Tips to Prevent Dust Buildup in your Ducts

Dust buildup on the walls and ceilings, and air vents in your home a frequent issue? This could be indicative of a larger problem. More than unsightly, dust buildup in these areas points to dirty duct work, neglected maintenance, and poor indoor air quality. Luckily, addressing and correcting the problem doesn’t require a complete system re-do.

How Can You Prevent Dust Buildup in Your Ducts?

• Put regular air filter replacement on your ‘to-do’ list.
  Dirt and dust buildup on your filter can easily lead to build-up within the confines of your ducts – and its distribution throughout your home. Home air filters require frequent replacement – every 3-months, at a minimum. Children or pets? Swap it monthly. This not only keeps ducts and indoor air clean, but safeguards system efficiency and lifespan.
• Consider how to improve indoor air quality.
  Contact an indoor air quality service to learn more about ways to improve the air quality in your home. The health of a building’s occupants is often reflected in air quality. Discuss HVAC system additions such as:
  • A UV air purifier.
    Adding a UV air purifier to your HVAC system is a great way to eliminate bacteria and other microorganisms from the air in your home.
  • Specialty air filters.
    Upgrading to a HEPA filter with a MERV rating of 10 or higher can remove many more airborne pollutant than standard replacement filters, reducing up to 97% of particulate contaminants in your home such as dust, dander, pollen, dust mite debris, and more. Just be sure to talk to your HVAC pro pre-swap-out. Tightly-woven HEPA additions require airflow adjustments to prevent system damage.
• Schedule professional maintenance.
  A professional air conditioning tune-up, once in the spring and again in the fall before seasonal temperature extremes put your system under stress, can identify issues that can affect indoor air quality and system performance, such as…
  • Dirty duct work.
    Dirty duct work can worsen health issues and allergies. Dust and dirt buildup on duct surfaces indicates the need for duct cleaning. Hidden out of sight, only a pro can identify this issue without potentially damaging HVAC components and rectify the situation with proper tools and safe cleaning solutions.
  • Mold growth.
    Mold buildup in ducts indicates your system needs rapid attention.
  • Pest infestation.
    Pest droppings and debris pose a huge health risk for home occupants.
  • Duct leaks.
    Regularly change your air filter and still experience excess dust? This is a sign of leaky ducts, which can seriously impact air quality and system efficiency. Are you paying to air condition your attic or crawlspace?

H&H Tip For Tackling Vent, Wall & Ceiling Dust

Once the sources of duct work dust have been addressed, don’t forget this friendly tip for quickly tackling dusty registers, walls, and ceilings: Dryer sheets. A quick rub-down with dryer sheets not only helps remove dust, but their anti-static nature aids in dust buildup prevention.

Toss the feather duster (and the tissues). Tackle dust and dirt at the source with the help of the air conditioning service and maintenance experts at H&H Heating & Air Conditioning today.

This blog was originally posted on https://www.delcohvac.com/tips-to-prevent-dust-buildup-in-your-ducts/