My husband and I bought a fixer-upper a little over two years ago…and to my dismay, the process wasn’t as glamorous as the TV shows make it look. It needed a pretty extensive facelift, including removing the popcorn from the ceilings, painting every room (and baseboard) and refinishing the hardwood floors. That was also around the time that I started learning more about air duct cleaning, and decided to hire our technicians to clean out the air ducts before we moved in.
After the process was over, I peered into the HEPA-filtered vacuum that collects all the dirt, dust and debris and WAS MORTIFIED! It was full of paint chips, cat hair (from the previous owner’s pets), hair (from the previous owner?), and other balls of dirt/dust. It was enough “stuff” to fill up the entire vacuum! What was even better? The satisfaction of knowing it was all gone and we could have a clean start (no pun intended) as the moving truck pulled up to start unloading.
Now, let me get to the real point of this blog entry. Why is routine air duct cleaning important for your home or office and what are the benefits?
Indoor Air Quality Concerns
Before & After Air Duct Cleaning
We generate a lot of contaminants and air pollutants, such as animal dander, dust, and chemicals through normal occupation in a home or office building. These contaminants are pulled into the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system and re-circulated 5 to 7 times per day, on average. Over time, this re-circulation causes build-up in the duct work.
According to the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA), a typical six-room home can create up to 40 pounds of dust annually through everyday living. Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), ranks poor indoor air quality among the top five environmental risks to public health.
Here are a few other interesting statistics:
- Indoor air is 70% MORE polluted than outdoor air
- People spend 60-90% of their time indoors
- Poor air quality causes an estimated $1 BILLION in medical costs, and $60 BILLION in employee sick leave and lost production
- The average American breathes 3,400 GALLONS of air each day
- Indoor air pollution affects urban and rural properties alike
Potential Energy Savings
Contaminants in the heating and cooling system cause it to work harder and shorten the system’s life. But, when an HVAC system is clean, it doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain the temperature you desire. As a result, less energy is used, which in turn can reduce your energy costs and save you money.
“Heating and cooling costs are typically the largest energy expense for most U.S. homes.”
-Environmental Protection Agency
Not only does a more efficient air duct system reduce energy costs, it can also improve the overall health and well-being of your family or employees because the amount of pollutants and allergens circulating throughout your property decreases.
At Blackmon Mooring, we pride ourselves on helping you keep your home or office clean. Click here to learn more about our air duct cleaning services.