Maintain Your Ducts And Keep Them Free Of Contaminants In Five Easy Steps

Posted on by kerry

ductwork maintenance Long Island, NY areaThere are Simple Things You Can Do to Reduce Indoor Pollutants

Many of the contaminants that pass through your household air can end up settling in the various components of your HVAC system, such as your ductwork. With proper duct maintenance, however, you can reduce the presence of these contaminants in your home. With that in mind, here are five easy steps to help keep your ducts free of contamination:  

  1. Clean your home: Dust clings to floors and furniture, hides in curtains, and embeds itself in your carpet. Unfortunately, many cleaning methods do little more than stir the dust up, putting it back in your air, and eventually back in your ductwork. When dusting, use a damp cloth to collect dust, and if you don’t have one already, consider getting a vacuum with HEPA filtration.
  2. Maintain your filters: Your system’s air filters are designed to prevent particulates and other contaminants from entering and building up on HVAC components, such as your ductwork. In order for that filtration system to function properly, you need to inspect your filters monthly, cleaning or changing (depending on your system) as needed. Depending on your unique circumstances, these filter changes may be necessary every 1-3 months.
  3. Seal your ducts: If your ducts have become damaged or disconnected, they can actually suck unwanted contaminants into your system, and into household circulation. Leaky ducts also contribute to comfort issues, such as humidity fluctuations.
  4. Control humidity: When relative humidity levels are consistently above 50 percent, you may start to experience moisture-related contamination issues, such as the growth of mold in your attic, or even in your ductwork. Keeping humidity between 30 and 50 percent consistently can help improve comfort, and prevent moisture issues.
  5. Schedule annual maintenance: One of the best ways to keep your entire system contaminant free is annual system maintenance. During an annual service call, your technician will make necessary adjustments to enhance system efficiency, one of which is a thorough cleaning of HVAC components. This reduces the likelihood that contaminants will build up in your ductwork.

For more tips on proper duct maintenance, contact us today at T.F. O’Brien Cooling & Heating.

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