Typically, air ducts need to be cleaned every three to five years according to the
National Air Duct Cleaners Association. Dependent on a lot of factors—like your home’s location, if you have pets, and how frequently your air filter has been replaced, to name a handful—you may require air
duct cleaning more or less frequently. So, how can you tell for sure when it’s time to have your ducts cleaned? There are certainly some significant signs when it’s time.
Look for these clues:
- Are your cold air returns coated with dust or pet hair?
- Is there an obstruction inside your cold air return vent?
- Are your registers carrying out dust?
- When you gaze inside with a flashlight, can you see an accumulation of debris or pet fur?
- Have insects or rodents made a home in your ductwork?
- Can you hear sound other than your blower motor when you listen to the airflow?
- When your vents are fully opened, do any have less airflow than others?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, it’s most likely time to ask Olde Towne Heating & Air in Mount Pleasant about air duct cleaning.
Prolonging Time Between Air Duct Cleaning
There are a couple things you can do to help keep your ducts cleaner and prolong the amount of time between specialized cleanings.
Mostly importantly, arrange annual HVAC maintenance with the experts at Olde Towne Heating & Air. A tune-up of your furnace each fall and your AC each spring, which should include inspection, and prospective replacement, of your air filter, will help keep your HVAC system operating efficiently, and will help keep your ducts clean.
You can also chat with the team at Olde Towne Heating & Air about installing an air purification system. We provide the Lennox PureAir Air Purification System, Healthy Climate Carbon Clean 16 Media Air Cleaner, Healthy Climate 11 Media Air Cleaner, Healthy Climate High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) Filtration System and Healthy Climate UV Germicidal Lights.
Other steps you can take include:
- Frequently dusting and vacuuming your home.
- Inspecting your air filters habitually and exchanging them when the manufacturer recommends replacing them. Most filters will display dust on them after a short period in service, but they may not require replacement.
- Sealing seepages in air ducts that allow dust to move in from areas like your attic.
- Trading poor or broken air-duct insulation.
With a professional air duct cleaning and some preemptive measures, you can help keep the air in your Mount Pleasant home clean and healthy. Give the professionals at Olde Towne Heating & Air a call at 843-485-0967.