Air duct cleaning can be expensive—especially for a large commercial building. When paying the bill for your most recent duct cleaning service—or reviewing a quote for a duct cleaning service—you might wonder whether commercial duct cleaning is really worth the cost. Are the benefits of this service such that it is worth a routine investment to have your ducts thoroughly cleaned?
Why Air Duct Cleaning Matters
The answer is that, yes, air duct cleaning does matter, and is worth the cost. Here are a few of the reasons why keeping your ducts clean is a worthwhile—and necessary—spend for your commercial building:
- Dust and debris: Your HVAC system is continuously circulating and recirculating air throughout your building, whether in heated or cooled forms. Over time, it stands to reason that dust, dirt, and other debris—be it pet dander or pollen from the trees outside—is going to start accumulating in your ducts. Filters can catch some of this debris, but not all of it. The only way to fix the problem is to have your ducts cleaned regularly. Otherwise, your building is going to become dustier faster. The extra dust will not only create additional cleaning needs but will also aggravate allergies and cause frequent coughing and sneezing among the people who live or work in the building.
- Mold and mildew: Dust isn’t the only thing that can accumulate in your ducts and on your vents over time. Especially if your building has a humidity issue, moisture will make its way into the ducts. That moisture, combined with the dark environment of your ductwork, provides the perfect conditions for mold and mildew to form. Mold releases spores that will affect the freshness of the air moving through the ducts and out through your vents. The interior air quality in the building will suffer dramatically, with effects ranging from stale or foul-smelling air to respiratory infections and other health concerns for those who spend a lot of time in the building. Mold and mildew also trigger allergies and even asthma.
- Pests: Though far less common than dust and mold problems, pest infestations can happen in your ducts and are worth checking for from time to time. Anything from bees to mice to squirrels can take up residence in your ducts. Dead bugs, hair, excrement, and other byproducts of infestations then get circulated through your building and blown out through the vents. Regular duct cleaning can help you spot and address these infestations, as well as clean up the after effects.
- These issues can, in turn, bring about two major consequences for your building. We’ve already touched upon the domino effect of poor indoor air quality, but it’s worth a little more discussion. Air quality problems cause issues with allergies, asthma, respiratory health, and overall wellbeing. These problems reduce the quality of life for people in your building. It might push businesses in your building to look for office space elsewhere or result in high employee absenteeism due to sick days. Cleaning your ducts means cleaning your air, which paves the way for happier, healthier building tenants.
The other factor is HVAC efficiency. Commercial ducts are relatively large, but vents and returns are not. Over time, these systems can get clogged by the debris that builds up in your ducts. These blockages impede airflow through the vents. Your HVAC system doesn’t realize there is a problem with the ducts and vents; it just knows that the thermostats throughout your building aren’t reaching the set temperature. Thus, the HVAC system exerts more energy to heat or cool the building. In the end, you end up with less optimal building temperature and higher HVAC bills. Cleaning your ducts removes these blockages, improves airflow, and leads to greater temperature consistency, higher energy efficiency, and reduced energy spending.
The bottom line is that your commercial building is an environment, and there are steps you need to take to preserve the quality, comfort, and health of that environment. Regular duct cleaning is one of those steps.
Finding a Qualified HVAC Contractor to Clean Your Ducts
The good news is that commercial duct cleaning does not need to be—and should not be—a DIY project. There are HVAC companies out there that are certified, qualified, and experienced in air duct cleaning. These businesses have the equipment and the know-how necessary to access your ducts, assess their level of cleanliness, and provide an effective cleaning service. Whether your issue is dust, pet hair, mold, or an infestation of mice, the right HVAC technician will be able to determine the answer and provide a thorough duct cleaning. Just make sure to check certifications and read customer reviews before you choose an HVAC contractor to clean your ducts. You want someone who is up to the challenge of helping you maintain a large commercial HVAC system.