If your HVAC – Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning system puffs out little dust particles every time you turn it on, it means that its air duct needs cleaning since this dust will directly affect your indoor air quality. It’s not only the air duct that has the dirt piled up in it, but it’s also your lungs accumulating these tiny particles with every breath. If there is a thick layer of dust on the return air registers, this is a noteworthy sign that your home’s furnace or air conditioner requires a thorough cleaning. But, how does dirt snowballs in an air duct?
Inside an HVAC system, tiny dust particles gather on air duct surfaces, motors, coils, and vents. This dust, along with dirt granules, attracts hair, and dead skin cells that settle into an air duct as dust balls. Even the air filters can’t remove them from all parts of the HVAC system. Therefore, if you don’t clean it periodically, it can be a breeding ground for dust mites and allergens. So, here are five signs that indicate that your air duct requires a professional cleaning service.
1. High Electricity Bills
The air ducts are programmed to distribute air through an HVAC system by the expenditure of energy. Because of the build-up of dust therein, the air filters are blocked, thus unable to circulate the air thoroughly. Since the HVAC is automated to reach a specific temperature, it exerts extra energy to pull it off. This results in a comparatively higher electricity bill than those of the previous months. If this is the case, then it is advised to go for the air duct cleaning.
Just a side note: If you’re in Brooklyn, and the electricity bill is unusually higher, then it is an indicator that you should search for an air duct cleaning service in Brooklyn to clean the clogged air ducts.
2. Respiratory Problems and Increased Allergy
Suppose waking up with a sore throat and runny nose is becoming a routine. In that case, the chances are that it’s a symptom of a severe allergy, most probably the dust allergy. The clogged air ducts can act as a potential medium for the growth of a variety of allergens such as molds or pollens, which are the causative agents of severe respiratory disorders. As the air is pumped out of the duct, these allergens follow suit.
Inhaling these contaminants can cause allergic responses such as the runny nose, dry throat, and chronic cough. These symptoms can aggravate respiratory problems if you have an underlying disease such as asthma. So, if you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s advised to get your HVAC cleaned at your earliest convenience.
3. Cleaning the Supply and Return Vents More than Usual
Seeing an occasional tiny ball of dust clinging on to the supply and return vents is normal. But the more significant concern is having to clean them recurrently. It means that a considerable amount of debris is accumulated on them, which is contaminating them. It’s a clear sign that you need to clean up the air duct from top to bottom.
4. Increased Amount of Furniture Dust
If your HVAC air duct hasn’t been thoroughly cleaned in a long time, you may start to notice the dirt particles on your furniture in routine. The next time you see a stray dustball on your couch, chair, table, or a dresser, it is most likely that your air duct has spewed it out.
5. Examining How Adversely the Air Duct has been Affected
Open the vent covers, and examine if the filters are piled up with dirt, dust, or debris. Also, check the return air registers and the AC coils. The more trash you see on their panel, the more are the chances that the air filters are clogged with dust balls, which consequently block the airflow.
Also, the HVAC vent may have more or less the same amount of debris snowballed therein. Therefore, cleaning a dryer vent alongside the air duct is always suggested.