The prompt to get the ventilation system cleaned in your home might have been a concern for indoor air pollution, build-up of dust circulating in your home, or low levels of air circulation. These are all great reasons, but studies by the Environment Protection Agency in the United States have shown that unless your air ducts and vents are completely dust laden – the cleaning of dust in your air ducts in home or at the office is negligible in regards to air quality control.
Dust that settles in your air duct and ventilation system generally stays where it is. Unless disturbed, the dust there will probably not become airborne again.
What actually makes all the difference is having your air ducts and vents sealed from the exterior properly, and having your HVAC filters replaced regularly.
All that said, it would be a great idea to have your air ducts cleaned for the following reasons:
- Mold growth
- Vermin and pest infestation
- Supply registers (air vents with the grills) are spewing out dust laden air
- After a major renovation project
- If your home is newly built
- Moving into a home where the previous tenants have lived for a long time
- If somebody in your household has severe dust allergies
An important point to raise is if the insulation used for your home’s duct system is done with fibreglass with a paper backing. Fibreglass does not support mold growth, but paper does. If your air duct and ventilation system has not been sealed properly, and the humidity from the utilization of your heating or air conditioning has caused a leak into the insulation, there is a possibility for mold growth.
Home infestations are also a dire call to get your air ducts cleaned. Vermin such as cockroaches are attracted to water and food sources. Depending on the proficiency and age of your HVAC system, water leakage may be a possibility. Rodents, cockroaches and other unsavoury house guests may leave their droppings in your duct system as well.
Finally, with new home builds and major renovations, the contracting services and construction that occurs onsite leads to a lot of dust, debris, and particulates that will be collected in the ductwork/ventilation/HVAC system. Before moving or settling back into your new home, it would be a good idea to get the system cleaned.
As you can see, regular cleaning for air duct and vent systems are not required, rather it is more on a case by case scenario.
If you suspect that there is mold growth in your home or have recently had a major infestation outbreak in your home, give us a call to get one of our professionals to come in and inspect your air duct system! If there the dust particulates are causing difficulties breathing in your home, the air in your home is stale, or leading to allergic reactions, reach out to us, and we will be sure to help you out!