It may not be obvious, but ventilation ducts are essential to having clean air in your home. Ultimately, it’s a health issue. Because the air in your heating and cooling system is circulating everywhere, you are breathing air that is periodically renewed. So if the system is working properly, you’ll have one less problem with it all year long.

The air in your home travels through the ductwork many times throughout the day. It is important that this air is clean, pure, of course, because it is the air you breathe. It is better to entrust the cleaning to professionals. There are many benefits… just for your health. Let’s look at some of them:

A cleaner environment

Professional cleaning eliminates the dust that moves around and ends up on your furniture, beds, and any other flat surface. Thorough cleaning of the ventilation ducts will keep your home clean over time; at least a minimal cleaning and dusting from time to time will be enough for a long-lasting clean.

Fewer allergens and irritants

It’s not uncommon for harmful contaminants and micro-organisms – such as pet dander, bacteria, pollen, mold, mildew spores, and other similar toxins – to appear in ventilation ducts. People who suffer from allergies, asthma, and other respiratory conditions know what we are talking about: they are the most affected by these airborne particles.

However, even if this is not the case in your home, certainly everyone will breathe better if the air is 100% clean. Dust and pollutants that enter your body through your nose and end up in your lungs often cause sneezing and coughing. And that’s not all: they cause sinus and bronchial congestion. This alone is enough to make the case that proper duct cleaning is essential to a clean and healthy environment.

Eliminates foul odours

The most typical sources of foul odors are pets, household cleaners, paint fumes, mold, tobacco smoke, and certain foods (when cooked). These odors go around the house again and again. On the other hand, the appearance of a musty odor coming from the ducts is a sign of an accumulation of old dust and dirt. There’s no such thing as duct cleaning. Unwanted odors will be a thing of the past, and you will smell a fresh scent in the air.

More efficient air circulation

Furnace and air conditioner airflow through ducts and registers with heavy dust and dirt accumulation can become clogged. So what’s the big deal? Your home’s heating and cooling system will be required to operate at such a high level that its efficiency will be degraded. The solution is simple: have a clean system.

Is it really that important to have your ventilation ducts cleaned?

It is not uncommon to forget that ventilation systems can be a source of dust, dirt, mold, mildew, and other health hazards. Even in homes with state-of-the-art particle collection systems, air returns contribute to dust accumulation in the home and settle on the ductwork. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to perform a thorough cleaning every five years for an impeccable house.

« But I guess I have an efficient filtration system? »

Whether it is a system for capturing particles in different forms, we can see that filtration systems are becoming more and more sophisticated. However, we cannot rely 100% on these systems. The non-replacement (or very occasional replacement) of filters, the presence of animals, air ducts that are not 100% airtight, explain why residues can accumulate in the ventilation ducts. Harmful particles can accumulate over time. These conditions are conducive to the development of illnesses such as coughs, sore throats, flu, and other harmful organisms.

How often should I clean?

There is no miracle cure for every case because the environment may change (possible presence of animals, smokers, large family, etc.). However, it will be beneficial to take into consideration some advice regarding the frequency of cleaning:

• Central ventilation system, every five years
• Heat recovery system, every four years
• Dryer venting system, every two years
• Bathroom fan exhaust system, every 3 to 5 years

Although it is not necessary to clean equipment every year, it is essential to perform a visual inspection once a year to schedule the next cleaning on time.

Did you know that…?

• “Dirty ducts can also harbor fungi, molds, pollen, or bacteria, invisible to the naked eye but potentially harmful to your health. In addition, by causing an imbalance in air circulation, they can cause an increase in your energy costs”.

Taken from the magazine « Protégez-Vous October 1989 ».

• “If your air ducts are dusty, the particles they contain are blown into the air you breathe every time your heating or air conditioning system starts up, or your air exchanger is running, and many people are sensitive to them”.

Taken from the magazine « Protégez-Vous October 1989 ».