It’s been said that your home is your greatest asset.  As with any investment, you will want to protect its value and guard against loss.  One of the most common ways to do so is to protect the heating and cooling system that maintains its comfort.

Reasons to Schedule Duct Cleaning Maintenance

The key to protecting your heating and cooling system is regular maintenance, including duct cleaning.  Here are a three reasons to add duct cleaning to your heating and cooling system maintenance schedule:

1. According to the EPA, cleaning heating and cooling system components such as fans, coils, and heat exchangers can help to improve the overall efficiency of your system.  In addition, this regular maintenance and improved efficiency can lead to a longer operating life and reduced energy costs.

2. Regular duct cleaning can help you maintain a tidier home.  Because the duct systems circulate the air throughout your home, if they aren’t cleaned regularly, dust is circulated in that air leaving a film on tabletops and similar surfaces.  This makes it a challenge to keep up the appearance of your home.

3. Cleaning your ducts regularly helps to eliminate the dust and other allergens that are drawn into your heating system through the return air ducts.  Irritants such as bacteria, mold and fungi can breed inside your heated air ducts and should be removed through regular duct maintenance for a more allergy-free home.

Duct CleaningBuck Sheppard, NADCA (National Air Duct Cleaners Association) president, recommends homeowners get their ducts cleaned at least once every three to five years.  The job should run between $500-$1,000 depending on the accessibility and size of the system, the local climate, and the level of contamination.  Any reputable contractor should offer to do a minimal cost inspection to diagnose and determine whether duct cleaning is necessary.

Ultimately, considering the improvement in efficiency, heating system life, home cleanliness and air quality, money spent cleaning ducts can be one of the easiest and quickest returns on your home investment.