Keeping your house spick and span is essential. Cleaning the air ducts is one of the most important ways to keep your home clean. According to Report Linker, the Global HVAC Air Ducts Market is expected to grow by $1.54 billion from 2022 to 2026.
However, some people need to realize that it’s not just a matter of popping out the vacuum cleaner once or twice a year and calling it a day. Here are our top tips for keeping your air ducts spick and span throughout the year:
Regular Air Duct Cleaning
As per NYC Environmental Protection, air pollution in New York City is still a significant environmental threat despite considerable improvement. Therefore, it would be best to hire professionals for air duct cleaning in NYC and ensure that your indoor air is clean.
When it comes to keeping your home’s indoor air quality at its best, a few simple tips can help you achieve that goal. One of the most important things you should do is have your air ducts cleaned regularly. Most experts agree that homes with clean air ducts have fewer health problems than those without them.
If you decide not to clean them, this could result in serious health issues, such as asthma and allergies, for the people living inside your home. In addition, if mold starts growing in your ducts, this can cause severe damage to both their structure as well as the property itself.
Replace Dirty AC Filters With Clean Ones
Most air conditioning units come equipped with removable filters that need cleaning or replacing at least once per season. A dirty filter will reduce the efficiency of an air conditioner by up to 30%, so you must keep your filters clean.
You should also check if your filter needs replacing before turning on your unit for the first time in spring or fall. If it’s damaged, replace it immediately so that nothing gets sucked into its innards.
If you’re having trouble getting all those nasty particles out from between all those pleats, try using a vacuum cleaner instead of just blowing them around. It will help remove dust mites and other allergens from your home without spreading them around like an old-fashioned broom would have done back in ye olden days when houses weren’t nearly as well insulated against noise pollution levels as ours are today.
Remove Dirt on the Condensate Drain
The condensate drain is the tube that drains water from your AC unit. Water forms when heat from the air conditioner evaporates inside the system and collects in a pan or drip pan in front of the cooling coil.
The moisture then travels down through a tube to where it can be removed from your home. If your unit does not have this drain or if it becomes blocked, you will end up with mold or mildew inside your ductwork which can lead to health issues for you and those who live in your house.
To ensure no blockages in this drainage system, check for any clogs within two weeks after installing new equipment, such as an air filter or furnace filter, by using an extension tool to clear any obstruction.
Additionally, clean out any buildup around this area because it may cause additional problems during operation down the road if left unchecked over time rather than immediately fixed when first noticed during the installation process itself.
Keep the Grilles, Vents, and Registers Dust-Free
It can go without saying, but grilles should be cleaned regularly. It doesn’t matter if you have the best HVAC system in the world, if the grilles are dirty, they won’t be able to do their job correctly. The best thing to do is remove and clean your grilles every month.
If they get dusty or grimy, it may be a good idea to remove them and give them a thorough deep clean once every few months or even once a year, depending on how often you use your air conditioner or heater during winter or summer months, respectively.
Dust buildup in any part of an air duct can cause problems with airflow. Whether it’s in your living room or bedroom. If there’s too much dust inside those vents, then they’ll clog up, which means less airflow through them, so make sure that going forward, every time you clean those vents out, no more than 10% of their total surface area should ever be covered by dust at any given point.
Clean the Thermostat
You may think that the thermostat is the last thing you’ll clean, but it’s an essential part of your air duct system. A dirty thermostat can cause problems with your system, so it’s best to keep it clean.
To clean your thermostat, use a damp cloth or microfiber cloth and gently wipe down all surfaces of the screen and buttons. Don’t use any cleaning products on the screen, just water will do. If you want even more protection from dust, consider buying a cover for your thermostat.
Conclusion
While it’s easy to think of air duct cleaning as something you only do when you’re having a problem with your HVAC system, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t make it part of your regular home maintenance plan.
According to the EPA, Americans spend approximately 90% of their time indoors. Air duct cleaning is one of those things that has an immediate effect on the health and comfort of your family. Regularly check for mold and mildew growth, especially in bathrooms where dampness is frequently found.
