Air Duct Cleaning, When Should You Clean?
Air ducts are the passageways that run throughout your house that transport heated and cooled air. Keeping these passageways clean is necessary to ensure efficiency and quality. It is often recommended that air duct cleaning is done every 3 to 5 years to guarantee effectiveness but with regular service these intervals can be stretched out. It is essential to change the filters in these systems as needed. Both residential and commercial HVAC systems require multiple filter changes per year.
Difference between commercial and residential air duct cleaning:
While the goal in any air duct cleaning is to remove dirt, debris, mold, and any other potentially dangerous substances, there still are some differences between residential and commercial air duct cleaning. Any air duct cleaning overall will lead to better air quality and circulation throughout any building. Here are some differences between residential and commercial HVAC systems:
- In residential homes, HVAC duct systems can be located anywhere in the structure while commercial HVAC systems are typically located towards the ceiling or roof of the building to give workers maximum space to work.
- Commercial HVAC cleaning tends to cost more than residential HVAC cleaning. This is due to the complexity of a commercial HVAC system.
- Equipment can vary when cleaning commercial and residential HVAC systems. Both types consist of a gas-powered vacuum that sucks debris and dirt from the air ducts.
Although residential and commercial HVAC systems are different, there can also be differences in residential HVAC systems through custom air ductwork. Sometimes new homes being built will opt to create custom HVAC systems for their home that best benefit the specific needs of your new house. Experts are equipped to work with you to design and install a system that functions best in your home. Below are some reasons why families might choose to have carefully designed, built, and installed air distribution system that not only is restriction free and properly sealed but also allows for easy access to replace the HVAC filters in their homes.
Improved Comfort:
Custom air ducts allow for air to flow much more effectively throughout your house. Experts will work with you to design an HVAC system that distributes air evenly between every room in your home. While in some houses with inadequate air duct systems have extreme temperature fluctuation between rooms.
The Efficiency with Duct Cleaning:
A poor quality HVAC systems can be extreme energy wasters in someone’s home. Not only will you be uncomfortable due to your rooms not having balanced temperatures but poor HVAC systems can also drive up your energy bill, costing you extra money. Poor HVAC systems consist of ducts that contain many bends (or poorly built bends) and unnecessary turns that lead to air resistance, meaning air is not circulating effectively throughout your house. Custom air ducts can be manufactured to fit the specific needs of your home. This will create optimal air circulation as well as be much more energy-efficient.
Whether your HVAC system is residential or commercial, it is important to change its filtration systems frequently to ensure the best air quality. The frequency of how often you change your air duct filter can vary depending on what kind of ventilation system you have. Standard fiberglass filters typically need to be replaced every 30-60 days while pleated air filters need to be changed anywhere between 3 to 6 months. Although standard 1” fiberglass filters are cheaper to install, they require much more maintenance than pleated air filters.
Other variables that contribute to the frequency in which you should change your HVAC filter include:
Pets and Cleaning:
As some pets such as cats and dogs go inside and outside, it is likely they will bring excess dirt into your home. This factor means you might want to change your filter more frequently to eliminate that extra dirt and pet hair and dander.
Size of your House:
If you have a larger home, there will be more air circulation throughout the house. This means you probably will need to change your filter more frequently than those of smaller homes. It is important for larger homes to have their air duct filters changed more frequently or have multiple filters to ensure every room in the house has optimal air quality.
Air quality:
Homes located in a busy city or more populated area will need their air filter system to be changed more often than homes located in the suburbs. The excess smoke, dust, and debris from populated areas can flow into your home creating unhealthy air quality. This can put your air filtration system in overdrive, meaning it will need to be changed more often to ensure healthy air quality.
Mold or Musty odor:
As your air duct transports air in different temperatures throughout your house or building, it can be a viable place for mold to grow. The cooler conditions also create damp and humid spaces mold can thrive in. You may experience symptoms such as coughing or itchiness if mold is present somewhere in your air ducts. A musty odor will also be noticeable. If you expense any of these symptoms or signs it may be time to get a professional to clean out your air ducts. A professional will be able to eliminate and remove all mold throughout the ducts while also setting measures to prevent it in the future.
Air Duct Cleaning Conclusion:
HVAC systems are the passageways through your home or building that transport cool and heated air. These systems are responsible for circulating air through every room in a house or building as well as keeping every room at a comfortable temperature. Whether it be a residential or commercial property, it is important to watch out for certain factors that may impact how frequently you need to change your air filters. Proper air filters and HVAC systems create clean and healthy air that can protect against allergies, medical conditions, and sicknesses. Experts will work with you to ensure your filter systems are changed as needed.