You may not be counting, but if you’re like the average American, you spend 90% of your time indoors. This could be a problem, as some indoor air pollutant levels can be twice to five times higher than outdoor air.
Those indoor pollutants can then circulate throughout your home via the air ducts. The longer this goes on, the more HVAC and health-related problems it can cause.
The good news is that air duct sanitizing and cleaning can help mitigate such issues. Below, we’ve outlined how these services can benefit your HVAC system and safety, so read on.
1. Improve Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
Almost 120 million people throughout the U.S. live in areas with unhealthy air quality. These places and their residents suffer from high ozone and particle pollution levels.
The Harrisburg-York-Lebanon metro area is one such place dealing with poor air quality. And within this metro area, York County has the highest year-round particle pollution.
While those pollutants are in outdoor air, they can still affect your indoor air. They can do so by entering your home through open doors, windows, and your ventilation system. They can also get in through cracks and gaps within your home’s structure.
Another way pollutants can find their way into your home is through anyone who enters it. For example, you can bring pollutant-containing dirt through your shoes and clothes.
Your HVAC system can then pull those pollutants into your air ducts. Some can get stuck and remain within the duct system, and from there, build up over time. They can also get re-introduced to the air as your HVAC system operates.
That process can become a cycle, contributing to poor IAQ. Health experts, in turn, associate poor IAQ with lung, heart, and cognitive problems.
That’s enough reason to get regular air duct cleaning and sanitizing services. Air duct cleaning removes physical pollutants, while sanitizing deals with biological contaminants. With these, you’ll have one less cause of poor IAQ to worry about.
2. Fewer Allergens and Disease-Causing Germs
Air duct cleaning removes pollutants but is not enough to kill bacteria and fungi. Unless eliminated, these microorganisms can keep multiplying. They can then mix with the air your HVAC system circulates throughout your home.
The good news is that the air duct sanitizing process uses a disinfectant solution. This substance can kill or inactivate microbes in the air and on surfaces. So, it can help prevent allergens and germs in your ducts from wreaking havoc on your health.
3. Lengthen the Life of Air Filters
HVAC filters help capture air pollutants before the air enters the duct system. However, they don’t trap every type of contaminant. They can also have leakage points that allow pollutants to bypass them.
Air ducts can also have leaks that pull air and contaminants into the duct system. This is another way pollutants can bypass air filters.
The bypassing contaminants can then settle in the ducts or re-circulate in your home. If they re-circulate, the filter may trap them on the subsequent heating or cooling cycle. The longer this goes on, the more pollutants the filter can capture.
In that scenario, the filter can take much less time than usual to clog up. It’s even worse if molds cause the blockage, as they can keep growing within the filter. And unless you clean or change it, the clog will impair airflow and lead to poor HVAC system efficiency.
Granted, air filters aren’t super expensive. Still, inspecting and changing or washing them more often than needed can be tedious. It’s also easy to forget about them until they give rise to HVAC problems like inadequate airflow.
So, to make the most of your air filters, ensure your ducts are clean and sanitized.
4. Boost HVAC System Efficiency
Biological pollutants, like molds and dust mites, and particles can accumulate in ducts. This build-up can impede airflow and affect your HVAC system’s ability to heat or cool your home. As a result, it would have to compensate by working harder to reach your desired temperatures.
Unfortunately, an HVAC system that works harder is inefficient. It uses more power than necessary, resulting in higher energy bills. And even though it already consumes more energy, it still can’t heat or cool your home adequately.
Impaired airflow can also lead to stagnant air. This can further affect air quality and indoor comfort. It can cause unpleasant odors, too.
Air duct cleaning and sanitizing can help by removing obstructions that impede airflow. So, they can also aid in preventing common HVAC problems. Plus, the sanitizing process can help control odors caused by biological pollutants.
5. Minimize Risks of Costlier HVAC Problems
The dirtier your air ducts and filters are, the sooner your entire HVAC system will suffer the same fate.
For example, air can carry and transfer dust and molds from the ducts to the HVAC evaporator coils. When the metal coils become laden with dirt and fungi, they can ice up, thaw, and leak water. These problems reduce your system’s efficiency and can contribute to further mold development.
Moreover, an HVAC leaking water is one of the most telling signs the system needs repairs.
Don’t wait for that to happen; instead, have your air ducts routinely cleaned and sanitized.
6. Determine if You Have Pests
Many critters, like roaches and rodents, love damp and dark places. These are conditions often present in air ducts.
When you get your air ducts cleaned and sanitized by a pro, they can tell you if they see signs of pests. A reliable HVAC technician will inform you if they find droppings and nests. Then, you can get a pest control expert to investigate and exterminate the problem ASAP.
Invest in Air Duct Sanitizing Services
Air duct sanitizing and cleaning can help boost your home’s IAQ and HVAC efficiency. This can make the air you and your loved ones breathe at home safer. And the cleaner your indoor air, the better your health and well-being can be.
So, consider having your air ducts cleaned and sanitized today. You can count on our team of experts here at Williams Service Company to provide all the HVAC services you need. Contact us today to schedule your appointment!