The Truth about Air Ducts
Cleaning services for duct systems in homes have received a great deal of attention of late, and a common concern among homeowners is whether such maintenance is truly necessary. It’s a fair question particularly because it seems as if duct-cleaning services are a relatively new phenomenon while duct-based HVAC systems have been in use in homes for many years. A primary reason for this discrepancy is greatly increased awareness.
The disturbing truth is that the air in our homes is usually far more polluted than the air outside is. After all, it’s the same filthy air except that the home system does not refresh, circulate and filter the air nearly as well as Mother Nature does. Therefore, the air your family breathes has much higher concentrations of both contaminants and pollutants, and the heaviest impurities can settle in the air ducts and continue to poison your air over time.
In fact, indoor air quality is worse now than ever, and that’s despite significant pollution reduction around the country. That may seem bizarre, but there’s a good reason for why this is occurring. Since we began monitoring indoor air quality, building technology has come a long way. Modern homes have better insulation, better seals, and tighter door and window construction. In order words, modern homes are trapping and reusing the dirty air.
The answer to the opening question is yes; your home does requires duct cleaning. As a rule of thumb, clean your ducts every 5-6 years, and perform it twice as often if you have people in the home with allergies or you have pets with dander. In addition, if you notice any strange odors, including mildew, or if the air in your home does not freshen as easily through natural means as it has, then you should go ahead and schedule an appointment.
It’s important to note that cleaning your air ducts is not enough to maintain high indoor air quality. The impurities that settle in a duct are just a symptom of a bigger problem. In order to combat that problem you must use filtration, particularly HEPA filtration. HEPA, which stands for high efficiency particulate air, is a specialized yet cost-efficient type of air filter that is extremely effective at removing contaminants from the air—99.97% effective.
What’s interesting about HEPA is that scientists designed it during WWII to filter radiation. Now, we use it in homes, hospitals, military bases and datacenters because no one has created an alternative that is as effective or as cost efficient. The benefits of HEPA filtration in your home are manyfold. It promotes better health, and it’ll have your family breathing cleaner air, which is particularly helpful for those with allergies and asthma.
Whether you’re ready to take the plunge and install a HEPA air purifier or you just want to clean out the ducts in your home, you’ll have a number of questions and likely a series of concerns. At Clean Air Plus, we understand the apprehension. We’re a family-oriented business. We have our own families, and we’ve had to make these same tough decisions. Contact us, and let us help. The decisions you make now will make a difference for years to come.
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