Skip to content

Financing Available as Low as $89 for New Installs

Learn More

Dirty Ductwork Compromises Indoor Air Quality

Bass Air Conditioning Indoor Air Quality

Ductwork is the pathway through which your heated or cooled air travels and is distributed through vents into various rooms in your home. For this reason, preventing dirt, mold and debris from building up in your ductwork is important. To ensure your home’s air ducts stay clean and fresh, read on.

What’s In Your Ductwork?

Over time, ductwork can accumulate material that shouldn’t be there. Aside from dust and dirt, contaminated ducts may contain pollen, mold and mold spores, insects or insect parts, and particles of wood, metal, plaster, or other construction material.

Problems Associated With Dirty Ductwork

The contaminants that can infiltrate an HVAC system’s ductwork has a significant effect on indoor air quality . If these materials are dislodged when air circulates through the ductwork, they’ll be carried out of the ducts and into the air you and your family breathe. These materials can cause problems, such as respiratory troubles and allergy or asthma attacks, among others.

Preventing Dirty Ductwork

If ducts become contaminated with particulates or other unpleasant material, they can be cleaned to restore them to their original condition. The best solution, however, is preventing dirty ductwork in the first place. You can keep your ductwork clean and free of contaminants by:

  • Scheduling preventive maintenance for the HVAC system: Regular preventive maintenance on the furnace, air conditioner or heat pump will keep the equipment working correctly and help prevent dirt, mold and other material from accumulating on the system’s interior components.HVAC systems should be given a preventive maintenance inspection and tune-up at least once a year — in the spring for the cooling system and in the fall for a heating system. As part of the maintenance visit, your technician may also change the air filter and inspect ductwork to make sure it’s in good condition and all duct sections fit tightly together. Making sure ducts are sealed will reduce the possibility of contaminating getting into the ducts from the outside.
  • Have a duct cleaning performed: Full-scale duct cleanings aren’t part of typical routine maintenance, so you’ll probably have to schedule this service separately. A duct cleaning will remove any built-up matter that could be blown into your home, such as dirt, mold or microorganisms.Make sure your understand what a duct cleaning involves. The National Air Duct Cleaners Association ( NADCA ) provides guidelines for duct inspections and the professional conduct of duct cleaning contractors.
  • Keep the inside of your home clean: Regular cleanings inside your home will cut down on the amount of particulates and contaminants that could make their way into the ductwork. Dust shelving and furniture, vacuum carpets, and sweep hard-surface floors. Pay particular attention to areas such as bathrooms or kitchens where moist air could be pulled into the ductwork and provide a favorable atmosphere for the growth of mold, mildew and fungus. If there are air intakes in these areas, keep them clean to prevent mold from growing there. Clean up spills promptly and wipe down bathroom surfaces after showering to reduce moisture.
  • Reduce contamination opportunities: If you’re having renovation work done inside your home, make sure intake registers around the construction area are sealed to keep particulates and construction-related material out of the ductwork. Sawdust, plaster dust and dislodged dirt can easily get into the ducts during renovation activities.

For more information cleaning your ductwork and improving indoor air quality, call Bass Air Conditioning Company . We’ve been providing expert heating and air conditioning services to customers in the North Carolina communities of Fayetteville, Spring Lake, Hope Mills, Dunn, and Lumberton since 1952.