Five Signs that it’s Time to Clean Your Air Ducts

Due to the fact that there is a lot of misinformation out there about cleaning air ducts, it can be confusing for Oklahoma City area homeowners to know when they should and shouldn't have the service performed.

Some businesses tell homeowners that they need to have their air ducts cleaned regularly, but that isn't necessarily correct. The truth is that you should have your air ducts cleaned only when you need them to be, which varies from home to home.

If your home fits any of the scenarios below, it would be a good idea to have your air ducts cleaned by a trained professional:

• You have never had your air ducts cleaned. Whether you just had a home built or you are moving into a previously occupied home, you should consider cleaning your air ducts if you've never had it done before. Garbage, sawdust or other dirt and debris could have made its way into your ducts during the building process, and you never know how well previous owners took care of your home's heating system.
• Mold has been visibly identified inside your ducts. If mold has been identified in your air ducts during an inspection, or if you see it building up on other parts of your furnace, you'll want to have your ducts cleaned so that your home's air isn't contaminated.
• Your ducts have been infested by rats, mice, insects or other vermin. This is a fairly self-explanatory situation, but if your ducts are infested by any sort of vermin, you'll want to take care of that with a thorough duct cleaning.
• Excessive dust, debris or mold is coming out of your supply registers. If the dirt, debris or mold that builds up in your ducts becomes so severe that it's coming out of your supply registers, it's definitely time for duct cleaning.
• Someone in your home is suffering from severe allergies. Dirty air ducts are one of many things that could possibly trigger severe allergic reactions. If someone in your home is experiencing severe allergies, make sure to have the air quality of your home tested. This may or may not result in the need for duct cleaning, but it can help in certain scenarios.

As with anything that concerns your home's furnace, consult a trained and trusted professional before you make any decisions on how to best take care of your unit. If you have any questions about cleaning air ducts, contact Comfort Incorporated, your Oklahoma City heating and air conditioning company.