How do I know if I need my air ducts cleaned?
How do I know if I need my air ducts cleaned?
The first and easiest indicator is to "look up" at your vents. Are they dirty? If so then it is clear that your ducting is dirty and needs cleaning. Some people are more sensitive and will notice contaminated air quality even before it reaches the point of visual confirmation. These people are usually allergy sensitive and the invisible antagonist being one of many things can be circulating through the lungs of your home "the duct system".
Buying an older home?
Buying an older home?
It is especially important to have your ducting cleaned if you are purchasing a home that is new to you but not so new. Without knowing the history of the family that lived there before you could be subjecting your family to allergens such as pet dander, dust mites, mold, and viruses from illness. There is also the sometimes unpleasant odor from the daily rituals of the inhabitants before you such as ethnic cooking smells, pet smells, and the biggest being smoke odors. We can completely sanitize and deodorize the entire system so it is fresh and clean for your family in your new home.
Knowledge is Power
Knowledge is Power
If you have ever seen the particles of dust floating in a sunbeam, you have some idea of how much particulate is in the air around you. In fact, the average cubic inch of air contains 100,000 particles. In smoggy cities, this can reach 5,000,000 particles per cubic inch. Unfortunately Bakersfield is still listed as the "dirtiest city in the nation". So we have to be even more mindful of good indoor air quality.
As air passes through the air conditioning and heating units and ductwork of the home, it is only a matter of time before those particles begin collecting on the unit and duct interiors. These accumulated particles will include anything and everything that floats in the house or comes in from the outside. Animal and human skin flakes, ground up stone and dirt particles, hair, mold spores, bacteria, vehicle exhaust fumes - all of these and more begin to collect on the duct interiors, fan, cooling and heating elements, filters, and registers.
If the residents of the home are allergic to any of these items, they feel the effects of being exposed to allergens whenever the heating or cooling turns on in the home.
In some instances odors develop in the air handler or ducts due to the particulate buildup. In other cases, dirt may begin blowing out of the registers.
Another concern is the buildup of mold or bacteria inside an air conditioning unit. Such microbial growth is rare in home systems, but can occur where moisture is present. Homes in humid climates or near bodies of water are particularly susceptible. Cleaning removes such growth and approved disinfectants can be used by a reputable duct cleaning company to retard or eliminate microbial contamination.
NOTE: "Streaking" around the registers is not necessarily a sign of dirty ductwork. This is the normal effect of air blowing or swirling across a surface continuously. Residential heating and cooling systems collect dirt. Streaking may give you an idea of what particulate is settling in your ductwork, however. Black "sooty" streaks usually come from vehicle exhaust or candle burning, whereas whitish or light gray powdery, dust-like streaking is commonly from dander (skin flakes).
Having a home heating system cleaned every 3-5 years will prevent the continuous buildup of dirt and other particulate in the unit and ductwork.
We price home duct cleaning according to the number of registers in the residence. Since 1997, Advance Duct Cleaning has been recognized for their residential duct expertise. For further information or a free estimate, call us today.