6 Common Air Duct Cleaning Myths

Most heating and air conditioning systems rely on ductwork to distribute climate-controlled air throughout your home or office. And it’s these hidden channels that could be hiding a buildup of debris that is affecting your indoor air quality. Even so, it can be hard to know what’s true and what's not when learning about vent cleaning for your Cleveland home. Today we’re ready to put some of the most common myths to rest.

1. Myth: Air Ducts Are Auto-Cleaning

Perhaps it’s counterintuitive, but the very fact that there is moving air constantly flowing through your home’s ductwork is one of the reasons why buildup can occur. Instead of flushing debris out, moving air is actually bringing dust, debris, and potential allergens into your HVAC system. And since this is a pretty closed loop, that contaminated air can continue cycling through your home, impacting indoor air quality and even exacerbating respiratory issues.

2. Myth: You Can Clean Air Ducts Yourself

Hey, we are all for DIY projects–you can save a lot of time and money by tackling certain things yourself. But if specialized equipment, training, or experience is needed to safely and effectively handle a task around the home, it’s generally best left to the pros who have already done that work. Trying to do this vital task yourself, without the necessary equipment and training, could end up causing the exact opposite result, driving the dirt and dust back into your home, leading you to then spend more resources to fix the problem. Professional air duct cleaning services, like those offered by Clear Air America, are the way to go for the safest and most effective results. 

3. Myth: Duct Cleaning Will Dirty Your Home

We can understand why people assume that a thorough air duct cleaning will push all of that filth into their home, and leave more of a clean up project than they bargained for, but that is so far from the truth! While a DIY approach to air duct cleaning or dryer vent cleaning can end up increasing your indoor mess, a professional cleaning service won’t. At Clean Air America, our specially outfitted equipment pulls the dirt and debris from your HVAC system outside of your home and catches contaminants in industrial grade filters for later disposal. We take every step necessary to ensure that your home is just as clean when we leave as it was when we arrived. Dust, allergens, hair, dander, and other unknown contaminants, be gone!

4. Myth: Air Duct Cleaning Removes All Airborne Contaminants

Yes, air duct cleaning does sound like a miraculous panacea that will improve your home’s indoor air quality overnight. However, it doesn’t mean that a thorough duct cleaning will remove every single contaminant from your home. This is because there are other factors at play that affect how clean your home’s air is. These can include regular filter changes, personal cleaning habits or preferred home products, among other factors. All that said, it is true that air duct cleaning is highly effective in reducing potentially harmful airborne contaminants, but it should be viewed as one piece of the puzzle when tackling your indoor air quality concerns.

5. Myth: Dirty Air Ducts Won’t Impact Your Health

We’re always advised to wear a face mask when doing any job that is particularly dusty, so we know that particulate matter can most definitely negatively affect our health. But maybe we can get a little lax inside of our own homes. It’s easy to rely on air purifiers to keep indoor air quality up, but if they aren’t cutting it and you’re finding yourself congested and feeling sick when in your home, allergens could be building up in your air supply. And if anyone in your family suffers from chronic breathing problems or allergic conditions, then this is an even more serious concern. Your health is too important to believe this myth–reach out to Clean Air America if you have questions!

6. Myth: Mold Only Occurs With a Dehumidifier

Again, on its face, this myth sounds logical, since we might assume that a dehumidifier will be pulling excess amounts of moisture out of the air, and that must make your HVAC system more likely to contain mold, right? Actually, every HVAC system is susceptible to mold growth. The air conditioner’s condensing coils naturally release moisture into a drip tray, which can accumulate and even back up into your ductwork in the worst case scenario–that would clearly be a vector for mold and bacteria growth. And since moisture is constantly cycling through the air in your home, it’s not reasonable to expect one cleaning to totally prevent future mold growth, either. Air duct cleaning can slow down the growth of mold by interrupting its life cycle and removing ideal conditions, but with time, it can return. That’s why regularly scheduled maintenance is key.

Professional Air Duct Cleaning Near Cleveland, Akron, and Canton

It’s easy to fall prey to myths about air duct cleaning, but we trust that savvy, well-informed homeowners can see through the untruths. If you’re ready to make your home’s HVAC system clean and prepared for the season ahead, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our expert team and schedule your air duct cleaning today! At Clean Air America, we specialize in both residential and commercial air duct cleaning, along with UV sanitizing. Our professional technicians value and respect your property and do what it takes to leave you with a clean space. It’s time to improve your family’s indoor air quality. Check out our FAQs and contact us today to learn more!

Air duct cleaning is a job best left to professionals with the necessary equipment and experience. Get in touch with Clean Air America today for a free estimate or to learn more about our air duct cleaning services.