If you’ve noticed your home’s HVAC is having to work harder, your energy bills are higher, or you’ve been having more headaches and allergy symptoms in the past few months, it may be time to have your air ducts cleaned. Let’s look at the benefits of having your air ducts cleaned regularly, plus, the big step you can take that will minimize the need for having your ducts cleaned in the first place.
Why You Need Air Duct Cleaning
Have you ever noticed how dusty and dirty your intake vent gets? That’s because all the dust, mold, and allergens that enter your home get concentrated as air is pulled into your duct work and is cooled by your HVAC system. The pollutants that don’t get caught on your intake vent’s cover end up in your ducts and while much of it is blown back out through your vents (which isn’t good), a portion of it is left behind to build up in the ducts (which is worse).
Over time, a build-up of mold spores, dust, dirt, and even hair and dander will fill your HVAC ducts, so having them cleaned will numerous benefits.
Fewer Health Issues
Dust, mold, and dander are three main triggers for allergies and respiratory problems. Cleaning out the ducts and around the intake vents means less will be picked up and carried through your home.
Improved Energy Efficiency
If dust has built up in the ducts, it cuts back on how much air can move through them. The HVAC system has to work harder, which raises your utility bills, but cleaning them is one way to make your home energy efficient.
Less Potential for Mold Damage in the Home
Mold spores are not only an allergen that can trigger severe respiratory problems, they can also latch on to your belongings and structural elements and cause serious damage. That’s why it’s so important to take steps to prevent mold in your home. Air that gets picked up from an unsealed crawl space will most likely contain mold spores, and those will end up being deposited throughout your home by way of your air ducts.
Signs You Should Get Your Air Ducts Cleaned
While all homes should have their ducts cleaned periodically, some homes can space it out every three to five years. Homes pulling in more allergens should have theirs done more often – annually in extreme cases. So, how do you know if you should have your duct work cleaned out?
- Thick, visible dust around your registers and vent covers or dust that builds up more quickly than around other areas of your home;
- You’ve noticed more serious allergy symptoms, respiratory difficulties, and headaches;
- You find mold in your home, particularly around your HVAC system or in your crawl space;
- The HVAC unit is struggling to keep up or seems to be working harder than it has in past seasons;
- Noises in the duct work that could be a sign of a blockage;
Crawl Space Sealing to Minimize Dust and Mold in Your Home
Much of the air in your home comes from the crawl space, seeping in through cracks and voids in the flooring. If you have a vented crawl space over top of dirt, you’re breathing in that stagnant air and it’s also being pulled into your intake register and cycling through your home. Even worse, ducts are not 100% tight, so the ducts that run through your crawl space are being infiltrated by the mold spores and germ-filled air down there.
To keep your air ducts along with protecting your home from allergens, you need a sealed crawl space where moisture can’t stagnate and mold can’t grow. Crawl space encapsulation creates that moisture-free space where air can circulate under your home without allowing mold or other spores to grow and cause problems.
Schedule a Consultation for Crawl Space Sealing in Raleigh
If you want a healthier, cleaner home, our certified specialists can help you achieve that goal by sealing your crawl space or providing basement waterproofing. Learn more about this option and schedule a consultation when you call 919-847-7072 or complete the online contact form.