Well, the quick answer is definitely more often than before. Compared to adults, kids tend to breathe faster and are thus more affected by air that is full of dirt and pollution. Per unit body weight, kids tend to inhale more and are closer to the ground where polluted air tends to be. For kids under ten, a lot of the reason they are brought to the emergency room in the hospital is due to attacks of asthma, flu, and cold. People and children that suffer from allergies tend to do so due to the bacteria and fungi in the system of air ducts in their home.
The majority of cooling and heating failure is a result of dirt. Dirty ducts may even affect the elderly persons watching the kids and may make them prone to lung disease and allergies. Remember too that even 1 millimeter of dirt on a cooling or heating coil decreases the coil’s efficiency for more than twenty per cent. Most children spend between sixty and ninety per cent of their time indoors particularly when school is out for the season. At the same time, almost half of the allergies that people go through are caused by polluted indoor air. You might say that dirty air ducts create poor air quality indoors and this is a risk to your children’s health, not to mention your own.
When Was the Last Time You Had Your Air Ducts Cleaned?
If you see any part of your air ducts with grime visible on the surface, you may want to get a professional cleaning done. You might argue that maybe all the visible surface needs is a wipe-down. However, it will require an expert to get your air ducts thoroughly clean. On the other hand keep in mind if you have air ducts which are insulated and these happen to get grimy or wet, these should no longer be cleaned and instead, need to be replaced. In the first place, if the conditions of your air ducts are such that they are conducive to grime and bacteria, these conditions will recur if you don’t have them corrected. Rather than try and deal with this matter by yourself, it is best to call a trustworthy air duct cleaner in your area. Particularly when the kids are out for the summer and turn the air conditioning on all day, or if they are on their winter break with the home’s heating system used for what seems to be the duration of their vacation, it is a good idea to have the ducts cleaned before vacation time starts.
The Logic Behind It
Over time, it is only logical to assume that grime and dirt will accumulate in your air ducts. This is regardless of whether you live in the city or the country. When properly cleaned, your air ducts will operate and function properly each time you need them.
Longer Operating Life
Getting your air ducts cleaned or replaced as needed will in no doubt prolong the life of your heating and cooling system components. Not only do you get longer life out of your own home’s system, but you will also eventually be able to save on the cost of maintenance in the long run and energy. The reason for this is that clean ducts tend to translate to an efficiently running home system for heating and cooling. Since debris will no longer be clogging your heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, you can be assured that removing contaminants through cleaning will cause an overall improvement in the air quality inside your home. Every one of your family members will benefit from such clean air. In fact, the quality of the air you breathe will have a direct impact on your health and your daily life. It cannot be stressed enough how important it is to get your air ducts cleaned.
Air Duct Cleaning Frequency
The frequency in which you decide to get your air ducts cleaned will tend to depend on a few factors. For instance,  you will need to determine whether or not the home you are moving into has been occupied before your moving in. If so, then you will need to get the ducts cleaned thoroughly, especially if you are unsure when the last time the ducts had been cleaned. You will also need to get your home’s air ducts cleaned after remodeling or renovation of your home. The reason is that sawdust and other particles that are a natural result of construction may cause an obstruction in the air ducts. It is better to be safe than sorry. If you happen to have a lot of pets that shed large amounts of dander and hair, it is a good idea to get your home cleaned. If your household is composed of family members that smoke, or even if just one family member smokes then you will need to get your air ducts cleaned more often than usual. Believe it or not, the money you spend on getting your air ducts cleaned will probably be balanced out by all the savings you will be able to have on your monthly bill due to a much more efficient running system.
Getting your air ducts cleaned on an as-needed or a more frequent basis will be a benefit to every member of your household, particularly the children. If you have never had your ducts cleaned before or if you have just moved into your new home, why don’t you call someone who can assess whether or not your air ducts need a thorough cleaning?