Air ducts play an important role in the comfort of your home. Together, ducts and vents form a network that circulates the air produced by your heating and cooling system throughout your entire house. As time goes on, ducts can become inundated by dust, pet hair, mold, and other debris. Unfortunately, every time your AC or furnace kicks on it, it reintroduces debris into your indoor air supply. This debris can lead to everything from unpleasant odors and poor HVAC performance to severe allergies and asthma. That’s why it’s essential to have your air ducts cleaned on a regular basis. At Medcalf Heating & Cooling, we’re the indoor air quality experts in Terre Haute, IN, and we’re here to show you why it’s important to have clean air ducts.
Improved Indoor Air Quality
You may think of the air inside your home as being much cleaner than the air outside, but the truth is that circulated air within your home can be just as dirty – if not worse. Any pollutant entering your home will eventually make its way into your HVAC system and ducts. During spring and summer, these contaminants usually include pollen, mold spores, and pesticides. Winter months spent cooped inside the house can also result in viruses and bacteria spreading throughout the home via air ducts. Regularly cleaning the ductwork can remove these harmful substances from your air supply and help your family breathe easier.
Increased HVAC Efficiency
Dust and debris are also detrimental to the efficiency of your HVAC because they can impede airflow. Clogged ducts can hinder air circulation and interfere with temperature consistency throughout your home. Your furnace and AC will also have to work harder to force air through these clogged passages. All of this extra work can lead to higher utility bills and potentially higher repair frequency. In fact, badly clogged ducts can even shorten the overall life span of your HVAC systems. Removing any built-up debris can restore free, unrestricted airflow to your ducts.
Elimination of Foul Odors
Everything from mildew to cigarette smoke can contribute to unpleasant odors in your home. Unfortunately, it’s possible for these odors to make their way into your ductwork and re-circulate throughout your home, too. Mold and mildew are also common culprits behind terrible smells in your home. If you catch a whiff of mildew every time your HVAC kicks on, that’s a good sign your ductwork is due for a cleaning.
Prevention of House Fires
A fire inside your ductwork can be catastrophic to your home, not to mention dangerous to your loved ones. It’s alarming to think about, but many of the substances that accumulate inside ducts are flammable. Lint, pet hair, and even dust can all catch fire when exposed to a heat source. Regular duct cleaning can give you peace of mind that your system is free from flammable hazards.
Longer-Lasting Air Filters
HVAC air filters are designed to trap debris and remove it from your indoor air supply. The more dust present in your air ducts, the faster the filter fills up. With relatively clean ducts, you should only need to change the filter once every three months. However, if your ducts haven’t been cleaned in a long time, you should plan to freshen up your filters even more often. This process can get pricey and tedious, so we recommend taking some of the work off your plate with regular duct cleaning.
Alleviation of Allergies and Asthma
Asthma and allergies are two of the most common respiratory ailments here in Indiana. While you may think of your home as a safe haven from the environmental irritants of the outdoors, that’s not always the case. Pollen, spores, and mildew will often hitch a ride into your house on clothes, shoes, and even pets. Being cooped up with these irritants all night while you sleep can agitate symptoms of allergies and asthma. If you or your loved ones are dealing with symptoms like itchy eyes, runny noses, or sore throats, then it may be a good idea to have your ductwork cleaned.
Your Air Duct and HVAC Experts in Terre Haute
Sick and tired of dirty, dusty air ducts? Medcalf Heating & Cooling is here to help. We have the right equipment and techniques to thoroughly clean your ducts and vents. During the cleaning appointment, we’ll also keep an eye out for issues like loose or damaged ductwork. You can count on us for heating and cooling maintenance, repairs, and replacements in Terre Haute and the surrounding communities. Call us today to schedule your service appointment!
