If you have lived in your home for any length of time, the chances are the ductwork attached to the heating and cooling system needs attention. Men and women rarely think about the ductwork as it remains hidden behind ceilings and walls or under floors. However, problems with the ductwork happen, and they may have far-reaching consequences. If you have never had the ducts cleaned, this may be a task you want to schedule with Accurate Electric Plumbing Heating & Air right away. What are some problems seen with ductwork in a home or other building?
Puffs of Dust
When you start your HVAC system, you should see no puff of dust. Air ducts don’t release dust or debris in a quantity that can be seen when the system starts up and the air moves through the ductwork. Any visible dust and debris coming from the air registers is a sign there is a buildup of dust and debris in the ducts and they need professional duct cleaning. Call Accurate Electric Plumbing Heating & Air at 626-495-3046 today to see if this is dust and debris coming from the air registers or if you are experiencing another problem.
Remodeling
Remodeling projects come with a lot of dust. This dust must go somewhere, and it often makes its way into the ductwork. When you have any major work done in the home, consider having your ducts cleaned. You don’t want any dust and debris that made its way into the ductwork to spread throughout the home and make your amazing new space look dirty. This is the last thing you need when you have spent so much to improve your home.
Pest Infestation
Homeowners may see insect husks or shells alongside the ductwork in the home. At times, droppings may appear alongside the ducts, and both serve as signs you have a pest infestation. Have the ducts cleaned promptly if rodents and insects have made their home in your ducts and they need to be removed. Homeowners rarely realize they have an issue until they smell or hear the pests. At times, they learn of the issue because family members become sick when the droppings and fur from these unwanted guests make their way through the home via the ducts. When this happens, they may need a pest control specialist to remove the critters and a heating and cooling tech to clean up behind them.
Dirty Vent Covers
This serves as one of the first signs a homeowner notices when their ducts are dirty. Matted dust on the air register or air handler cover is a sign that ducts need a good cleaning. However, any debris on the covers suggests the ductwork is dirty and should be examined by a professional.
Unusual Noises from the Ducts
Popping and banging noises coming from the ductwork need to be a cause for concern. They suggest the metal in the ductwork is expanding and contracting. Rattling noises indicate certain sections have become disconnected while whooshing noises from the system are a sign the system and ductwork aren’t properly matched in terms of size.
High Energy Bills
When the ductwork in the home is clogged with dirt and debris, the system must work harder to heat or cool the home. It has to account for the interference within the system, and the homeowner often sees the results in their energy bills. If your energy bill continues to rise with no explanation, call for an examination of the heating and cooling system to see if the ductwork is the culprit.
Excessive Dust
Have you noticed more dust on the furnishings in your home? Dust comes with normal living, but anytime it appears the dust is piling up more rapidly, homeowners need to question what is going on. In many cases, the air ducts are clogged with dirt and debris. When the homeowner turns the heating and cooling system on, this dust and debris travel through the ducts to every room in the home via the registers. To reduce the amount of dust in the home, have the ductwork cleaned. This will save you time on cleaning and also ensure the occupants of the home don’t breathe in the dirty air.
Allergies
Do you feel as if you are visiting the doctor weekly because family members are sick and never seem to improve? Are the constant sneezing and watery eyes driving you crazy? The chances are you or a loved one suffers from allergies, and the allergies can be exacerbated by mold and excessive dirt and debris in the ducts of the home’s heating and cooling system. Speak with the doctor to determine the cause of the allergies and call for professional cleaning of the ductwork in the home. Individuals who do so often find they and their loved ones feel better almost immediately after the cleaning is complete.
Dirty Air Filter
Air filters need to be changed regularly, usually at least once a month. In certain cases, such as when multiple pets live in the home, the filter needs to be changed more often. This ensures air moving through the home will be clean. If the air filter needs to be changed more often than usual, it could be that the ducts are dirty and need cleaning. The dirt and debris in the ducts are causing the filter to become clogged faster than normal.
Reduced Air Flow
Dirty and clogged ducts interfere with normal airflow from the heating and cooling system. Homeowners typically realize they have a problem when they discover the air coming from vents in the home is weaker than it used to be. A large obstruction in the duct or extremely dirty ductwork makes it difficult for the air to move through the system. A thorough cleaning of the ductwork restores normal airflow and reduces the work the heating and cooling system must do to keep the home at a comfortable temperature.
No Prior Cleanings
How old is your home? Have the ducts in the home ever been cleaned? If you don’t know the answer to the second question, it should give you pause. When your home is more than a few years old, you can only imagine what has accumulated in the ductwork. What about those homes that are decades old? They likely have a significant amount of dirt and debris in the ductwork. Although you cannot see these pollutants, they are there. Every time the system is used, they make their way throughout the building where you breathe them in. Call for a cleaning today so you can breathe easy once again knowing the air you are taking in is fresh.
Inconsistent Air Flow
At times, the homeowner notices certain rooms are hotter or colder than others even when no changes have been made to the air registers. Dust and debris may be partially blocking the ducts leading to these portions of the home. If the ducts aren’t cleaned, the dirt and debris could make their way into other parts of the system, and keeping all parts of the home at a comfortable temperature will become more of a challenge. Have the ducts cleaned to stop this problem in its tracks.
Ongoing Respiratory Issues
Many things can cause respiratory issues, and homeowners need to consider the possibility that dirty air ducts in the home are contributing to the problem. They aren’t alone, however. Business owners must also keep the ducts in their buildings clean or face liability if someone becomes ill because they failed to do so. When the time comes to have system maintenance carried out on the heating and cooling system, ask the technician to examine the ductwork as well. They can tell if the HVAC ducts need a good cleaning to prevent health issues for those who occupy or visit the home or business.
Unpleasant Smells
Unpleasant odors emanating from your heating and cooling system need to be investigated immediately. Often, people cannot determine where the smell is coming from, and it is only when they have eliminated all other possible sources that they turn to the HVAC system as the possible culprit. Check each air register to see if you can detect the smell and if it appears stronger near the register. Another option involves calling a technician in to examine the ducts and determine if they are the source of the smell.
Mold and Mildew
Address any mold and mildew in the home immediately, as either pollutant can negatively affect the health of those who live or work in the home or business. If you see any mold or mildew around an air conditioning unit or vent covers, call for an examination of the system immediately. The ductwork will need to be cleaned to remove these pollutants, and the technician can make recommendations on how to prevent the problem from recurring. This may involve installing a home dehumidifier, among other things.
Accurate Electric Plumbing Heating & Air has been providing duct cleaning and other HVAC services to Glendora and the surrounding area for over 20 years. Our staff is committed to excellent service and all of our services are guaranteed. If you need duct inspection and cleaning, look no further than Accurate Home Services.
Neglecting the ductwork in your home is easy. It’s not readily visible and has no mechanical parts that fail with time. As a result, people often completely ignore it. However, doing so could lead to issues. Catching problems early helps to eliminate problems associated with faulty ductwork while keeping costs down. Call Accurate Electric Plumbing Heating & Air at 626-495-3046 or visit accurateelectricplumbingheatingandair.com/contact/ to schedule an appointment.
