5 Signs Your Air Ducts Need Cleaning

Bates Air and Heat

15 October 2024

No matter if you're turning on your air conditioner or furnace in Vero Beach, it's important to ensure every aspect of the system is clean, functional, and ready to work. One part most people don't think about, however, is ductwork. Out of sight, out of mind — right?

How much maintenance does ductwork really need to eliminate contaminants? Do air ducts need to be cleaned or is the service optional? What are the signs you need cleaning? Bates Air & Heat LLC is a reputable air duct cleaning company in Vero Beach, FL, gets into the details below.

Why Vero Beach Property Owners Clean Their Air Ducts

The history of HVAC systems is lengthy yet continues to grow as technology advances. Today, many properties in Vero Beach rely on centralized systems with extensive ductwork to disperse conditioned air into every room.

Over time, airborne particles settle inside the air ducts, which could lead to airflow blockages and other complications such as premature HVAC wear and tear. This problem happens because the system will overwork itself due to airflow restriction.

Unfortunately, it's not unusual for Vero Beach homeowners to accidentally overlook their ductwork. Fortunately, getting professional air duct cleaning services can produce several benefits, including:

Cleaner indoor air, resulting in fewer allergy symptoms and dust buildup on surfaces
Lower energy costs due to the HVAC system's optimization
Fresh-smelling indoor air
Reduction or prevention of mold and mildew

Top 5 Signs of Dirty Air Ducts in Need of Cleaning

Do air ducts need to be cleaned? The short answer is yes. Review these warning signs to know when to book the service from a reliable HVAC contractor in Vero Beach.

1. Clogged Air Filters

Air filters trap airborne particles that would otherwise clog the heating and cooling system and settle around your Vero Beach property. It's reasonable to expect your HVAC system's air filter to need regular changing or cleaning. Ideally, changing filters at least once every three months is best.

If you must change or clean the air filter once each week, you have a big problem. Your ductwork could have a massive accumulation of dust, dirt, pollen, pet dander, and other debris that stick to the filter whenever the air conditioner runs. If so, you'll likely notice lots of dust collecting around air vents and registers as well as your air filter.

2. Excessive Dust

It's common for Vero Beach properties to have some dust, yet they shouldn't have massive dust buildup, especially with regular cleaning and dusting. Dust shouldn't cover surfaces soon after cleaning them. If that happens, the problem is likely from the air ducts pushing out debris whenever the HVAC unit runs.

3. Increasing Energy Bills

Many Vero Beach homeowners typically know how much their utilities should cost each season. A sudden hike in energy bills may be due to the HVAC system. These units need lots of airflow to work efficiently, which they can't get with obstructions in the ductwork.

4. Mold

No environment in Vero Beach is free of mold spores, but they're harmless in most cases. The problem with mold is that spores flourish in damp, dark environments. Unfortunately, your HVAC system can produce condensation that collects within the ductwork, making it an ideal place for mold spores to linger and form colonies.

Excessive mold spore levels in your home could lead to health problems like respiratory illnesses and worsening allergies. Specks of black or green mold growing around your vents indicate mold growth inside the air ducts. Even if you don't see the mold, you might smell its musty odor any time you run your air conditioner or furnace.

Mold can quickly spread throughout your house and possibly jeopardize your health and property. A qualified HVAC technician can clean your air ducts, address the mold problem, and provide solutions for your HVAC moisture issue.

5. Poor Airflow

A clear indicator of a dirty air filter is inadequate or inconsistent airflow coming through your vents. The air that flows through your ductwork should produce the same output for each vent. If the airflow coming from your living room vent is weaker than that from your bedroom vent, it's likely time to schedule an appointment with an HVAC technician to ensure the ductwork is clean and free of blockages.

When To Clean Air Ducts in Your Vero Beach Home or Business

Do air ducts need to be cleaned often? No, they don't.

Routine air duct cleaning usually occurs once every three to five years. Yet, you might need the service sooner if you have no record of your Vero Beach property getting the service.

Keep Your Vero Beach Property Healthy With Professional Air Duct Cleaning

At Bates Air & Heat LLC, we know that the answer to "Do air ducts need to be cleaned?" is yes! Our licensed HVAC technicians have years of experience and a commitment to deliver outstanding customer care that allows us to create personalized solutions to any air conditioning or heating problem.

We can help with everything from repairing and cleaning ductwork to determining the common HVAC filter sizes and types that work best for your system. No air duct problem is too much for us to handle — call today to schedule your appointment with our skilled technicians in Vero Beach, FL.