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Everyone knows that the air we breathe today isn’t as clean as it used
to be or should be. Metropolitan areas like Indianapolis share a common
problem and that is dirty air. Whether it’s smog, dust, or pollen there
are a lot of contaminants in the air that can make life a little less
pleasant, and can even be a serious health risk. With all the concerns
about air quality a good rule would be to fight air pollution by
starting at home. More specifically, start by cleaning your HVAC
system’s ductwork.
Dirty air ducts aren’t likely to be listed as a
major EPA concern anytime soon, but there are plenty of reasons to clean
and inspect your system. A certain amount of dust and dirt buildup
inside ducts is normal and expected so don’t panic if you see dust when
you peek through your vents. But if you see evidence of rodents, mold,
or mildew it might be time to give your system a quick look to decide if
you might have bigger problems.
A major portion of duct cleaning doesn’t even
involve ductwork, and can be done by the homeowner, and that is checking
filters. An airtight duct system is only as good as the filters that
protect it. Many homeowners never think to check these filters, or don’t
inspect them as much as necessary. Most systems will have the main
filter installed somewhere around the system’s return air vent. This is
designed to be a customer accessible feature, and it’s meant to be
checked regularly. Most likely your return air is either in the lowest
level of the home, or in the attic or upstairs area. Once you locate
your filter it’s important to remove it gently. You not only want to
keep from releasing trapped dust and contaminants back into the home,
but also once you have the filter outside or in a closed place you’ll
want to see exactly what’s trapped in it. If you have mostly gray or
darkish gray dust and dirt then you’re seeing just what is expected. A
warning sign of a problem could be the presence of greenish particles or
patches, as this is likely a sign of mold or mildew. Your filter should
also be completely dry. A wet or damp filter is a sign of potentially
greater problems, possibly with your HVAC unit. If you find moisture in
your filter you should contact an HVAC professional and discuss your
next step.
Once you’re inspected your filter you need to
decide if it should be cleaned or replaced. If you can easily see light
through the filter then it is likely still in good working order and can
probably remain in the system, otherwise the filter needs to be
replaced. Some companies say that it is ok to clean filters with water,
but professionals generally advise to replace the filter. Water will
remove surface contaminants, and make the filter look clean, but most of
the trapped particles remain in the filter media. Even worse, water can
loosen these particles causing them to be released back into the home.
The best move is to replace the filter with a high-quality HEPA filter,
which is readily available at discount or home supply stores.
Beyond filter cleaning make sure there are no gaps
or leaks around the edges of the filter, check to see that the filter
properly fits the enclosure. Any gap will compromise the effectiveness
of the system. Users should also clean and dust vents and registers, and
looking into duct areas to make sure only the expected, normal amount
of buildup are present. If your inspection reveals any mold, mildew, or
vermin it’s probably time to get professional help. Contact a mold removal
expert. Putting it off risks your family's health.
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