In Illinois, we have cold winters and hot, humid summers that can lead us to spend a lot of time inside – are your indoor spaces as clean and comfortable as they can be?

One part of your home or business that may not get enough attention is your HVAC system ducts. Cleaning your air ducts can have many benefits. By ridding your air ducts of dust, dirt, pollen, and other residue build-up, you’ll prevent pollutants from circulating throughout the home. This will help everyone breathe easier, and will be especially helpful for members of the house with allergies or asthma.

Cleaning your air ducts can also create more efficient air flow, which means your HVAC system will operate better. This can expand the lifespan of your system and reduce the cost of energy bills. These benefits lead many people to have their air ducts professionally cleaned. The challenge then becomes keeping them clean. Here are some tips on how to keep your HVAC system as clean as possible.

Dust Regularly

The average home accumulates 40 pounds of dust each year. This dust can easily end up in your air ducts and then circulate throughout your home. To minimize dust build-up in your air ducts, dust regularly. Less dust sitting on the floor, in corners, and anywhere else in the house, means there’s less dust that can be pulled into your air ducts.

Change The Air Filters On A Schedule

A new, high-quality air filter can prevent dust and other particles from entering the air conditioning system. Over time, air filters get dirty and cannot function properly. By regularly changing your air filter you will keep your air handling unit, coils, and ducts clean.

Open Your Air Vents

The air vents in your home can be opened and closed with a small lever on the outside of the vent. Keeping your air vents open as much as possible will expand the service life of your ducts because closed vents allow debris to build up faster.

Prevent The Air Ducts From Getting Wet

There are many things you can do to prevent your air ducts from being exposed to water.  First, you’ll want to check in on your cooling coils often. Cooling coils are part of your HVAC system and they remove water from the air. If they’re in bad shape, water can accumulate and get trapped inside your ducts.

Next, you’ll want to make sure that your ducts are sealed in areas of the house that are not air-conditioned. This will stop unnecessary moisture from entering the system.

Finally, in the event of a leak or water damage, seek assistance immediately. Floods can be detrimental for not only air ducts, but entire HVAC systems.

Maintain High Air Quality With McMahon Services

Following these best practices will keep your air ducts clean for as long as possible. Eventually, however, your air ducts will need to be professionally cleaned. It’s like going to the dentist every six months. Even if you brush your teeth twice a day and floss every night, a dental hygienist is still necessary.

If you live in Chicago, Arlington Heights, Berwyn, Des Plaines, Evanston, Mount Prospect, Grayslake, Mundelein, Libertyville, Oak Park, Palatine, Wheaton, Naperville, Waukegan, Schaumburg, Skokie, and surrounding IL service areas and you’re wondering if your ducts need to be professionally cleaned, McMahon services can help you figure it out. Our team of technicians can come to your home for an inspection today. We’re just a phone call away.