What is an Air Duct?
One of the greatest things about modern life is our ability to change our indoor environment to suit our needs or taste. For those who like it cooler running the A/C in the summer can provide much-needed relief. Some, on the other hand, prefer to run a little more on the warm side, and these people may crank up the heat even in early fall. Most people never think about the complexity behind how your home or office is being delivered this amazing service.
Throughout almost every modern building is a series of air ducts. The air duct delivers air to and from every part of the building, and also feeds to and from the HVAC unit which is responsible for cooling and conditioning the air. There are a variety of different materials and styles of ducts, but the most common in homes and offices is typically some kind of aluminum or steel. There are also sometimes various types of plastic or PVC ducts as well, but these are less common in the residential setting.
The air ducts that are throughout your home or office building include a number of additional features that can help further improve their function and your comfort. For example, some air ducts include some form of sound dampening, which can be as simple as rubber washers that space the ducts away from the frame of the house, all the way to special insulation to block the sound.
Once air ducts are built into a house they can generally run for quite some time without needing too much intervention. That being said, there is one service that is needed on a regular basis, which is air duct cleaning. Once a year or so it is good to have professional cleaners come into your home to inspect and clean the ducts. If you notice symptoms of allergies or that your house needs dusting more often than it should then it is likely time to have your ducts cleaned. For information about affordable and certified duct cleaning in Chicago, IL call Air Flows Duct Services INC at 866 494-6778.
The History of the Air Duct
Air ducts play a hidden, behind the scenes role in making modern life so comfortable. If you’ve ever been without air conditioning in the summer then you know what it’s like to miss out on one of the greatest amenities of the modern world. Despite their importance, however, they rarely get the attention they deserve, so today we’ll look at the beginnings of the humble air duct.
The earliest forms of what we would today recognize as air ducts were believed to sprout up in two places simultaneously. Around the 7th century in both China and Greece large chimneys were being constructed into houses that would carry exhaust from a fireplace out of the building safely, visit move-central.com. Between that time and the 1930s nothing much changed, the only real form of air duct that was in most buildings was simply a chimney which vented smoke from the heating system. In 1930 however, that all changed when Freon was developed.
Freon is what allows air conditioning units to draw heat and moisture out of the air. Originally this breakthrough leads to the window AC units that are less common today. Eventually, these window units gave way to central air, which is the series of ducts that run through most modern homes. As with the chimney sweeps of yore, modern duct systems still need fairly regular cleaning. Debris ranging from kid’s toys to pet dander can get into the ducts causing allergies, dust buildup, or even presenting a fire hazard. For this reason, even with very modern duct systems, it is recommended to call a certified professional to clean your ducts. If you’re in the Chicago, IL area then check out the affordable prices and free quote over at Air Flows Duct Services Inc. at 866 494-6778
Types of Ducts
Almost everyone is loosely familiar with air ducts, at least to the extent that they know the air duct is a pipe that is in their walls which carries air around the house. What many people don’t know is that there are a number of different types of ducts that can be in your home or office and that each type serves a special function, but sometimes requires special maintenance or other accommodations.
The most common kind of ducts in most settings are steel or aluminum. Both of these materials have all of the traits someone making a duct would be after. They’re both very malleable, meaning it is easy to work them into the shape and size of duct needed, and they can also be worked to go around corners without too much-complicated machining. Additionally, the aluminum ducts are very light, and both steel and aluminum are quite durable in these applications, as temperature changes won’t cause cracking.
Some office buildings forgo the standard metal ducts in favor of either fiberboard or fiberglass ducts. The advantage here is that the sound of the air conditioning unit can be more effectively dampened by the materials in the ducts rather than being reverberated around as it would be in a metal duct. Additionally, there are flexible ducts, which can often be seen as temporary ventilation on work sites. These are often made of fabric that has a wire wound around inside of it to give some structure and support to the duct. Flexible ducts are rarely intended to be permanent and are much more delicate than metal or fiberglass ducts.
No matter what kind of air duct is in your building it will need cleaning every now and again. This cleaning should be done by a licensed local airflow expert, which is you’re in the Chicago, IL area can be found at Air Flows Duct Services Inc. To reach them simply call 866 494-6778.
Air Duct Cleaning When?
Most people never think very hard about all the things that make it possible for them to live in the comfort of modern life. One of the greatest amenities we have in the 21st century is the miracle of air conditioning. No longer do we have to sweat it out in the summer and wear jackets indoors in the winter. We have the technology to make ourselves comfortable (indoors at least) year round.
The thing that really makes this all possible is the simple air duct. These ducts are throughout every building and are hidden from view, so very rarely given the credit they deserve. The even more miraculous part is that these incredible modern comforts rarely need maintenance. They can continue to run uninterrupted for years in many cases. Unfortunately, however, many people don’t realize the importance of cleaning the air ducts in their building.
All manner of things can work their way into air ducts, ranging from children’s toys to germs. The most common debris in air ducts, however, is dust, dandruff, pollen, and other potentially harmful allergens. Once in air ducts, these can be blown throughout a building irritating people with allergies, or potentially even causing a fire hazard if enough builds up within the air ducts.
Typically air ducts should be cleaned regularly, but there are several telltale signs that it is overdue. For example, if you start to notice that your house needs to be dusted more and more, then it’s very likely that you need someone to do some cleaning in your vents. If your allergies start to flare up worse than normal it can also be a strong indicator that you need to clean the air ducts.
To keep the vents clean it is best to contact someone in your local area who is licensed to clean and work on HVAC systems. If you’re in Chicago, IL contact Air Flows Duct Services INC for a free quote at 866 494-6778.
How often should you have your air ducts cleaned?
Air ducts are a vital part of providing some of the greatest amenities of modern life. If you’ve ever been without air conditioning in the summer or heat in the winter then you know just how unappreciated they are until they’re not working. Most people don’t have their HVAC units or air ducts regularly worked on, however, and don’t realize that regular cleaning is actually essential to keeping the air ducts in your home or office working properly.
Cleaning your air ducts regularly provides a number of advantages. For one thing, it will make your air conditioning and heating more efficient. The HVAC system will have to work less hard if the vents are clean and don’t have any debris that would provide resistance to the air flow in them. This can extend the life of your unit, make your house more comfortable, and could even save some energy.
In addition to the efficiency boost, it’s also very important for people who have allergies. If your allergies flare up it is a strong indicator that it is time to have your air ducts cleaned out. What could be happening is that there is pollen, dander, or other allergens trapped throughout your air ducts and now your central heating or air conditioning is blowing it throughout the building. This can be harmful to those with allergies or asthma, especially children and the elderly.
Another way you can tell it’s time to make sure your vents are clean is if you notice you’re having to dust or clean more often than in the past. This could be caused by the vents blowing dust out of the air ducts, much like the allergies. If none of these sure-fire signs appear, it is generally recommended to get your air duct cleaned by professional cleaners every three to five years. If you live in the Chicago, IL area and your air duct shows signs of needing a cleaning then you should get in touch with us at Air Flows Duct Services Inc by calling 866 494-6778.
How to find the best air duct cleaning companies?
Air duct cleaning is a very important thing for everyone, especially those who suffer from allergies or asthma. Children are also another important reason to ensure your air ducts are clean, as they can be especially sensitive to any dust, pollen, dandruff, or other allergens that come out of the vents.
Naturally, if you’re going to trust someone to come into your home and work on something that has such an impact on your everyday comfort you want to make sure they know their stuff. Luckily, there are plenty of ways for consumers and customers to protect themselves these days and ensure they’re getting what they’re paying for.
- Google Reveiws
Pretty much everyone is already aware of Google reviews, but they can be incredibly insightful. the overall star rating gives a good glimpse at the general experience people are having with a given company, but the reviews can offer more specific insight and can queue you in to the kinds of problems to expect if any. - Better Bussiness Bureau (BBB)
The BBB is a non-profit consumer protection organization that has made it their job to vet businesses and ensure they uphold certain standards and proper practices. They grade companies based on their performance in a number of metrics, and if a company has a high grade you can rest assured that they are a legitimate business who is skilled at their work. - Home Advisor
Home Advisor is a kind of curated online marketplace for homeowners to find professional services. All of the companies on the site are prescreened and approved by Home Advisor.
If you’re in Chicago, IL and want a company that ranks at the highest level in all of these metrics, then call Air Flows Duct Services Inc. at 866 494-6778 for a free quote.
Why is Air Duct Cleaning Important?
Air ducts serve such an important and underappreciated role in modern civilization. They keep us comfortable indoors year round and ensure a comfortable amount of airflow. If these vents get dirty, however, a number of things can happen, none of which are desirable.
One of the most obvious reasons to get an air duct cleaning is that it will improve the air quality in your house. The dust that gets into the air ducts can cause people who have allergies or asthma to have substantially more severe symptoms. As dust, pollen, dandruff, and a whole host of other debris works its way into your vents it will be carried around by your air ducts and eventually be blown out around the entire building. This can cause issues for people sensitive to these allergens.
Some people are more sensitive to the effects of these particles than others. If you live with children or someone who is elderly then it is especially important to make sure your air ducts are clean. Younger and older people can be especially sensitive to these kinds of particles.
Another benefit to cleaning out your air ducts is that it will actually mean you may have to clean less. One huge cause of dust buildup throughout a house is actually air ducts and vents. Just like how the vents will collect debris and then blow it all over the house causing allergies, this same process distributes a fine coat of dust throughout the house. This dust then settles on your furniture, causing you to have to dust and clean more often.
Finally, and arguably most importantly, is that dust inside your air ducts can become a fire hazard if allowed to build up for too long. If you’re in Chicago, IL and want to find local cleaners at an affordable price then call Air flows Duct Services Inc. at 866 494-6778.
The Benefits of Air Duct Cleaning
- Clean Less Often Over time if your air ducts are not cleaned it can result in a buildup of dust and debris gathering through the vents. The air ducts will then begin to blow this dust around the house, which can have a devastating effect on those with allergies or asthma. The ones most at risk of being affected by this are children and the elderly. If you’ve noticed recently that your allergies have gotten worse than normal it may be a sign that it is time to have your air ducts cleaned.
- Better Air Quality Just as mentioned before, if your air ducts are dirty enough to be spreading dust throughout the house that dust will eventually come to settle all over your home. If your home has been needing more frequent dusting than in the past it is another strong sign that your air ducts need a cleaning.
- Reduced Risk of Fire One of the biggest reasons to have your air ducts cleaned is that if enough dust and debris get caught in your air ducts it can pose a fire hazard. This is a hidden hazard since it’s practically impossible to know when it will get to this point.
