Your duct system is a major part of your HVAC in St Paul. It generally consists of a series of connected tubes that distribute cooled or heated air to the rooms in your house. However, your ducts need regular attention to make sure they stay clean, allowing them to do their job correctly. While the Environmental Protection Agency suggests that you get your ducts cleaned on an as-needed basis, it can be difficult to know how often that will be. Here are 5 signs that it may be time to have your ducts cleaned.
Accumulated Dirt and Debris
It is common for a thin layer of dust to settle on furniture around your home. However, it is not a good sign if you notice that dirt and debris start to build up more quickly. Over time, air ducts get clogged with dirt and debris, and each time air blows through, it will take some of this buildup and blow it into the rooms of your home through the registers. A simple way to stop this from happening is to have it all cleaned out of the ducts before it can blow through.
Dirty Air Filter
We suggest that you change your air filter once a month to make sure that the air blowing through your house is as clean as possible. However, if you notice that your air filter is dirty after only a few weeks, it may be time to have your ducts cleaned.
Weak Air Flow
A good sign that you have dirty or damaged ducts is if you notice that the air is not blowing out of the vents as strongly as it has in the past. Large obstructions in the ducts will make it difficult for the air to flow through, which can be remedied with a good cleaning.
Rodent or Insect Infestation
If you see the shells or husks from insects or droppings from rodents along the sides of your ducts, you may have a problem with an infestation. The first thing you should do is call for a cleaning to make sure that no rodents or insects are taking up residence in your ducts.
Increased Allergies
If you or members of your family are constantly sneezing or feeling like you are allergic to something, you may have mold or excess matter clogging your ducts. While allergies can be caused by many factors, it never hurts to call in a professional to see if you need to clean the ducts of your HVAC in St. Paul. If clogged air ducts is the problem, you should start to feel better after a good cleaning.