Wintertime temperatures are here and with them, the need for keeping your home warm and cozy while you try to endure the coldest time of year. In addition to making sure that you’re ready to keep snow off your driveway and that your windows and doors aren’t allowing warm air to escape through tiny leaks, it’s also a good idea to plan on having your ductwork professionally cleaned.
It’s important to remember that you’re going to be spending a lot of time indoors during the winter months. It’s vital to make sure that your home is comfortable for your entire family. Additionally, you want to ensure that your heating system is working as efficiently as possible to save yourself as much money throughout the cold season as possible.
What is Duct Cleaning?
Before we jump into why it’s necessary to get your ductwork cleaned before wintertime, we need to start by discussing what duct cleaning involves. Air duct cleaning involves bringing in a licensed HVAC professional to clean out all the components of the ductwork for your HVAC system. This includes the supply, intake, return, and even the registers and fans. All the built-up dust and debris will be adequately removed with specialized cleaning equipment.
Enhances Heating Efficiency
One of the most important reasons why you should have your ducts cleaned before the winter season is that it will help to enhance the efficiency of your home heating system. As your HVAC system normally operates, it’s going to be pulling in dust and debris from the rooms of your home into your ducting.
Over time, this dirt and debris can obstruct the flow of air through your ducting, which will decrease the efficiency of your heating system. This is because your heating system is going to have to work harder and longer to try to force air through your home’s ducting. When you opt to have your ducts cleaned before wintertime, it helps to ensure that there are no obstructions inside of your ducting that could hinder the overall performance of your heating system.
Improves Indoor Air Quality
In the wintertime, you’re not going to have your windows and doors open as much as you will throughout the other seasons. This reduction in natural ventilation can lead to an accumulation of various unwanted airborne pollutants inside your home. Some of the most common include mold spores, allergens, pet dander, and even dust. As your HVAC system runs more to combat the cold temperatures, it will circulate this polluted air throughout all the rooms of your home.
Not only is it unhealthy for your family to be breathing in air that is polluted, but those family members with allergies are at an even higher risk. As pollutants like pet dander keep getting kicked up every time your heating system turns on, those who suffer from pet dander allergies are going to notice that they experience more flare-ups throughout the winter months. Getting your ducts cleaned before winter can help ensure that these unwanted pollutants are removed from your ducts.
Prevents Mold Growth
The weather the winter brings along with it can create the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew inside of your home. If your ducting is currently contaminated with pollutants and moisture, it can start to develop mold and mildew growth. Both mold and mildew can be damaging to your respiratory system. Getting your ductwork cleaned out before winter will help to remove that excess moisture and contaminants to assist in preventing mold and mildew from developing inside of it.
Extends HVAC System’s Lifespan
When your HVAC system has to work harder and longer to deliver air throughout your home, it can take a large toll on its internal components. This can lead to premature wear and tear issues. Fortunately, getting your ducts cleaned ensures that your HVAC system can work effortlessly. This goes a long way in extending the overall lifespan of your heating system. When the components of your system aren’t working harder to push air through dirty ducts, it cuts down on the need for professional repairs and replacement.
Increases Comfort
When wintertime temperatures reach their lowest, you want to have uniform heat throughout your home. Few things are more irritating than stepping into an area in your home and realizing that it’s not getting heat. These cold spots typically develop because there are obstructions in certain sections of your ducting. When you opt to have your ductwork cleaned before wintertime, it helps to remove any of these obstructions. This will lead to more even and consistent warming of all the rooms of your home, and you’ll have to spend less time altering the temperature on your thermostat.
Decrease Rodent Issues
As the outside temperature starts to drop as we enter the winter season, many rodents and pests are looking for a warm space to spend their winter. Unfortunately, if your ducting is full of dust, pet hair, and other debris, it can make the perfect environment for rodents and pests to nest in. When you opt to get your ductwork cleaned out before the winter season, you can greatly reduce your risk of dealing with any pest or rodent problems over the winter time.
Identify Leaks and Joint Problems
Over time, it’s very common for ductwork joints to start to pull apart and leaks to develop in the walls of the ducting. Unless one of these issues developed in an exposed section of ducting that you regularly see, you’re probably not going to notice that you have these issues. When a licensed HVAC professional comes out to clean your ducting, they will have a camera that they can utilize to evaluate all of your ductwork.
This will allow them to find any joints that are pulling apart or any leaks that are in your ducting so that you can have them repaired before wintertime. This will not only help to keep your ducting clean, but it will also allow your HVAC system to operate more efficiently.
Most Common Indicators That Cleaning is Necessary
While it’s a good idea to schedule duct cleaning before the winter season hits, you may find that you need to get your ducts cleaned even earlier. One of the most common indicators that you’ll see when your ducts require cleaning is excessive visible dirt and dust coming in or out of the vents.
Some other indicators include a musty or stale smell coming from your ducting, increased allergy flare-ups while indoors, and reduced airflow coming out of your HVAC vents. Whenever you notice any of these other indicators that you have dirty ductwork, it’s best to call in a licensed HVAC professional to clean it out as soon as possible.
Call the Pros Today
Southport Home Services is very proud to provide professional duct cleaning services in Madison and the surrounding areas. We can also assist with all your commercial, plumbing, heating, gas, bathroom remodeling, and cooling needs. Give our office a call today, and we’ll be more than happy to send one of our technicians your way.
