No matter what time of year it is, no matter whether you’re running your heating system or your air conditioner, you always rely on one critical part of your HVAC system: the ductwork! All the air passes through it, all year long.
The heated or cooled air whooshes along the ducts and comes out your vents, and with it comes … what? Well, whatever is lurking inside your ductwork. Dust, mold spores, and other contaminants can make it so that your air isn’t nearly as fresh as it should be. Duct cleaning can solve that problem!
What’s in Your Ducts?
It’s easy to see how dust would get into your ductwork: the same way it gets anywhere in your home. But unlike the rest of your house, which you can access to sweep or wipe down, the ductwork is out of sight and out of reach. And there may be additional sources of dust in there if your ductwork has any cracks or tears, allowing sawdust or insulation fibers to get in from between your walls.
Mold loves to grow in dark places if there is even a tiny bit of moisture. But how does it get into your ducts? The way mold reproduces is with spores, which function like seeds but are microscopic and get carried around in the air. Again, they would get cleaned up if they landed on your kitchen counter. But inside your ducts, as long as there’s a little water, it will just grow and grow.
Other things that get into your ductwork include allergens like pollen, pet hair and dander. It’s also a great place for the settled particulates from wildfire smoke to accumulate, and these can contain some very unpleasant chemicals. None of this is good for you to breathe. So let’s get your ducts all cleaned out!
Can You Clean Your Own Ducts?
If you pull off a vent cover here and there, could you stick something in — say, a broom or a duster — and sweep out the dust and mess yourself? Well, technically, you could. However, for a few different reasons, we definitely recommend that you do not try to clean your own ducts.
First, without the correct equipment or training, it would be extremely difficult to do a thorough job. It’s far more likely that you’d simply stir up some of the dust and end up with more mess circulating in your air.
Second, ductwork can be quite delicate. Ducts are made of a variety of materials. A qualified HVAC technician has the information necessary to assess what type of ducts you have and how best to clean them. They’ll also have equipment that makes it easy to get the job done, not just thoroughly, but precisely, without doing any damage. Since duct damage leads to worse dust problems, not to mention costly inefficiency, you don’t want to risk it!
When you need duct cleaning in Tucson, AZ, always rely on the pros. We’ll get the job done right!
Contact Picture Rocks Cooling, Heating & Plumbing today with any questions or to schedule an appointment with our professionals.