPA filter.
- Bedding, drapes, and curtains – Depending on the item and material it’s made from, you may want to use vacuum cleaner tools to remove dust and dander from fabric, or you may choose to launder items. Whichever method you select, be sure to do it on a regular basis.
- Clutter – Clear clutter because it traps and holds dust.
- Plants – If indoor allergens are a problem for anyone in the household, keep greenery outside. Indoor plants can be allergy triggers for many people.
- Air filters – Be sure you change the air filters in your HVAC system regularly. They help trap pollutants and keep them from being recirculated throughout the house.
If you’re looking to improve your indoor air quality in Atlanta, GA, contact Air Quality Systems. Call us today at 770-446-1142 to schedule your fall air duct cleaning.