There are many components in your HVAC system that can become contaminated by dust and dirt. In addition, mould can grow in your ducts if you live in an area of high humidity. For these reasons, it’s important to arrange duct cleaning on a regular basis. Here’s everything you need to know about duct cleaning companies before you choose one.

Make Sure Your Duct Cleaner is Qualified

If you're going to invest in professional duct cleaning, make sure the company doing the work is qualified to test any contaminants they find. You might be shown samples of contaminants that are called mould, but until the contaminant has been tested in a lab, this claim can’t be substantiated.

Make Sure Your Duct Cleaner Cleans All Components

There are several areas in your HVAC system where contaminants can collect. Components that often require cleaning include:

• Supply and return air ducts

• Registers and grilles

• Diffusers

• Heat exchangers

• Cooling coils

• Drip pans

• Fan motor and housing

• Air handling housing

Any of these areas can become clogged and cause dust to gather, bacteria to grow or mould to develop. Your duct cleaner should have the necessary tools to dislodge and vacuum away contaminants in all of these areas. If they don't, look for another duct cleaning company.

The Benefits of Hiring a Professional Duct Cleaner

The primary reason to have your ducts cleaned professionally is that it will improve the quality of the air in your home. By removing dust, spores, mould and debris, the air circulating through your home will be cleaner. In addition, cleaning your ducts can save energy and thus save you money. Once your ducts are cleaned and unimpeded by dust and debris, it will take less energy to move air around your home.

How a Duct Cleaner Can improve Health

If someone in your household suffers from asthma, severe allergies or any other breathing problem, duct cleaning could help. The contaminants inside your ducting could be spreading throughout your house every time you use your heating or cooling. For some, this could make spending time in the house dangerous. Fortunately, a duct cleaning company can provide the necessary deep clean to clear unwanted allergens out of your ducts for better health.

How Often Should You Hire Professional Duct Cleaners?

For most people, duct cleaning isn’t something that’s thought about often. Your heating and cooling hums along in the background but isn't an issue until something goes wrong. However, experts recommend that air ducts be professionally cleaned at least once a year, particularly if someone in the house has a respiratory condition such as asthma or suffers from allergies.

Keeping your air ducts properly cleaned, particularly if you have pets that shed hair, can also lessen the risk of bacterial and mould growth. Pet fur can become compacted in the ductwork and harbour moisture, providing an ideal location for bacteria and mould to thrive. Additionally, if you're just moving into a new home and you don’t know when the ducts were last cleaned, you should organise duct cleaning before you move in.