Duct Cleaning in Seaford, DE
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Seven months of heating pushes air through the same ducts
Your furnace runs October through April here, seven months out of the year. Every bit of that heated air moves through your ductwork before it reaches a vent, and dust and pet hair sitting in the return get pulled through and pushed back out every time the system runs.
Sussex County has seen 17 winter storms and 198 damaging wind events over the past ten years. When the power drops in weather like that, the furnace stops mid-cycle and air stops moving through the ducts too. Whatever is loose in them just sits there until the system kicks back on.
- 7 months
- October through April, your furnace pushes air through your ducts
- 4 months
- June through September, your air conditioner does the same
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NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
- How often should air ducts be cleaned?
- There is no set schedule that fits every home. If anyone in the house has allergies, if you have pets shedding into the return vents, or if you just finished a renovation that kicked up dust, that is a sign to get them checked sooner rather than later. A contractor can look at the ducts and tell you whether they need cleaning now or can wait.
- Is air duct cleaning worth it?
- It is worth it if your ducts actually have a buildup problem, and it is not if they don't. Signs it is worth doing include dust that resettles on furniture right after you clean, a musty smell when the furnace or AC kicks on, or visible dust blowing out of the vents. Cleaning ducts that are already fairly clear will not improve your air or your furnace's performance. A contractor can check the supply and return vents before you pay for anything.
- What does air duct cleaning involve?
- A contractor connects a high-powered vacuum to the duct system, then uses brushes or air whips to knock loose dust and debris from inside the ducts as it gets pulled out. This covers the supply and return ducts, the grilles and registers, and usually the coil and blower compartment near the furnace. The system stays under negative pressure during the cleaning so the dust does not get pushed further into the home. Afterward the registers get put back and the furnace filter should be replaced if it is due.