When it comes to air conditioning systems, many homeowners are tempted to contact a duct cleaning service in order to improve the air quality in their home. But is duct cleaning really necessary? In this article, we'll explore the advantages and disadvantages of duct cleaning and provide you with some alternatives that can help you achieve cleaner air in your home. The first thing to consider when it comes to duct cleaning is that air filters should already keep dust out of ducts. This means that, in most cases, the dust that passes through the air filter and reaches the duct system is minimal and has not been proven to cause a measurable decline in air quality.
As a result, most HVAC manufacturers don't design air ducts to be cleaned. However, if you let your air ducts collect dust and debris, creating a lot of build-up, your air conditioning system will have to work too hard. This happens because the air will not flow smoothly through your house and, as a result, the system will not be able to reach the temperature you request. If you choose to use duct cleaning services, it's important to make sure that they are only used on ducts made of solid sheet metal.
Flexible ducts can be easily damaged by duct cleaning services and this can cause more damage to air quality by releasing more dust into the house or insulation particles from the broken duct. In addition, if mold is present in your home, it's important to verify that any biological material in the duct is actually mold. This can be verified by third-party testing and you should never take a contractor's word for it when they claim that there is mold in your air ducts. If you're looking for ways to improve the air quality in your home without using a duct cleaning service, there are some alternatives that can help you achieve this goal.
One option is to use a device such as the Reme Halo which distributes ionized hydroperoxide molecules which attack air pollutants such as bacteria, mold, and dandruff. You can also install a 5-inch filter which has a larger surface area than standard 1-inch pleated filters. This allows you to filter more particulate matter from the air without restricting airflow and only needs to be changed every 3-6 months instead of monthly. Finally, it's important to perform regular inspections of the air conditioning system and change the filters regularly.
If you have a standard 1-inch pleated filter, we recommend that you change the air filter once a month. In conclusion, while professional HVAC technicians don't usually recommend using duct cleaning services, there are some alternatives that can help you achieve cleaner air in your home. If you find excessive debris, dust buildup, mold growth, or even rodents in air ducts, cleaning can fix the problem. To ensure that it never breaks down again, you should schedule regular maintenance of your system and change the filters regularly.
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