Cleaning your duct system is often an overlooked part of the maintenance of your home’s heating and cooling system. Sometimes, it’s so easy to ignore your ductwork until something goes wrong.
If it has been a number of years since you’ve had your home’s duct system cleaned, it might be a good idea to have it looked at before it goes into heavy use this winter. If you have indoor pets or a home that tends to gather dust easily, these free-floating elements can build up in your ducts and reduce their flow and efficiency.
Most of the time, if your HVAC filters are doing their job, you won’t get a lot of dust and debris buildup in your ducts. However, there are ways to tell whether your ducts need to be inspected or cleaned. If you see a lot of dust at the supply registers, or spot mold on or near the ductwork, you may need your ducts cleaned. Evidence of vermin and insect infestation in your ducts is another good sign a duct cleaning might be in order.
If you decide to get your ducts inspected, with an eye toward having them cleaned, don’t trust any contractor, however. A number of unlicensed and unqualified contractors have recently been overcharging customers for subpar maintenance work around the country. In response to this problem, the Ohio Legislature passed a law this summer requiring that businesses offering duct cleaning be registered with the state in order to carry out maintenance. Do not be fooled by contractors who cannot produce their registration when they ask to clean your ducts. Registered technicians complete a more thorough job and ensure higher quality service over contractors who claim they can cut corners on your costs.
Ace Hardware Home Services, Inc. has been a fixture of quality HVAC maintenance in the Dayton area for three generations. We proudly employ only highly trained and certified technicians for all home heating and air conditioning needs, including air duct cleaning and advice. If you have any concerns about your system, its ducts, or its efficiency, please contact us and we’ll be happy to assist you.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Dayton, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about duct cleaning and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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