When Dusting Doesn’t Cut It

8/18/2017 (Permalink)

Dust is a part of everyone’s home life. It simply cannot be avoided no matter how hard we try. And while we work hard to eliminate it by dusting frequently, we may still find ourselves and our loved ones sneezing and reacting to allergens in the air.

One of the most common culprits is an often unrecognized and underappreciated system – our HVAC. Our central heating and cooling units rarely receive the attention and maintenance they need – it is often assumed that the HVAC unit is a sealed and contained such that it only spits out clean, filtered air. This is not always the case: 

1. Depending on the quality of the filter being used, small particles can still pass. The HVAC filter simply cannot filter out particles of that size. Of course, when choosing a filter with lower tolerances (higher filtration), it is important to remember that it will add strain to the system as less air is able to pass.
2. Small dust particles as well as moisture can begin to collect in the air ducts and on the vents. While dust on the vents can easily be identified and cleaned by removing the vent, dust within the ducts requires a lot more work.
3. Mold spores that pass through the HVAC system may become trapped in the ducting. Like the above, the accumulation of mold in the ducting can cause spores to dislodge regularly and cause the homeowner respiratory discomfort.

Regular service on your A/C unit can help it run at peak performance and an evaluation of your air ducts can improve the quality of the air you breathe.

Here at SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh, we can evaluate your HVAC system including ductwork and offer a plan to keep it in top shape. While your ducts may or may not need a thorough cleaning now, they will sometime in the future. When it comes time to call a professional duct cleaning service, we look forward to being there for you.

While We’re There

On a related note, homeowners often overlook the cleaning of another important air duct – that of their clothes dryer. Lint builds up in the exhaust system since the lint trapper in the unit is not 100% efficient. Flexible dryer hoses only exacerbate the problem with their lint-trapping ridges. Cleaning the ductwork can be difficult depending on location of the duct and the venting. Further, excessive lint build-up can eventually cause a house fire. 

If you notice that your clothes are taking longer to dry, or are not drying at all, give us a call to inspect and clean your dryer ducts for your safety and convenience.