How to Tell if Your Ducts Need to be Cleaned

February 09, 2017

 

Typically, air ducts need to be cleaned every three to five years according to the National Air Duct Cleaners Association. Contingent on a lot of factors—like your home’s location, how many pets you have, and how frequently your air filter has been changed, to name a few—you may require air duct cleaning more or less often. So, how can you find out for sure when it’s time to have your ducts cleaned? There are certainly some revealing signs when it’s time.

Look for these clues:

  1. Are your cold air returns caked with dust or pet hair?
  2. Is there a jam within your cold air return vent?
  3. Are your registers blowing out dust?
  4. When you check inside with a flashlight, can you see a buildup of debris or pet fur?
  5. Have insects or rodents nestled in your ductwork?
  6. Can you hear clatter other than your blower motor when you listen to the airflow?
  7. When your vents are fully opened, do any have not as much airflow than others?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, it’s probably time to ask Interstate Heating & Air Conditioning in Omaha 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 period of time between specialized cleanings.

First and foremost, setup regular HVAC maintenance with the specialists at Interstate Heating & Air Conditioning. A service of your furnace each fall and your AC each spring, which should comprise of inspection, and potential replacement, of your air filter, will help keep your HVAC system functioning effectively, and will help keep your ducts clean.

You can also chat with the team at Interstate Heating & Air Conditioning about installing an air purification system. We offer 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:

  • Regularly dusting and vacuuming your home.
  • Examining your air filters regularly and replacing them when the manufacturer recommends exchanging them. Most filters will present dust on them after a brief stint in service, but they may not require replacement.
  • Sealing seepages in air ducts that permit dust to move in from areas like your attic.
  • Replacing poor or broken air-duct insulation.

With a professional air duct cleaning and some proactive measures, you can help keep the air in your Omaha home clean and healthy. Give the pros at Interstate Heating & Air Conditioning a call at 402-509-5940.