Three Times You Should Clean Your HVAC System

HVAC system cleaning is an often overlooked part of maintaining your home. Though cleaning the ducts and changing the filters may slip your mind, it can have a huge impact on the quality of air throughout your house. There are three situations where you should clean your HVAC system. Follow these tips and the air in your house will be fresh and easier on allergy sufferers!

After a Heavy Pollen Season or Other Allergen Infestation

The first time you should clean your HVAC system is after a pollen heavy season. Spring is the most common offender. However, each area is different. Some regions also experience a lot of pollen bloom in the summer or the fall. You’ll have to consider your local seasons to determine when it makes the most sense to get your HVAC system cleaning taken care of.

Pollen enters your home through the windows, doors, and even on your hair and clothes. Once it’s in your house it enters your air system. A good filter will catch it, but it’s easy for them to get clogged after a year or more of use. That leaves the pollen in your house to just recirculate time and time again.

The same is true if you have other allergies. Pet dander can also remain in a ventilation system long after the cause has been removed from the house. If you’re still struggling to breathe properly after your sister’s cat visited three weeks ago, it’s time to get your HVAC system cleaned. It can make all the difference.

After a Fire

In the wake of a fire, there’s a lot to consider. Your HVAC system cleaning may be the least of your worries at first. If you’ve only suffered a minor fire, or once everything else has been restored, turn your attention to this issue. Your HVAC system may track unpleasant, smokey odors throughout the house. Give yourself a fresh start by changing the air filter and making sure all the smoke residue and soot is out of your ducts.

Once Yearly as Maintenance

If you don’t experience a lot of allergens or fires, it’s easy to put your HVAC system cleaning on the back burner. While these are the most dramatic causes of odor and air congestion in your home, there are others. Dust can get into your vents and lessen the “freshness” inside. This can build up slowly over time, so you rarely realize how bad it is until after you’ve had it cleaned. Getting your ducts cleaned yearly is part of a good home maintenance schedule!

HVAC system cleaning isn’t often on your radar unless there’s something wrong. Getting a yearly cleaning will reduce the creep of odor into your life. An emergency cleaning after a fire goes a long way towards making your home pleasant again. Pollen and other allergens are also great reasons to clean your HVAC!