Air ducts are the circulatory system of your home, and just like arteries, a circulatory system functions poorly when it's clogged with dirt and debris. While the Environmental Protection Agency notes there is no scientific proof that cleaning out air ducts necessarily prevents health problems, it notes that indoor air is up to five times more contaminated than outdoor air.
Clears Contaminants
Cleaning out the air ducts clears out contaminants that build up, the National Air Duct Cleaners Association says. These include dust, bacteria, pollen and other accumulations of dirt and debris. The contaminants can either come from outside sources or from right in your own home. Homes particularly at risk include those with smokers and pets or those with recent renovations that stirred up debris. While some contaminants, like miniscule dust particles, can go unnoticed in many, older folks, young children or people suffering from asthma or allergies are more prone to be bothered by them.
Removes Obvious Hazards
While some contaminants may be barely visible to the naked eye, others are obvious. Both the EPA and the NADCA advise using a flashlight and mirror to peer into the air ducts. Thick and obvious layers of buildup of any sort can be a hazard. Mold, fungi and other contaminants borne out of water damage need to be removed, as do any traces of vermin. Insects, animal nests, rodents and other pests and their droppings are not something you want in your air ducts.
Improves Efficiency
Cleaning buildup from air ducts can also help your overall heating and cooling system run more efficiently, the NADCA says. This will not only save you money on your energy bills but also extend the life of your system. A clean system that runs without stress or clogged and dirty parts is less likely to malfunction, break down or require costly repairs.
Other
Two other benefits of cleaning out air ducts are reducing the likelihood of a fire and rancid smells, Duct Works says. Buildup in the ducts gives a fire something to burn that a clean metal duct does not. Rancid smells that circulate through any part of the system also tend to cling to built-up debris. Pet urine is a prime culprit, especially if a pet has urinated near an air vent and the smell is picked up and propelled through the heating and cooling system. Cleaning out the ducts is as important as cleaning the source, or the smell will stick to the buildup and start the cycle over again.
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