Fall is a Great Time to Get Those Air Ducts Cleaned! Here’s Why!

Most of us welcome the arrival of autumn with its brisk temperatures, clear blue skies, and brilliant displays of color just before the leaves fall. But the change of season not only brings cooler weather, apple picking, and pumpkin carving — it also brings a whole new list of home maintenance to-dos for homeowners. Leaves to rake. Firewood to cut. Gutters to clean. Chimneys to sweep. Lawns to winterize. And more. Seems homeowners have a never-ending list of things to do.

But there’s one thing many homeowners may neglect when it comes to all those home maintenance needs: indoor air quality.

That’s right. As Mother Nature ushers in seasonal changes, and we start to head indoors for a bigger chunk of time each day, the quality of our indoor air becomes more important than ever. That’s why the fall season is the perfect time to get your home’s air ducts cleaned! Read on for a few reasons why:

Improved Indoor Air Quality

Your heating and cooling system is the lungs of your home, and the bottom line is that air duct cleaning improves indoor air quality! With dropping temperatures right around the corner, we’ll soon be spending more time indoors huddled under blankets, with the windows closed and the heat blasting or fireplace burning. Over time, dust, soot, dander, and other indoor air pollutants will accumulate in our home’s air ducts. Plus, all that polluted air will be recirculated throughout your home every time the furnace kicks on. 

By getting your air ducts cleaned in the fall, you’re taking the steps to ensure that you and your family are breathing clean air all year long.

Increased Energy Efficiency and Savings

Contaminants in your home’s heating and cooling system cause it to work harder, which can ultimately shorten the life of your system. Even with proper use of filters, the heating and cooling system gets dirty through normal, everyday use. When an HVAC system is clean, it doesn’t have to work as hard to maintain the temperature you desire, so less energy is used — which can lead to lower electric bills! 

Reduced Allergy Symptoms

Spring may be long behind, but that doesn’t mean the end of your allergy symptoms. Did you know that fall can be extremely bothersome for allergy sufferers? The biggest culprit? Ragweed. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI), ragweed usually starts to release pollen in August when the days are still warm and the nights start getting cooler. It can last well into September and October. Even if ragweed doesn't grow where you live, ragweed pollen can travel for hundreds of miles in the wind. Can you say “ahchoo?”

Mold is another fall allergy trigger. While we know that mold can grow in damp areas in the house, mold spores also love wet spots outside. Piles of damp leaves and decaying plants are ideal breeding grounds for mold, and all that mold can easily enter your home. Yikes!

And then there are those pesky dust mites that can get stirred up in the air the first time you turn on your heat, triggering sneezing, wheezing, and runny noses.

Allergy sufferers should take extra precautions to avoid a spike in their symptoms during the autumn season, when the allergens mentioned above can enter homes, travel right through your air ducts, and then circulate throughout the home, potentially causing all sorts of health issues. 

Ready to Get Started? Look Out for Air Duct Cleaning Scams!

When it comes to the home improvement and repair industry, most contractors are honest and fair. But like any industry, air duct cleaning is not immune to scammers looking for opportunities to take advantage of unsuspecting homeowners. In fact, the industry is plagued with fraudulent service providers eager to cheat homeowners. 

With all the talk these days about indoor air quality, more and more households are exploring options for HVAC system cleaning. Understandably, budget-conscious families want to get the best bang for their buck, so all those special deals arriving in the mailbox can seem like a no-brainer. But it’s important to know that swindlers are on the prowl, eager to cheat homeowners – especially those concerned about the health and safety of their families. 

When it comes to air duct cleaning specifically, homeowners should beware of what we call ‘blow-and-go’ companies that hook unsuspecting homeowners with bargain-basement prices like ‘$89 whole-house specials.' It’s a popular marketing tactic that’s been hitting homeowners’ mail boxes for quite some time. But recently, posts targeting homeowners on social media neighborhood groups have been on the rise. In fact, it seems we see multiple posts for super-cheap air duct cleaning on various social media sites every single day, with users on Facebook and Nextdoor being the biggest offenders.

The bottom line is that these companies charge a nominal fee, and then do a truly inferior job, only cleaning what the homeowner can see near their vents, and leaving all sorts of dirt and contaminants deep within the system. Then, these deceitful contractors up-sell add-on services, persuading the homeowner to pay for unneeded services. For instance, they may falsely lead homeowners to believe they have mold or other toxic substances in their HVAC systems, or use scare tactics to convince a homeowner that urgent repairs are necessary.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), properly cleaning an entire system in an average-sized home will typically range in cost from $450 to $1,000. That should tell you something about those $89 whole-house specials!

Here’s How to Avoid the Scams

We all want our families to breathe clean, healthy air. When you’re ready to hire a company for your air duct cleaning, make sure you avoid the scams and choose a qualified contractor to ensure the job is done right – one with certified technicians up for the task. Members of the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) have technicians on staff with advanced training and certification in HVAC system cleaning. They’re the best-of-the-best when it comes to getting those air ducts cleaned!

In fact, we make it really simple for homeowners to find an air duct cleaning professional. All it takes is a zip code to search our online directory to find a NADCA member in your area!

Click Here to Find an Air Duct Cleaning Pro in Your Area!