How Often Should You Clean Your Ducts?

People who live on Oahu know how important fresh air can be for good health. Enjoying cool, clean air helps your family feel comfortable and lets you relax. Does your home have central air-conditioning? To have the best indoor air quality possible, periodic air duct cleaning is essential. How often should I be cleaning air ducts?

 

Why Do I Need To Clean My Ducts?

 

Do homes, apartments, and businesses around Oahu really need air duct cleaning? Isn’t ocean air relatively clean? The truth is that any outdoor air can carry dirt particles, pollen, and debris along with it. Any time you open your windows to feel the evening breeze or walk in the front door, a lot of dust gets inside the house.

 

Other sources of poor air quality come from inside the home:

 

  • Pets
  • Viruses and bacteria
  • Mold and mildew
  • Dust mites
  • Dead bugs
  • Allergens
  • Dead skin cells

 

Normally, the AC’s air filter should trap the majority of these contaminants. As the ducts get dirtier and dirtier over time, however, eventually a clean filter isn’t enough. You need air duct cleaning. In apartments, senior living residences, and other commercial properties, these air quality problems can appear even faster.

 

When Should You Clean Ducts?

 

You can’t just climb up and peek inside your home’s air ducts, so, how can you tell it’s time for cleaning air ducts? There are several warning signs you can look out for. The worse the air quality issues, the more urgent it is to schedule professional air duct cleaning.

 

1. Musty Smell or Visible Mold

 

Many homeowners and business owners forget to check AC ducts when it comes to moisture problems. Moisture leaks inside the air-conditioning system may encourage mold growth, which can be a serious problem for your family’s health, and it’s bad for your home’s structure as well. If you smell any kind of damp, musty odor, it’s urgent to contact air duct cleaning pros right away.

 

2. Remodeling Projects

 

Any type of home remodeling tends to lift a lot of dirt, sawdust, and cement into the air. These construction materials build up quickly inside air ducts, and they stick around long after the project is finished. When you hire contractors to remodel a kitchen, build a master bedroom, or expand a business location, schedule air duct cleaning as soon as the project is over.

 

3. Frequent Allergies

 

Common allergies may be triggered by contaminants in your home’s HVAC duct system; an effectively clean HVAC system should not trigger outdoor allergens. Whether you’re allergic to dust and dust mites, mold spores, pet dander, plant pollen, or other allergens, the fact that they’re causing irritation for anyone inside the home means that your air quality needs help. When ducts are dirty, the AC just circulates allergens throughout the home over and over.

 

4. Other Respiratory Problems

 

When air ducts are full of outdoor allergens or contaminants, they may exacerbate some respiratory problems. For example, mold spores may trigger itchiness, runny nose, sore throat, and coughing in anyone. If there are babies, seniors, or people who have respiratory issues living in the home, good indoor air quality is especially important.

 

5. Too Much Dust in the Home

 

Does it seem like your furniture gets dirty quickly even though you just dusted the day before? That may be a sign that ducts are full of dirt particles and your AC is circulating dusty air. Another sign to look for are vents that look extremely dirty, usually with a big layer of dust right where the air comes out.

 

6. Pest Problems

 

Unfortunately, there are many types of bugs and pests around Oahu that like to look for ways to get inside the home. If they make a nest inside air ducts, it’s a big problem both for your air conditioner and your home’s cleanliness. You don’t want to have vermin crawling around. Air duct cleaning pros can take care of pest issues ASAP.

 

7. Poor Air Conditioner Output

 

Does it feel like vents hardly deliver any cool air into the room? One of the problems may be a clogged air filter that is full of dust. Blockages can also be a sign of pests living in the air ducts.

 

How Often Is Cleaning Air Ducts Necessary for Homes and Rental Properties in Hawaii?

 

It’s not easy to provide a specific timetable for air duct cleaning in Oahu because everyone’s lifestyle is different. The NADCA’s recommendation is to schedule professional air duct cleaning every 1 to 2 years. That said, countless factors can require more frequent cleaning.

 

For example, if you have one or more pets inside the home, ducts are going to collect hair and dander more quickly. If you leave the windows open in your home during the day, ducts get dirtier as well. Additional factors such as cooking oils, cigarette and vape smoke, or a carpeted home can also contribute to the timeline to cleaning. On the other hand, people who schedule regular residential AC cleaning may have nearly spotless ducts for a long time.

 

Our recommendation is to follow the general guidelines but play it by ear. If you notice any of the warning signs mentioned (frequent allergies, musty smells, lots of dust, etc.), cleaning air ducts right away is a smart decision.

 

What Does Professional Air Duct Cleaning Include?

 

There’s more involved in complete air duct cleaning than you may think. Using specialized equipment, we check and clean every inch of ductwork (aluminum or fiberglass) running through the home; however, that’s just the beginning. Cleaning air ducts correctly involves much more:

 

  • Air handling unit
  • AC coils and diffusers
  • Supply ducts
  • Return ducts
  • Condensation pans
  • Fan motor
  • Fan housing
  • Grills and vents

 

The first step when we arrive is to inspect the system. That way, we can see where buildup is occurring and what other problems are present. If pests or mold issues appear, it’s important to correct those problems right away using the right tools or cleaning products.

 

Next, we proceed to clean the entire system. Depending on the type of dust and grime present, we can use rotary brushes, scrubbers, and other tools to loosen all dirt particles. At the same time, a high-powered commercial vacuum system extracts all of the contaminants, leaving air ducts spotless.

 

Why Choose Air Duct Cleaning Specialists in Oahu?

 

Clean ducts and air conditioner parts are a major part of great indoor air quality. It’s worth investing in expert air duct cleaning to get the best results. Our professionals show you the difference before and after so you can breathe easy knowing your home’s air is clean.

 

Cleaning air ducts isn’t something homeowners or building managers should attempt to take care of themselves, otherwise, mold, dirt, and allergens may move to other parts of the system and the same problems persist.

 

When you notice signs that your air conditioner and air ducts are getting dirty, call the Oahu air duct cleaning experts at Hawaii Indoor Air Specialists. We’re fully certified by the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA), and we have an excellent reputation for high-quality work and attention to detail. Taking great care of your family’s health and having fresh air inside the home is always worth it.

 

Image Source: Serenethos / Shutterstock