Like any major appliance, your home’s heating and cooling system will perform better with regular maintenance. Air duct cleaning is one of several recommended services to guarantee the life span of your whole HVAC system. Regardless of how often you replace filters, dust and allergens still linger in your air ducts. Dust and dirt are filled with impurities and air contaminants that can hurt your indoor air quality, as well as force your system to work harder. These issues won’t only increase your energy bill, but they can shorten the lifetime of your HVAC system. 
Want to know if your Edwardsville, IL home needs its air ducts cleaned? Here are a few giveaway signs of dirty air ducts!
Want to know if your Edwardsville, IL home needs its air ducts cleaned? Here are a few giveaway signs of dirty air ducts!Mold
Dust is not only at fault when it comes to bothering your allergies; mold can bother them too! Not only does it impact your allergies, but it can lead to future respiratory problems and spread quickly throughout your home. Mold can develop from the condensation of your heating and cooling system. This is especially true if you live in a humid climate area. While you might be able to spot mold around your vent covers, many parts of your heating and cooling system are not easy to access, which makes it difficult to detect mold visually. While it may be challenging to see mold, it can also appear in the form of a musty odor. If you have or suspect mold in your air ducts, it is essential to take immediate action to ensure indoor air quality. An air duct cleaning technician can identify, remediate, and prevent any mold issues. It’s important to correct the cause of mold growth, or it will continue to come back. A whole-home dehumidifier or optimizing your thermostat are great examples that help prevent excess moisture in your home.Ducts are infested with rodents or insects
Unfortunately, Mice, squirrels, and insects can make their way into your air ducts, leaving an open door for other rodents and bacteria. Rodents like to take residence in ductwork and will make a nest and leave droppings behind. These fecal spores travel through the air ducts and can make their way into your home. The fecal spores traveling can contaminate the air you breathe. You might also find chewed-up materials or unpleasant smells, all of which indicate an infestation. Once they infiltrate your air ducts, it becomes accessible for them to enter all around your home. An infestation might require more than an air duct cleaning! If you neglect the issue, it can lead to damage that impairs the structural integrity of your house and an HVAC system that does not work efficiently, resulting in a higher energy bill.Rising energy cost
On average, your heating a cooling bill can be predictable from year to year. Dirty air ducts might be the reason if you notice a higher than usual cost, especially compared to last year. Depending on how dirty, your ductwork may lack the ability to flow air freely and efficiently through your home. When this happens, the HVAC system will be forced to work harder to maintain a comfortable temperature. You might have also noticed inconsistent airflow from room to room. The inconsistency can be a result of dirty ductwork. It is necessary to point out that the accumulation of debris in your air ducts isn’t always what makes your system work harder. Leaks that exist in your ductwork are a loss of energy, lowering the efficiency and increasing your energy bill. Hiring a technician to clean out your ducts won’t only rule out harmful impurities but can also rule out the possibility of leaks.
