It may have been one of the hottest summers on record here in Connecticut, but the days have been getting cooler—which means winter will be here before you know it. Soon, you will be cranking up the heat to keep your family warm and wondering when the first snow day will be.
Before that happens, one of the best things you can do for the health and safety of your home and its inhabitants is to give your air ducts a thorough cleaning. During the colder months, we spend significantly more time indoors, so you want to make sure your internal air quality is healthy.
Below are four smart reasons to clean and disinfect your air ducts before winter settles in.
1. Someone in the home has allergies.
Countless airborne particles can get trapped inside your heating and ventilation ducts throughout the year, which can affect the air quality inside your home.
Mold and mildew, dust mites, pollen, pet hair and dander, and even drywall dust or sawdust from a recent home improvement project can all collect and build up over time, which may exacerbate allergy and asthma symptoms in both humans and pets.
Regularly cleaning and disinfecting your air ducts helps to keep your indoor air clean so you and your family can breathe more easily, even in winter. In addition, cleaner air ducts means less dust and dirt in the air, so your household surfaces and upholstery stay cleaner longer.
2. You want to save money on your utility bills.
Air ducts that are dirty or clogged with debris can restrict normal air circulation, causing your HVAC system to work overtime and increasing the risk of pricey repairs or a full system replacement.
If you noticed that your air conditioning was not keeping your home as cool as it should have been over the summer, or if you are worried about spending too much money to keep your house warm this winter, air duct cleaning is the answer.
Clean air ducts allow your heating and cooling system to work as efficiently as possible, regulating the indoor temperature and humidity levels and keeping the air you breathe free of unwanted contaminants.
3. There is mold on or around your air vents.
If there is visible mold on or near the air vents in your home, it likely means there is mold growth in your uncleaned air ducts as well.
Mold loves moisture—from humid bathrooms and kitchens to damp basements and muggy attic spaces—and it can grow quickly in the right conditions (often within a day or two). Homes that experienced storm damage or flooding from summer storms can often be harboring hidden mold, which means airborne mold spores can circulate throughout the house and may be present in the air you breathe.
The most common allergy symptoms associated with mold in the home are coughing, sneezing, watery eyes, a runny nose, and trouble breathing. Making sure your air ducts are cleaned and disinfected periodically can help prevent harmful mold growth and keep your family safe.
4. Your air ducts have never been cleaned.
Hey, we get it. Out of sight, out of mind, right? Your air ducts are probably one of the last things you spend your time thinking about as a homeowner, but getting them cleaned can do wonders for your indoor air quality—not to mention the longevity of your HVAC system.
If you live in an older home, or if you have been in your home for several years and have never had the air ducts cleaned and disinfected, do yourself (and your family) a favor and schedule the service before the winter cold sets in.
Not only will you be able to breathe easy this winter, but you will also save money on your energy bills, which can be a big help with the holidays just around the corner!
Don’t wait until there’s a problem.
When it comes to indoor air quality, it is always better to be safe than sorry.
Dirty, neglected air ducts can contribute to mold growth, worsen allergy symptoms, trap unpleasant smells in the home, and even attract rodents and other animals looking for shelter from the cold this winter. Get ahead of the problem by making an appointment to have your air ducts cleaned and disinfected.
Call CT Mold Pros today at (203) 920-0265 for a free estimate or fill out this short form with your message to schedule an appointment.
