Winter Maintenance Tips for Your Air Ducts
What are some practical ways to maintain your air ducts in winter? Good indoor air quality is especially important in the wintertime, since your furnace is running and you don’t want fresh air coming in from outside due to cold temperatures. Winter maintenance for your air ducts can make all the difference when it comes to keeping your indoor air quality consistently fresh. Read on for a brief guide on how to maintain air ducts in the winter.
Check air filters
One of the easiest ways to maintain your air ducts during the winter is giving your air filter a quick checkup. If you’re noticing a lot of dust on the air filter, invest in a replacement. Rather than choosing a flimsy filter that needs to be replaced every month or so, consider upgrading to a HEPA filter. They last three months or more and trap tiny particles, significantly reducing allergens that can travel through your ducts and negatively impact your indoor air quality.
Inspect air ducts and vent covers
If possible, perform a quick visual inspection of your air ducts. In some cases, ducts may be covered by walls, floors or ceilings, but you may still be able to get an overall feel for their cleanliness and condition.
For exposed ductwork, make sure insulation is wrapped tightly around the ducts. Take your time and remove the vent covers in each room, checking for buildup or debris. If you notice any dust inside the vent cover, it’s time to schedule a routine duct cleaning to improve your indoor air quality.
Invest in professional air duct cleaning
Air ducts trap harmful allergens day in and day out, which means it’s always wise to schedule air duct cleaning if you feel your indoor air quality isn’t as good as it should be. Professional air duct cleaning involves cleaning intake, supply and return vents, heat exchangers, evaporator coils and the fan motor and housing.
During duct cleaning, your technician will use specialized tools, like high-powered vacuums, to agitate the dust and debris so it can be safely removed from the ducts. In some cases, they’ll also add chemical biocide to prevent mold growth or excess dust accumulation. Even if you change your air filters on a regular basis, you’ll still need routine duct cleaning to remove allergens and particles from your system.
If you’re going through the process of getting your air ducts cleaned, you should also ask your technician to make any necessary adjustments to your HVAC system, like tightening loose parts or adjusting pressure, to make sure it’s running efficiently. Your technician should replace any broken parts and give you some suggestions on how to operate and maintain your HVAC system throughout the winter season.
Understanding how to maintain air ducts in winter is best left to the experts. Contact Kenny’s Air Conditioning & Heating Services, Inc. today to schedule professional duct cleaning and remove harmful allergens from the air you breathe. We know what to do to help you maintain good indoor air quality all winter long.
Categorised in: Duct Cleaning