Dirty Ducts Are No Big Deal, Right? WRONG!

“Mom, I’ve been coughing a lot lately, and my nose is always runny.”

Dirt and dust in your furnace and air ducts can have a serious impact on your family’s health. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is especially bad for people with asthma, heart conditions, children, and the elderly. Dirt in your HVAC system can harbor mold and mildew, both of which are extremely hazardous to your health. If left untreated, some molds can cause allergic reactions or even toxic poisoning.

Also, a buildup of debris will cause your system to fail at filtering out particle pollutions such as allergens, pollen, pet dander and other airborne particles. This accumulation will force your heating and air system to work harder, causing higher utility costs and extensive wear and tear even premature failure.

How will a total system cleaning help protect my family and save me money?

Through the total system cleaning process, your Aire Serv technician will clean and service numerous components of the HVAC system:

• Supply and return ducts: Ducts, which are the passage ways for the air you breathe, build up layers of filth over time. Some of the contaminants in your ducts may include mold, mildew, dirt and dust. Insects or rodents may also find a home inside your ducts. They can create blockage and spread germs. A proper duct cleaning will be the start of better respiratory health and unit efficiency, both of which will save you money and bring greater peace of mind.
• Evaporator coil: The evaporator coil is part of the indoor unit and works like a radiator to make sure the air flowing through the duct system is cooled properly. The evaporator is exposed to the flow of air drawn from rooms all over your house through the return ducts. A dirty evaporator coil can restrict airflow, reducing your unit’s efficiency. It can also harbor mold and mildew, and you don’t want your family breathing those health hazards.

• Air filters: A dirty air filter allows pollen, pet dander and other airborne particles into the air you breathe, and that can make you sick. In addition to helping prevent illnesses—especially for members of your family with breathing problems or heart conditions—a clean filter can shorten recovery time from illnesses caused or worsened by poor air quality.
• Blower: Your heating and cooling system has a blower to circulate warm or cool air throughout your house. If the blower becomes dirty, it will take more energy to operate, increasing your utility costs. And if the blower gets too dirty, it will fail. You do not want that to happen because if it does, you may have to replace your entire HVAC system at a cost that far exceeds the investment of regular cleaning and maintenance by Aire Serv’s Comfort Specialists.

Benefits of Total System Cleaning

In addition to improving respiratory health, saving money with lower utility bills and extending the life of your system, a periodic total system cleaning can reduce or do away with the need for costly repairs.