Is A Routine Duct Cleaning Service Worth The Time And Money? | Azle, TX
HVAC manufacturers recommend having your air conditioner maintained before the beginning of the cooling season and the heating system maintained before the start of the heating season. Routine maintenance is essential in ensuring the HVAC system functions as efficiently as possible. In addition, minor issues can be detected during the maintenance service so they can be repaired before escalating into major problems. Finally, routine maintenance is necessary to keep the warranty valid.
Although many homeowners consider routine HVAC service a priority, many neglect the air ducts.
The air ducts in your Azle, TX home deliver the cold air from the heater or air conditioner to the vents in every room of the house. Air duct problems can affect the temperature in your home and cause various other issues.
You can maintain your air ducts by having a duct cleaning service performed every three to five years. The average cost of a duct cleaning service is around $376, and the cost can be higher or lower depending on the size of your home.
If you aren’t sure if it’s worth the cost to have your air ducts cleaned by a professional, you should consider the ways your home and family can benefit from having the service performed.
#1 Improved Air Quality
Dirt, dust, and other debris and pollutants can accumulate in the air ducts over time. In one year, up to five pounds of debris can accumulate, affecting the air quality in your home. When the heat or air conditioner runs, the debris in the air ducts will circulate in the air, resulting in poor air quality.
An HVAC tech can perform a duct cleaning service to remove the debris from the air ducts, ensuring the air quality in your home is safe.
#2 Keep Your Family Healthy
When large amounts of debris accumulate in the air ducts in your Azle, TX home, it will circulate in the air repeatedly when the heat or air conditioner runs. When your family breathes in the debris, they can develop allergy symptoms, including:
- Itchy, watery eyes
- Stuffy or runny nose
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Scratchy throat
Having a duct cleaning performed will ensure the air quality in the home is safe to breathe, keeping your family healthy. When you compare your family’s health with the cost of the service, you will see that a routine duct cleaning service is well worth the price.
#3 Keep Your Energy Bills Down
When large amounts of debris clog the air ducts, it can restrict the airflow from the vents throughout your home. When the ducts become clogged, your air conditioner or heating system will work harder to keep your home at the desired temperature. Unfortunately, when the HVAC system works harder, it will cause a significant increase in your energy bills. If you are tired of receiving higher energy bills than usual or that you cannot afford, a duct cleaning service can help.
An HVAC tech can remove the dirt, dust, and debris from the air ducts, restoring the airflow and will keep your energy bills down. The duct cleaning will pay for itself in the money you will save on your energy bills over the next three to five years.
#4 Extend the HVAC System’s Lifespan
Reduced airflow can put excess strain on your heating and cooling system because the heating and cooling system has to work harder to keep your home comfortable. The extra work and excess strain can reduce your HVAC system’s lifespan.
The average cost to replace an HVAC system is between $5,000 and $7,000, depending on the size of your home. This is a significant investment, and many homeowners don’t have this kind of money lying around; therefore, you should do whatever is necessary to extend the lifespan of the system, and a duct cleaning service can help. When an HVAC tech clears the debris from the ducts, the airflow will be restored, reducing the strain on the system.
When you consider the cost of a duct cleaning and the cost of replacing your HVAC system sooner than you should have, you will see that having the ducts cleaned regularly is the more cost-effective option.
#5 Mold Detection
The air ducts in your Azle, TX home are hidden behind the walls, under the floor, or above the ceiling, based on the layout of the ducts. Because the air ducts are hidden, they are dark, and sunlight doesn’t shine inside. When it gets humid in the house, moisture will accumulate in the ducts, creating the perfect environment for mold growth.
Mold in the air ducts will cause a foul smell in your home when the air conditioner or heat run. Unfortunately, mold in the air ducts causes more serious problems than a bad smell. When the heat or air conditioner runs, mold spores will circulate in the air your family breathes, which is very dangerous.
According to the CDC, mold exposure causes several health problems, including:
- Allergy symptoms
- Respiratory problems
- Burning or irritated eyes
- Frequent headaches
- Skin rashes
- Weakened immune system
If you or a member of your household has a chronic lung or respiratory condition, mold exposure can worsen the condition and the symptoms.
An HVAC tech will inspect the ducts for mold during a duct cleaning service. If they find any, it can be eradicated with an antimicrobial fogger. The fogger can also prevent mold growth between duct cleaning appointments.
Mold exposure is incredibly dangerous; therefore, the cost of a duct cleaning service shouldn’t be an issue.
#6 Detect Air Duct Damage
The air ducts in your Azle, TX home deliver the heated or cool air to the vents throughout your home. If the air ducts are damaged, it can cause restricted airflow, causing your HVAC system to work harder than necessary, causing your energy bills to increase, and decreasing the system’s lifespan. In addition, the hot or cold air from outside can leak into the air ducts, affecting the temperature in your home.
An HVAC tech will inspect the duct for damage during a routine duct cleaning service. If they find any damage, it can be repaired. Damaged air ducts can cause temperature and financial issues; therefore, having a duct cleaning service performed is essential.
#7 Detect a Rodent Infestation
It isn’t uncommon for mice and other rodents to choose your Azle, TX home to make their own. Not only will they have an escape from the heat or cold outdoors, but they can find plenty of food sources in your home.
Rodents tend to look for dark, quiet places to build a nest, and your air ducts will be very appealing to rodents.
You can’t see inside the air ducts; therefore, you can’t tell if there is an infestation. Fortunately, an HVAC tech will examine the air ducts for signs of an infestation during a routine duct cleaning service. Mice and other rodents in North America can carry Hantavirus disease. If one or more infected rodents live in your air ducts, the waste will circulate in the air your family breathes and can cause a severe lung disease called Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome that can be fatal if it isn’t treated.
When you consider how dangerous a rodent infestation in the ducts can be, you’ll likely see that a routine duct cleaning service is worth the time and money.
#8 Your Home Will Stay Cleaner Longer
If you are like most homeowners, you want to live in a clean house, and you take pride in your home. Have you been cleaning your house more often because it gets dirty faster? If so, your air ducts could be to blame.
When debris accumulates in the air ducts, it will circulate in the air, landing on the floors, furniture, and other surfaces, requiring you to clean more often. If you are tired of dusting, sweeping, and vacuuming multiple times a week, schedule an appointment for a duct cleaning.
The HVAC tech will remove the debris from the air ducts, and your home will stay cleaner longer. If you have a duct cleaning service performed every three to five years, you can spend less time cleaning and more time doing things you enjoy.
#9 You Have Pets
Cats and dogs make excellent companions and are wonderful additions to your family. The only downside of having a pet is the shedding. When your pet sheds, you will find fur on your clothes, furniture, and bedding, and it can get into the air ducts. Even if you have a breed that doesn’t shed, they will still shed dander that can end up in the air ducts.
When your pet’s fur accumulates in the air ducts, it will circulate in the air when the heat or air conditioner runs, affecting your home’s air quality and could put your family’s health at risk. Breathing in pet fur and dander can cause allergy symptoms, and if a guest is allergic to animals, the fur and dander in the air ducts will worsen their symptoms.
If you have pets in the home, you should have a duct cleaning performed every three years rather than every five. This will ensure the air ducts are clean and your home’s air quality is safe.
#10 You’re Remodeling Your Home
Remodeling your home is exciting because the changes can turn your home into your dream house. Even if you are remodeling just one room, it will breathe new life into your home. The only downside of a home remodel is the mess created during the process.
The construction can create sawdust and drywall dust, which the contractor will clean when the job is complete. The construction debris can also accumulate in the air ducts, making a mess and affecting your home’s air quality. When the heater or air conditioner runs, the construction debris will circulate in the air, landing on the surfaces in your newly remodeled home, creating a mess.
When the work on the home is almost complete, you should schedule an appointment for a duct cleaning service. An HVAC tech can clean the construction debris from the ducts, and you can be sure the air quality is safe, and you can enjoy your clean, remodeled home.
#11 You’re Installing a New Furnace
At some point, the furnace in your Azle, TX home will reach the end of its lifespan and will need to be replaced. When you call an HVAC tech to replace the furnace, you should also schedule a duct cleaning service.
Replacing a furnace kicks up a lot of soot and debris, which can get into the air ducts. If this happens, the soot will circulate in the air when your new furnace or air conditioner runs, which can be hazardous to your health. Breathing in soot particles can cause asthma, respiratory issues, coronary heart disease, and cancer; therefore, scheduling a duct cleaning service right after the furnace is installed is essential.
#12 Peace of Mind
The best reason to have a duct cleaning service performed regularly is the peace of mind the service provides. When the air ducts in your Azle, TX, are clean, you don’t have to worry about temperature issues, high energy bills, or your family’s health. Knowing you don’t have to worry about these things makes it easier to relax in your home.
Call One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth Today
If you are overdue for a duct cleaning service or have never had the service performed, schedule an appointment with One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth.
We are a full-service HVAC company serving customers in the area since 1988, and many of our customers have been loyal customers for decades.
Our HVAC techs have undergone thousands of hours of professional training and are required to receive ongoing training to ensure they can install, repair, and maintain the latest HVAC technology. In addition, our techs had to pass a drug test, background check, and register with the state of Texas before being hired.
Your comfort is our top priority. We understand that heating and air conditioning problems can make life in your home uncomfortable and challenging, so we provide emergency service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you have a problem that can’t wait, we’ll get a tech to your home as quickly as possible.
If you need to schedule an appointment for a duct cleaning service or any other HVAC service, give us a call today.