If your home has a traditional HVAC system, there is a labyrinth of ductwork behind your walls. While these ducts are tucked away and out of sight, they can become dirty and dusty over time. But how do you know it’s time to clean your air ducts?
At Wright Services, we’ve seen a lot of dirty ductwork. While it may be tempting, avoiding duct cleaning can lead to damage to your HVAC system and even personal illness. Instead, watch out for the warning signs of dirty ductwork so you can schedule a cleaning.
When To Schedule A Duct Cleaning
Your air ducts carry air throughout your home, supplying cold and warm air as needed. However, when your ducts are dirty, your HVAC system won’t work as efficiently and your indoor air quality will suffer. To prevent damage, watch for these signs:
Dust On Air Vent
Air vents cover the opening to the ducts in the walls of your home. If you notice dust on the surface of the vent, your ductwork likely needs to be cleaned. If there is dust in your air ducts, it will eventually be pushed to the vents and collected on the surface until the ducts are cleaned.
Clogged Air Filter
Most residential air filter’s only need to be changed every three months, but different factors can cause filters to need to be replaced more or less often.
However, if you notice that the filter is clogged after just a couple of weeks, your air ducts are probably dirty. Instead of just replacing the air filter, consider scheduling a duct cleaning as well.
Bad Smell From Vents
If you notice any unpleasant odors coming from your air vents, there is probably something inside your ductwork that needs to be cleaned out. Perhaps you smell mold or mildew — or the smell of a decaying animal. Either way, don’t just rely on air freshener. Schedule a duct cleaning instead!
Excessive Dust In Your Home
Dusting is a tedious chore, so if you find your home getting dusty very quickly, you’re probably pretty frustrated. The likely culprit of an extra-dusty home is dirty ductwork. Schedule a cleaning so you can prevent extra chore time!
High Energy Bills
Your HVAC system’s efficiency relies on clean, unharmed ductwork. If there is anything blocking your home’s air from flowing seamlessly throughout the ducts, your HVAC system will have to work extra hard.
If you’ve noticed an unexplainable rise in your energy bills, schedule a duct cleaning as a possible remedy to the problem.
Signs Of Pest Infestation
If you hear animal noises coming from your ducts, there is no doubt that your ductwork is dirty. To fix this issue, you’ll need to contact pest control and an HVAC professional to clean and repair your ductwork.
Effects Of Dirty Ductwork
It’s important to clean your ducts as soon as possible if you suspect they are dirty. Delaying this process can cause your HVAC system to overwork itself to compensate for dirty obstacles. In severe cases, this can cause your HVAC system to overheat and stop working.
Dirty ductwork also affects your indoor air quality. This can lead to health effects, including:
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Watery eyes
- Sore throat
- Congestion
To keep you and your family safe from illness, make sure you keep your ductwork clean.
When To Schedule Air Duct Repairs
Sometimes, cleaning your ducts just won’t cut it. If there’s damage inside your air ducts, you’ll need to schedule a repair. Signs of damage include:
- Unusually high energy bills even after cleaning
- Strange noises from vents
- Uneven cooling/heating of home
- Constantly running HVAC system
Any of these signs could mean there is a leak in your ducts that needs to be fixed. At Wright Services, we’ve helped San Antonio homeowners restore their ductwork for over forty years, so you can count on us to solve the problem.
Schedule San Antonio Duct Cleaning Today
If you live in the San Antonio area, Wright Services is here for your HVAC system needs. We can help with anything from poor San Antonio indoor air quality to professional AC maintenance. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!
