Air ducts can easily help you circulate air and keep your premises at the required temperature. They can keep you comfortable indoors. However, that comfort will vanish if you do not clean the air ducts in a timely fashion.

The question which arises is, how to tell if air ducts need cleaning?

There are a few signs which can alert you to the need of air duct cleaning. We will cover them below.

How To Tell If Air Ducts Need Cleaning

The air ducts need cleaning when you notice a foul smell from air ducts, improper airflow, presence of rodents or insects, excessive dust, higher than usual electricity consumption, mold, and mildew growth.

Below, all these signs are explained in great detail so that you can detect them in time.

1. Foul smell from air ducts:

The accumulation of dust and contaminants inside the air ducts will lead to a foul smell. Since the air ducts circulate air in your premises, this foul smell will also spread at a rapid pace.

Whenever you notice a foul smell in your premises right after turning on the air conditioning unit, it is a sign that air ducts need cleaning.

2. Improper airflow in the premises:

If the air ducts need cleaning, they won’t circulate air appropriately in your premises. Some parts of your premises might receive proper airflow, whereas others might not, due to the blockage of dust and contaminants.

This is an easy sign to detect you need air duct cleaning. If some areas have the right temperature in your home and some don’t, it indicates that the air isn’t circulating properly and therefore needs cleaning.

3. Presence of rodents or insects inside the ducts:

Over a while, insects, as well as rodents, make air ducts their homes. If you notice any of these, it is time to get your air ducts cleaned right away.

To detect rodents and insects, you have to look out for things like:

· Insect Husks

· Shells

· Droppings

· Scratches

These might be visible not just inside the air ducts but around the openings as well. If you notice any of these, it is time to call the professionals to clean the air ducts.

4. Excessive dust on your premises:

Air ducts that haven’t been clean for a long time will, of course, consist of dust. The air circulating through them will carry this dust as well. That is why, only after a few minutes of running an air conditioning unit, your entire premises might turn dusty.

The more you procrastinate on cleaning the air ducts, the higher the dust deposits in your premises. Soon enough, only after running the air conditioning unit for thirty minutes you will notice the dust on your furniture.

To avoid this, it is a good idea to get the air ducts cleaned.

5. Increasing electricity consumption:

With improper air circulation, the air conditioning unit will have to work extra hard to maintain the right temperature. In doing so, it will consume more electricity as well.

If you notice your electricity consumption consistently going up month on month, it might be a sign that air ducts and air filters are clogged and need cleaning.

6. Mold and mildew growth in and around the duct openings:

Improper cleaning of air ducts or delayed cleaning of air ducts leads to mold and mildew growth. Mold and mildew are not only present inside the ducts but also near the duct openings as well. If you notice any of these, you need to get the ducts cleaned by professionals right away. They are a health hazard, and therefore you cannot delay the air duct cleaning any longer.

These are the most prominent signs which indicate that your air ducts need cleaning. Once you notice any of these, it is time to call the professionals without any delay.