Is Now The Right Time For Duct Cleaning?

Is Now The Right Time For Duct Cleaning?

One of the realities of being a homeowner in central Pennsylvania is winter preparedness! Aside from all the other items on your “to do” list for winter preparedness, often overlooked is the dust and fuzzies (pet dander, pet hair, micro-organisms, etc.) that accumulate in your duct system. The dust accumulates behind the refrigerator because of the air flow created by the refrigerator’s fan. A similar situation happens when your heating and cooling system runs.

Doesn’t my furnace filter catch that stuff?

The purpose of the standard furnace filter is to protect the furnace, not you, not your family and not your lungs! Your furnace filter is located at the furnace. That means that all the air that is sucked back into the furnace has dust & fuzzies you’ve seen behind your refrigerator lodging in your ductwork system.

High efficiency filters can help by keeping the dust from circulating and do a better job protecting your furnace, and your lungs. Often times, high efficiency filters are paired with ultraviolet lights to kill the bacteria and organisms (made it plural) that feed on the dust and fuzzies, which are proven contributors to allergies, sicknesses, coughing, sneezing, wheezing, runny nose, watery eyes and headaches.
How will you know if you need a duct cleaning?

  • If your home is newly constructed –There is a good chance construction debris is leftover and “feeding the fuzzies.”
  • If your home is older than 5 years, or your ducts haven’t been cleaned in 5 years – If you’ve pulled out the refrigerator and found heavy dust buildup, you probably need duct cleaning.
  • If your allergy symptoms seem worse when you are at home – If your allergies are in control when you are other places and flare-up when you return home, the dust and buildup may need to be removed.

Remember, the best time to get an upfront cost about a duct cleaning is when you are having your annual system maintenance performed and the technician is already at your home. Otherwise, you may have an additional cost for the technician to return.

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