Air ducts are what separate modern homes from pre-modern homes. They made it possible to produce heated air in a central location and distribute it throughout the house by means of a blower which pushed the air through the ductwork. Air ducts became common in homes after World War II replacing fireplaces, steam pipes and radiators, and are the standard method used today to distribute heated and cooled air. But like everything else air ducts get dirty, which begs the question “how often should ductwork be cleaned?”
Why Clean Your Air Ducts?
Over time air ducts pull in large amounts of dirt, dust, pet dander, hair, pollen, soot and airborne chemicals from outside. Some of these pollutants accumulate in the ducts. The rest of it is continually circulated throughout the house causing or aggravating allergies and causing other types of respiratory distress including asthma and bronchitis.
Most homeowners are ready to attribute their wheezing, irritated eyes and sniffles to other sources when in fact they are being caused, or at the very least aggravated by, pollutants being circulated by the air ducts. But it doesn’t have to be so.
How Often Should Ductwork be Cleaned?
As a general rule, it’s recommended you have your air ducts cleaned every 3 – 4 years. However, if you have more than one pet, if there is someone in the house with asthma or severe allergies, or if you live in the centre of London or another large city you should have the air ducts cleaned every 1 – 2 years at most.
Other Circumstances That Call for Air Duct Cleaning
There are certain circumstances that call for air duct cleaning outside of any normal maintenance schedule, those include:
When you move to a new home: You cannot be sure what state the air ducts are in when you move to a new home. In fact, because most homeowners still neglect this important aspect of home maintenance it is fair to assume the ducts need cleaning. Therefore, before you move in arrange for CleanAir UK to clean the ducts.
Immediately following renovation or remodelling work: Renovations send huge amounts of dust, dirt and other pollutants into the air with a lot of it coming to rest in the ductwork. If you do nothing you will be breathing in those pollutants for years to come. Therefore, the last stage of any renovation project should be to have the ducts cleaned.
If you had pests removed from the ductwork: It is not uncommon for birds, mice and squirrels to set up house inside your nice warm ducts. The longer they live there the more hair, faecal waste, dead skin cells and other unwanted by-products of biology they will deposit in the ducts. If you recently had pests removed from the ductwork, give CleanAir UK a call.
Contact CleanAir UK
If it has been more than 2 years since you had your air ducts cleaned, get in touch with the pros at CleanAir UK by calling 01303 249667, or write to us at, info@cleanairuk.com. You’ll breathe easier knowing your air ducts are clean and hygienic.
