Duct cleaning improves indoor air quality
This past winter, I noticed that cooking odors were lingering for a very long time.
The smell of anything I prepared for dinner could be identified in every room in the house.
Even upstairs in the bedrooms, the smell was strong and slow to dissipate. This got me worried about indoor air quality. My area is known for the severe winter weather. We need to keep the house sealed tight for more than half the year. The furnace runs just about non stop. There is no opportunity to bring in fresh air or get rid of the stale, stuffy air. Before I took proactive measures, I frequently needed to dust and vacuum. My whole family often sneezed, coughed and complained of headaches. While I’ve always been very conscientious about replacing air filters and scheduling professional maintenance for the heating system, I’ve never been overly concerned about the ductwork. I asked a licensed HVAC contractor to inspect the system, and he found a significan buildup of contaminants. He said that this dust and debris was absorbing odors. As the heated air passed through the system, the smells, dust, bacteria and other pollutants were becoming airborne and getting distributed throughout the living space. The contractor used a specialized piece of equipment that resembled an oversized vacuum cleaner to service the ductwork. He inserted a long hose with a brush attachment that worked to dislodge stubborn debris that was then sucked up. The process took a couple of hours but caused no mess or damage. After the duct cleaning, there was a significant improvement in the smell, cleanliness and comfort of the home. The furnace didn’t need to run as long to achieve the thermostat setting, resulting in lower utility bills. I’m hoping that the heating system will last longer.