Air pollution in our everyday environment is increasing. From car emissions, industrial emissions, and other pollutants, incidences of ill health and illnesses such as asthma and allergies are on the rise. Inside our homes too, air quality is being affected. The use of aerosols, air conditioners, and household cleaning fluids can all add to the pollutants in our home.
There are also concerns about how HVAC systems can affect our air quality, especially if family members suffer from allergies or breathing problems, or if there are pets in the home. If there is a problem with your air ducts you may need a general ac repair.
EPA Recommendations
Whilst the EPA cautions against the need to clean air ducts regularly, there is good reason to check potential pollutants in the home to make sure they aren’t causing the problem.
The EPA recommends cleaning air ducts if there is a lot of dust collecting in them, if there is a significant amount of mold growing in the ducts, or if they are infested with vermin.
Dust Particles
Your HVAC system is engineered to prevent excessive dust particles from building up in the ducts. If there is a lot of dust build-up, there is something wrong with the system, and cleaning your ducts alone won’t resolve the problem. Call an engineer to identify the source, and then arrange for your ducts to be cleaned.
Many people become concerned with dust collecting on air registers. However, this is not usually a cause for concern and they just need dusting or vacuuming.
Dealing with Mold
Mold grows in damp conditions. If you have mold in your air ducts, you have a problem with condensation which is due to a fault in your HVAC system; water shouldn’t enter the air ducts. There may be a problem with your cooling coils, or your air duct may not be properly sealed.
Be aware however, everything that looks like mold, isn’t necessarily mold. It’s also possible you have mold growth on parts you can’t see.
Get your HVAC engineer to take a proper look at your system. If you have mold, you will need to find the source of the water to prevent mold from reoccurring.
Pest Infestations
Your air ducts can become infested with vermin. Obviously the pest needs to be dealt with before any cleaning can be carried out. In this particular instance, you may need a general ac repair or replacement air ducts.
Contact your HVAC repair engineer so they can advise you.
Why Bring the Professionals In?
If the cleaning of your air ducts is not done properly you could do more harm than good. Air ducts may become damaged, even a small tear can affect the efficiency of your HVAC system.
Also, to prevent your air ducts from collecting dust regularly, all the components of the HVAC need cleaning. Failure to carry out a thorough clean will only result in the problem reoccurring.
Be sure to check your system regularly to make sure your air ducts are clear of any dust, vermin, or mold.