Duct cleaning may be needed in your Dayton home if the indoor air quality has been declining. You may notice your rooms are more dusty than normal, a foul smell is in your home or your family has recurring respiratory ailments. While these are signs your ductwork may need cleaning or repairs, how do you know which is needed?
Diagnosing duct issues and duct cleaning are not tasks that an ordinary homeowner can do. It’s best left to a trusted HVAC contractor, certified by the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA), to evaluate your home’s ductwork. There are several types of ducts used in homes, among them flex hose, sheet metal and fiberglass duct board. A technician can easily clean and repair sheet metal ducts and most flex hose, whereas, fiberglass duct board will have to be replaced if mold is discovered.
Over the years, some dust will accumulate in ducts, though it shouldn’t become a chronic problem if you have effective air filtration and properly sealed ductwork. One of the main issues a pro will look for is duct damage. Cracks in ducts may cause several problems in your home requiring cleaning, repair and/or replacement, including:
- Dust enters cracks, accumulates in the ducts and circulates to your rooms. The dust flows back through your HVAC system and blocks filters.
- Blocked filters hinder airflow and your system operates longer, increasing your energy costs.
- Moisture due to condensation enters cracks, increasing the humidity levels in your home. Mold or mildew grows inside the ducts, affecting your family’s health.
- Damaged insulation may cover cracks in ducts, hiding problems.
- Insects and vermin may enter cracks and infest your system.
A professional duct cleaning will eliminate these issues, and then routine maintenance of your system will allow it to function efficiently in the future.
Many outfits claim they clean ducts; however, to guarantee quality service look for a NADCA certified contractor. At Ace Hardware Home Services, our technicians are certified Air System Cleaning Specialists, attending continuing education classes to improve their knowledge of HVAC systems. If you live in the Dayton area and have questions about cleaning, repairing or replacing your ducts, contact our expert team for answers.
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 ducts and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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