1. Decrease Energy Costs - An air duct system that is full of dust makes your furnace work much harder than is should, which costs money in additional heating expense. The restriction on your furnace filter from dust accumulation puts added strain on the furnace blower. This could result in an expensive motor replacement.
2. Moving to a New or Previously Occupied Home - whether you are moving into a new home or a previously occupied home, you are moving into someone else's dirt. Often in construction of homes, ventilation systems are not protected, thus leaving drywall dust, construction debris and whatever else gets swept into the system. When someone else has already lived in the home, there may have been pets, children and rennovations taking place where you can find all sorts of things in the air ducts from pet hair, dander, toys, rennovation debris,ect.
3. After Rennovations - How many people actually protect the ventilation system while making rennovations in their home?The answer is not many. Even after rennovation is complete, not all dust particles were cleaned up and often make their way into the ventilation system.
4. Sensitivity to Dust - People with respiratory disorders such as asthma , sinuses, allergies , emphysema, COPD, upper respiratory infections, are sensitive to dust,dander and other particles and chemicals that are in the air of their home. Cleaning the ventilation system is an extra precautionary step that can improve the air inside your home. Cleaning the ventilation system and getting a quality air purifier can reduce athma and allergy symptoms.
5. Prevent Fires - Lint and dust is combustable. Paying close attention to cleaning the laundry exhaust in your home is especially important to prevent potential fire.
6. Water Leakage - If there was water leakage in your home and it got in the air ducts there could be a potential for mold growth, if it's not there already.
7. Mold - Molds can produce allergens, irritants or potentially toxic substances so prohibiting their growth is a good way to protect your health. If you suspect any mold contact a mold specialist to see if it is in your ventilation system and have them devise a plan of action to get rid of it.
8. Reduce Household Chores - Sometimes an increase in dust in your home is due to a dirty ventilation system. Getting this cleaned out and using a quality filter that is changed at least every three months can help to reduce dust particles in the air. When vacuuming your home, use a HEPA filter vacuum that will capture small particles.
9. Furnace Airflow - If you notice a lack of air flow to a room or that you have to keep the thermostat up higher than you would like , chances are there may be something obstructing the path of airflow.
10. Increase the Air Quality of your Home - Wihout an air exchanger in your home, your home does not breath fresh air. The ventilation system recirculates the same air. Especially in the winter when so many homes are air tight now, people are not breathing fresh air inside their homes. When this happens, the ventialtion system can also recirculate germs, bacteria, dust and debris that can cause allergy and asthma sysmptoms to flair. Cleaning and sanitizing your ventilation system can get rid of harmful stuff. It wouldn't hurt to look into an air exchange sytem either.
Wow...I'm definately going to have my vents cleaned by Indoor Air this year...especially after reading the 10 reasons why they should be cleaned... You hear ppl talk about it...see the ads on tv...but...while reading this....really makes a person think. I just moved into a home 2 yrs ago. And just the thought of breathing in someone elses...dirt! YUCK!! This site has the most info I've seen...thanks for the all the info....
Posted by: Bonnie K | January 19, 2009 at 10:59 AM
Bonnie -
Thanks for the comment. Yes, people often do not think to clean up the air duct system in a home they move in to. It is one of those " out of sight, out of mind" chores of a household. What they don't understand is that the ventilation system of the home is the lungs of the home. It breaths in and breaths out. It breaths in the dust, bacteria, pet dander , ect and often breaths it back out. hmmm makes you wonder,doesn't it?
Posted by: David Gordon | January 22, 2009 at 01:54 PM