6 Signs Your Ducts Need Cleaning

If you live in a home that was built more than two decades ago, you should be concerned about when the last air duct cleaning was performed. If there are no records of a cleaning being done, it’s probably time to have a professional inspect the ducts and recommend the next course of action.

If your home was just built or had construction done on it, you need to consider cleaning your air ducts. No matter how clean and careful the construction crew was, dirt, dust and other materials easily float into the air. They will make it into your ducts, and they can remain there for months or even years. Not only can this put a strain on your AC unit, but you’ll also be at risk for poor indoor air quality from allowing that air pollution o remain.

Your HVAC air filters are designed to capture particles in the air, but frequently clogged air filters can signify a problem. If there is a lot of debris built up in your ducts, your filter will likely struggle to keep up with the constant flow of particles moving around your home. Keep an eye on how often you have to change your filters and consider asking a professional to take a look inside your air ducts.

There is no normal reason for strange noises to be coming from your air ducts when the air is moving through them. Yes, you’ll likely hear a faint rumble as the ducts fill with air, but any squealing, howling, moaning or other sounds are abnormal. Same thing with smells: don’t assume a smell is just because the AC is running. Besides a faint dustiness at times, any other smells are abnormal. It is very common for your AC or other sources inside your ducts to cause an odor, but it should be dealt with sooner rather than later. It may require professional cleaning or even repair!

If you find out that you have any kind of biological problem in your home such as mold, rodents or insects, don’t forget about your ducts during the process of getting rid of them. Especially if you have a problem in your HVAC unit itself, you can probably assume that your air ducts have been affected. A professional will be able to thoroughly clean out your air ducts, leaving no mold spores or pests behind.

If you struggle to make your home more efficient, a professional evaluation is your best bet. When an expert has the chance to look at all the aspects of your home, they will be able to quickly locate areas that can be more efficient. One of these areas might be cleaning out your ducts for maximum airflow.

Mendez Air Conditioning & Heating isn’t here to sell you something you don’t need. We can thoroughly evaluate your air ducts and give you an honest recommendation based on what we find. If you’ve noticed any of the signs mentioned above, give us a call!