Get the Dirt Out of Your Indoor Air...and Save Money!

Posted on 10/03/2017

If your house is like most in America, you and your family pile up a lot of dirt during your day-to-day lives. As temperatures and humidity rise and fall over the year, the amount of dust, dirt and other pollutants in your home can increase.

Although modern homes are built to decrease air “leaks” to create an airtight environment and improve energy efficiency, this limits outdoor air from entering and freshening up home. Just by living normally, your family is creating a great deal of air pollutants, such as dust, pet hair, and chemicals from hairspray, cleaning products and cooking oils. With nowhere else to go, these pollutants enter the HVAC system and are spread throughout your house several times a day. As time goes on, this causes a buildup of dirt in your home’s ductwork.

How it affects your health

The dirt that is found in your ducts could cause serious problems for your family and friends with asthma and allergies. Many of these indoor air pollutants can also lead to irritated eyes, nose and throat, as well as headaches, dizziness and fatigue.

Your heating and cooling system acts as the lungs of your home, taking air in and breathing it back out through the air vents. When a system is working properly, it protects you from the pollution and dirt in the air. A good rule of thumb to keep in mind: if your ducts look dirty, they probably are and should be inspected by a NADCA certified HVAC professional.

How it affects your wallet

In addition to improving your indoor air quality, clean air ducts can save you money. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 20 to 40 percent of the energy used for heating or cooling a home is wasted. The buildup of dust and dirt in your system causes it to work harder and wear out sooner. Even with the use of filters, these systems can still get dirty through normal everyday use.

Who can help?

Start by finding a local NADCA member company. NADCA makes it easy with the find a professional directory, which allows you to search by zip code to locate a company in your area. Members have invested time and resources into specialized training and education, possess general liability insurance, and follow ACR, the NADCA Standard for the Assessment, Cleaning and Restoration of HVAC systems.