For most homeowners, air duct cleaning is something that rarely ever gets done. This is usually because they can\u2019t see the benefit to investing that much time and money in cleaning a part of their house that they never see anyway. It\u2019s not like the ducts are some complicated mechanism with lots of moving parts that may need maintenance. They\u2019re long rectangular boxes or tubes designed to direct air flow, and that\u2019s about it.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s the issue, though: there are plenty of things that can happen in your ductwork that can affect other parts of your system, as well as your air quality. The ducts won\u2019t really stop working as intended, but they will cause issues if left alone. Let\u2019s take a look at what can happen if you don\u2019t have your ducts cleaned regularly.<\/p>\n
All sorts of unsavory things can actually make a home in your ducts. Water can leak into the ducts from multiple sources, creating a perfect environment for mold growth. The mold colony can then release spores into the air, provoking allergic reactions and decreasing your air quality. Insects of various kinds often live and die in a home\u2019s ductwork, leaving insect dander to be circulated throughout the house. Duct cleaning removes these contaminants, improving your indoor air quality.<\/p>\n
A heating system loses as much as 30% of its heat on average to leaks in the ductwork. That\u2019s almost a third of your total heat output that is going to waste, for which you are still paying. Small leaks develop in ducts all the time, either from rust, or the duct expanding and contracting over years, or even the occasional small animal. Individually, most leaks aren\u2019t enough to cause much of a problem. Over time, however, the cumulative effect can cost you hundreds of dollars. Duct cleaning can find these leaks and seal them before they cost you too much money, potentially leading to a substantial drop in your heating bills.<\/p>\n