Finding Duct Leaks

Four Signs You Need To Clean Your Ducts

Your home's ductwork works to move hot and cold air, depending on the season, throughout your home. As such, it plays an important role in maintaining the comfort levels within your house no matter the weather outside. However, over time, the sheer amount of air passing through your ducts can cause dust, allergens, and other debris to begin to build up. This can reduce the overall effectiveness of your air conditioner, and increase your energy bills while also lowering the comfort levels within your home. Understanding some of the warning signs associated with dirty ducts can help you identify when you need to contact a HVAC professional to come in and do air conditioning maintenance.

Clogged Vents

If you notice that the vents throughout your home are particularly dirty, and have large amounts of dust or staining around them, your ducts are likely just as clogged (if not worse). This can obstruct overall air flow, and place an undue amount of strain on your central heating and cooling systems.

Increased Allergy Symptoms

Another sign that your ducts may be overdue for a cleaning is if you notice that you are experiencing particularly bad allergy symptoms – especially in the off-season. This is because the overall air quality in your home is drastically reduced because of the amount of dust and other airborne contaminants within your ductwork being spread around every time your air conditioner or furnace turns on. This can also aggravate other respiratory conditions that your and your family may have, like asthma.

Clogged Filter

If you change the filter within your air conditioner or furnace as part of your regular maintenance, and notice that the old filter is almost completely blocked by debris, you should contact a professional straight away to inspect and clean your ducts. This is especially true if you notice that your filter is more clogged than it was previously, or if you haven't changed the filter recently at all (in general, you should do it at the start of the season in which you'll use the unit).

Poor Air Flow

Finally, if you notice that the amount of air that is coming out of the vents throughout your home is weak (or if there is no air flowing at all), your ducts are likely severely clogged with debris and dust. Having them cleaned can allow heated and cooled air to flow properly throughout your home, and ensure an even temperature in every room.


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