We owned our house for twelve years before it ever occurred to me to have the duct system professionally serviced.
I finally started taking better care of the ducts when I noticed some problems with indoor air quality. Despite being conscientious about air filter changes and maintenance for the furnace and air conditioner, there was dust and unpleasant smells coming from the heating/cooling vents. I was constantly forced to dust, vacuum and scrub the house, and yet it still felt dirty. Every time the air conditioner started up this past summer, my kids complained of the odor. I also realized that the whole family was frequently sneezing. Concerned about a health threat, I called an HVAC contractor and explained the issues we were having. After a thorough inspection of the entire heating and cooling system, he recommended duct cleaning. Testing of the duct system revealed a significant blockage concealed inside the pipes. There was dust, dander, pollen, webs, mold growth and several dead rodents restricting airflow. Since the conditioned air passes through the ducts multiple times per day, a great deal of particulate and harmful bacteria was getting spread into our breathing air. Plus, this buildup was forcing the furnace and air conditioner to work harder to achieve comfort levels. The duct cleaning process took a couple of hours and caused no mess or damage. This service significantly improved the comfort, cleanliness and health of the living environment. It also reduced the cost of my heating and cooling bills by about fifteen percent. From now on, I’ll make sure to have the ductwork professionally tested and serviced every couple of years.