6 Indicators That Your Air Ducts Need to Be Cleaned
As a homeowner, there are quite a few important tasks around the house that can have a major impact on the overall comfort, functionality, and energy efficiency of your home. While some of these jobs are hard to ignore when they need doing, there are others that tend to fly under the radar in many homes. One example of this is keeping your home’s air ducts clean and healthy.
If you don’t keep the ductwork in good condition in your Nacogdoches home, it can have a variety of negative effects on you and your family. Fortunately, ductwork professionals like those on our team at Nacogdoches Sheet Metal, Plumbing & Air Conditioning, LTD. offer comprehensive duct cleaning. So, how do you know when it’s the right time to invest in this essential service? Here, we’ll take a look at a handful of the most noticeable signs that your air ducts need to be professionally cleaned as soon as possible.
1. Unpleasant Odors Around the House
The cleanliness of your air ducts can have a major impact on the way that your living space smells. Whenever your air conditioning or heating is running, it’s continually circulating air through the air ducts and around the house. So, if the inside of the ductwork is packed with contaminants like dust, dirt, mold spores, and pest droppings, many of those particles are going to inevitably get picked up by the flowing air. As a result, you’ll likely start to notice unpleasant odors in one or more areas of your dwelling.
2. Hot and Cold Spots
Another common sign that your air ducts need to be cleaned is the presence of uneven temperatures around your house. This phenomenon is often referred to as having “hot and cold spots,” and it generally means that some rooms or areas are consistently warmer or colder than the rest of the home. Although uneven temperatures can have multiple causes, the ductwork is often the source of the problem.
When your air ducts become packed with enough contaminants, those particles eventually start to form obstructions to the airflow of your HVAC system. So, when you have the AC or heat turned on, it will be difficult for your system to consistently push enough air past the blockages. As a result, one or more parts of your home will not receive enough conditioned air to reach your preferred temperature. When you have your ducts professionally cleaned, our ductwork experts will thoroughly clear out all of the contaminants that may be hampering the performance of your HVAC system. This should help to restore your home’s even temperatures and consistent comfort.
3. Lots of Dust in the Air
As mentioned before, it’s normal for the air that’s circulated by your HVAC system to pick up contaminant particles from inside the air ducts. One of the most common examples of this is dust. If you haven’t had your ductwork cleaned in more than a couple of years, there’s likely quite a bit of dust built up throughout the air ducts. So, whenever your HVAC system is working to cool or heat your home, more and more of that dust will be getting picked up and circulated into the air that you and your family breathe.
4. Inexplicably Rising Energy Costs
Although many homeowners don’t realize it, there’s a strong correlation between the condition of your ductwork and the amount of money you’re spending on electricity. That will undoubtedly lead to your monthly electricity costs rising significantly, and throughout a full summer or winter, this can add up to a large sum of money.
5. Unusual Noises
When your air ducts haven’t been professionally cleaned in multiple years, they can sometimes turn into a breeding ground for pests. If you’ve occasionally noticed unusual noises coming from behind the walls of your home, there may be insects or rodents moving around inside the ductwork. If this is the case, then the longer you go without having the ducts cleaned, the worse your pest problem is likely to become. However, if you schedule duct cleaning while the pest issue is still minor, you may be able to avoid having to take such a drastic step.
6. Clogged HVAC Air Filters
If you want to keep a close eye on the status of your home’s air ducts, it’s always prudent to pay attention to your HVAC air filters. These filters have the important job of catching particles of dust, dirt, and other airborne contaminants whenever your AC unit or heater is running. When things in your home are running smoothly, each HVAC filter should be able to last for approximately two to three months before it becomes overly dirty or clogged and needs to be replaced.
Trusted Nacogdoches Ductwork Professionals
At Nacogdoches Sheet Metal, Plumbing & Air Conditioning, LTD., we take pride in providing residents of the greater Nacogdoches area with exceptional air duct cleaning services. We’re known for our dependable workmanship and superior customer service, and we genuinely care about helping you and your family stay comfortable and safe all year long.
In addition to our ductwork services, we offer a full range of heating, air conditioning, plumbing, sheet metal fabrication, and indoor air quality services. To learn more or schedule an appointment with our team, just give us a call at Nacogdoches Sheet Metal, Plumbing & Air Conditioning, LTD. today!