The air ducts throughout your home transfer heated air throughout the home in the colder weather and circulate cooled air during the summer. It’s essential to keep these ducts clean so your HVAC system isn’t circulating dirty, stagnant air and debris. Most professional air duct cleaning service recommend arranging duct cleaning for your home at least once every three to five years. This helps to prevent debris accumulation and maintain acceptable air quality throughout the home. If you have pets or severe allergies, professionals recommend yearly duct cleaning.

If you’re curious about whether you need to clean your ducts, consider the following signs that they could use some attention.

Pest Infestations

Pests like insects and rodents love to hide and live in the ducts throughout a home. If you’re noticing more pest activity within your home recently, talk with a pest specialist. Then, consider an air duct cleaning. Once the pest situation is under control, you’ll want to ensure the ducts where they may have been residing is clear of disease, rancid food, and droppings, which could start circulating harmful bacteria into the air inside your home.

Apparent Drop in Air Quality

Does the air in your home have an odor or taste stagnant? Do you always seem to need to open the windows for fresh air on a regular basis, regardless of the time of year? Poor air quality is one of the most common symptoms of an air duct system in need of a deep cleaning. If you seem to breathe easier outside of your home, call for a cleaning.

Respiratory Illness Symptoms Worsen at Home

Mold, allergens, and dust mites thrive in duct systems. Some of these dangerous particles, like mold spores, can cause serious respiratory illnesses. If you suffer from seasonal allergies and can’t seem to experience any relief at home, your air ducts likely require cleaning.

Your HVAC System Seems to Work Excessively Hard

Does it seem like your heating and air conditioning system works harder than it did a few months ago? Have you noticed odd smells every time your heater kicks on, or does it seem like the furnace runs longer and louder than it did in the past? These are all signs of a problem with your HVAC system, and the root of that problem could be dirty air ducts. Clogged and dirty air ducts can lead to your furnace superheating dust particles that give off an unpleasant odor. In extreme cases, this can become a fire hazard. Additionally, when your HVAC system overworks itself, this costs you money in the form of higher energy bills.

If you notice any of these issues, find a reputable and experienced air duct cleaning service that can clean your HVAC system professionally. Some cheaper services may offer attractive prices, but they typically only provide surface-level cleaning that may only offer temporary relief. A professional air duct cleaning service will cost more, but they will clean your ducts, coils, central system, and all the other fixtures within your HVAC system for the best possible results.