The air ducts in your home are essentially a system that carries the cooled or heated air from the HVAC unit throughout your living space. The main components of this system are the ducts and registers that channel the air to different areas of the house. Over time, dirt, dust, and all kinds of airborne particles can accumulate inside these ducts. This can reduce the efficiency of your HVAC unit as it struggles to do its job effectively.
The air duct in your home’s HVAC system can get dirty if you don’t clean it regularly. Some people think that opening the registers and using fans will clean their air duct. However, doing this does not guarantee that your air duct is cleaned.
Cleaning your air ducts is critical for improving indoor air quality. It can help improve your family’s overall health by preventing harmful particles from entering your home. Additionally, it can prevent future problems with your HVAC system as well as reduce energy consumption.
It is best to call a professional because they have the right equipment to clean your air ducts and they can do it in a short amount of time.
Why Call Professional Air Duct Cleaners
Professionals clean air duct because they are trained and experienced to do so. They can remove dirt, dust, and debris from the HVAC system, ensuring it is operating at top performance. If you want to get the most out of your air conditioner or heater than hiring a professional cleaning service is what you should do.
Ask Them Few Questions Before Hiring
Before you hire a professional to clean your air duct, make sure to ask these questions:
- What type of chemicals they are used?
- Are they safe for my family and pets?
What happens if the cleaning solution damages any part of my HVAC system?
Some experts use chemicals to clean the air ducts, but you should ask them how they dispose these chemicals. Also, you need to know if there are any chemicals that are toxic and could harm your family members or pets.
How long will the cleaning take?
Some companies tell you that they can finish the job in a day. However, you need to find out if the company plans on cleaning your entire house or just the vents. If you want them to clean all of your vents, then you might have to wait for a few days before they can finish the job.
The air duct cleaning industry is unregulated, so anyone can claim to be an air duct cleaner. But not all cleaning companies are the same. Avoid companies that use high-pressure sales, scare tactics or even do anything that feels uncomfortable.
The EPA also suggests that you ask your contractor if they use their own employees to clean or if they hire subcontractors. The reason for this suggestion is simple, the main objective of any company will be to make money by hiring cheap labor and many times this labor pool will come from illegal immigrants who are paid less than minimum wage and sometimes in cash without tax deductions being made. This creates bad working conditions and unfair practices that only hurt the consumer in the long run.
Tip for you
The best way to make sure you’re getting a quality job is find a company that is part of the NADCA and/or the IICRC.