Do you really need an air duct cleaning? You can find out for yourself. There could be dust, debris, or even mold growth inside of your ducts that warrants cleaning to improve your home’s air quality and health. In this guide to inspecting your air ducts, we’ll tell you how to get in there and check for yourself.
Tools You’ll Need
In order to inspect your air ducts for debris, you’ll need these tools:
- Step ladder
- Flashlight
- Screwdriver to match vent screws
If you also want to inspect your air ducts for leaks you should have a smoke stick, incense or a thin piece of paper, anything that will sway in small breezes and is safe to hold up near insulation or other flammable things.
How to Inspect Your Ducts
Take your tools to a vent register and open it up with the screwdriver. You may find these on the ground, lower half of the floor or, if you are on a lower level, in the ceiling. Take a look inside with the flashlight. If you have a long bendable camera for some other purpose, like inspecting plumbing, you can use this to see further in the ducts.
Here’s what you are looking for:
- Thick dust or debris on the duct walls
- Mats of dust and debris that have accumulated over the years
- Discolouration inside of the vent in green, white, red, or black to indicate mold, mildew or rust
- A moldy or dust smell
- Water issues
- Anything in the ducts that shouldn’t be there
You can check all of your registers for these problems. Be sure to screw the vent back into place after you have finished your inspection.
If you’d like to also check your vents for air leaks you should make sure the furnace or central air conditioner is on and blowing air through the ducts. Then you can walk around your unfinished basement or anywhere you can access the ducts with your smoke stick or thin piece of paper. Look for air currents strong enough to feel either by your hand or from the movement of the smoke or paper. A professional can patch these leaks up for you.
Are you concerned about the indoor air quality of your home? Contact the industry expert at ClimateCare to schedule an inspection and duct cleaning.
Professional Inspections
The professionals can do a more thorough air duct inspection and solve other problems you might have with the ducts including leaks, clogs and unusual noises. They have the tools to open up the vents at more spots than just the registers and find hidden layers of dust and other debris that have accumulated over the years. Sometimes these have build-up, like a few inches of dryer lint, everywhere in the duct system. Although this may not always be visible from your position at the duct registers or vents.
Regular ductwork maintenance will keep your home in better condition and your air cleaner. It can also make your furnace and air conditioner more efficient.
Curious about your air ducts and interested in getting them cleaned? Our team at ClimateCare can help. Find your local ClimateCare today!
