4 Warning Signs Your Air Ducts Need Cleaning

April 9, 2025

While most Cleveland, OH homeowners know they need to take care of their heating and cooling systems, many of them neglect the health of their ductwork. However, your air ducts are an integral part of your household. Any time you turn up the heat or air conditioning, your HVAC system must circulate the conditioned air all around the house via the air ducts. To keep this process running smoothly, you need to periodically get your ductwork professionally cleaned and inspected. Many contaminants can build up inside the ducts, including dust, mold, pest droppings, and others. When the air ducts get dirty enough, you will start to notice a variety of negative effects in your home. Here, we’ll cover a few of the clearest warning signs that your air ducts need cleaning. 1. Unpleasant Odors in Your Home The appearance of strange, unpleasant smells in your home is a common indicator of dirty ductwork. Because your HVAC system must push all of the conditioned air through the ducts, it’s inevitable that pollutants will get picked up and distributed throughout the house. So, if the ductwork hasn’t been cleaned in several years, there will be numerous contaminants for the hot and cool...

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How Often Should You Have Your Air Ducts Cleaned?

February 5, 2025

As time passes, dust and dirt naturally accumulate in your home’s air ducts. When your HVAC system runs, this buildup can be blown through the vents and into your living spaces. Scheduling an air duct cleaning with in Solon can help restore a cleaner, fresher environment in your home. When and Why You Should Schedule Air Duct Cleaning The National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) recommends scheduling air duct cleaning every three to five years for most homes. However, certain factors may require more frequent cleanings. For instance, if you have pets, you may have to schedule this service every two to three years because pet dander can accumulate quickly. If you have family members with respiratory issues, you may also benefit from more frequent cleanings to reduce allergens circulating in the air. On the other hand, if your home has recently undergone renovations, cleaning the ducts is essential to remove dust and debris left behind from construction. Alternatively, mold growth or rodent infestations in your ducts are clear signs that cleaning should be scheduled immediately to protect the health of your household. The Benefits of Air Duct Cleaning Air duct cleaning offers a range of short-term and long-term benefits....

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How Winter Affects the Air Quality in Your Home

November 12, 2024

Americans spend about 90% of their time indoors, with much of that time spent at home. During winter, this percentage increases even further, making indoor air quality a critical concern. Poor air quality can contribute to both immediate and long-term health effects. Here’s a closer look at how winter conditions can influence the air quality in your home. Higher Pollution Concentration Levels Pollution levels in the home often increase during winter due to several factors. For one, outdoor pollution significantly impacts the quality of indoor air, and pollution levels tend to be higher in colder months. Many homes and businesses run fuel-based heating systems, and vehicle emissions increase in low temperatures. Additionally, cold air is denser, slowing down its movement and allowing pollutants to accumulate. Temperature inversions in winter, where warmer air traps pollutants near the ground to prevent them from dispersing, can further increase pollution levels. Another factor is the airtight structure of many homes. Modern homes are built to be highly energy-efficient, which requires tightly sealed construction. While this reduces energy costs, it also limits natural ventilation, and this causes pollutants to accumulate indoors. Many homes rely solely on heating systems for ventilation, which may not be sufficient....

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Indoor Air Pollution from Cooking

November 20, 2023

Cooking is something that almost everyone does in their homes, but what people don’t know is that it contributes quite a bit to indoor air pollution. Let’s take a look at why home-cooked meals might be polluting your home and what you can do about it. How Cooking Adds to Indoor Air Pollution The reason why cooking contributes to indoor air pollution is because you’re burning foreign substances and releasing them into the air. You’re releasing natural gas into the air if you have a gas stove, and any food that you cook releases chemicals and particles into the air. The same goes for any coatings that might be on pots and pans to prevent sticking. Reducing Air Pollution From Cooking The good news is that it isn’t that hard to reduce cooking-related air pollution. First of all, make good use of the range hood above your stove. Turn it on whenever you’re using your stovetop, and make sure it’s in good working condition. If you don’t have a range hood, have one installed. Next, open the windows in or near your kitchen. Opening one window is sometimes enough, but try to open a couple of windows to create a...

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How Indoor Carpets Impact Indoor Air Quality

October 18, 2023

Wall-to-wall carpets and area rugs can certainly make a home feel cozier and comfortable underfoot. However, carpets can have a surprising effect on your indoor air quality. In fact, carpets and rugs are potential breeding grounds for a variety of indoor pollutants. It is important to clean carpets regularly and have your HVAC equipment maintained routinely to minimize poor indoor air quality. Read on to learn how carpeting can affect your home’s indoor air quality in Solon, OH. Pollutants in Carpets Sometimes, it’s hard to see what’s in the fibers of your carpet. Those tiny piles and loops are the perfect hiding places for all sorts of debris. Not only do inert particles cling to the fibers, but some living organisms can grow in and on carpets. This is some of what can hide and even live in your carpets: Volatile organic compounds (VOC) Dirt and dust Pet dander Pollen Food particles Moisture Dust mites, fleas, and bed bugs Bacteria Mold and fungi Every time you walk or play on your carpet, these irritants can become airborne and will negatively impact indoor air quality. This can result in allergies and respiratory infections. Caring for Your Carpets The first line of...

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5 Ways to Increase Indoor Air Quality During the Winter Months

January 18, 2023

5 Ways to Improve Your Home’s Indoor Air Quality in the Winter You spend most of your time indoors during the winter. Unfortunately, the indoor air quality of your home can plummet during this time of year. There are thankfully things that you can do to keep your indoor air quality as high as possible. 1. Keep Your Home Clean Keeping your home clean will improve its air quality. Regularly dust surfaces and clean bedding. Vacuum carpets and rugs with a HEPA vacuum cleaner once or twice a week. 2. Install Indoor Air Quality Products Air purifiers trap dust, pet dander, and other air pollutants. To remove air pollutants from your entire home, invest in a whole-house air purifier. This device is installed in your home’s HVAC system where it cleans all the air that passes through it. You can also have a whole-house dehumidifier installed in your HVAC system. This device will keep your entire home at an ideal humidity level. 3. Change the Air Filter You should schedule an HVAC company to tune up your furnace in the spring. As part of this service, they will change the air filter as needed. In the winter, check the air...

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Do Plants Help Indoor Air Quality

February 19, 2020

In 1989, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) published a study claiming that plants have a positive impact on increasing indoor air quality. The researchers brought in common, popular houseplants, such as snake plants and peace lilies, to see if they can act as natural purifiers. The researchers found that the presence of these plants reduced volatile organic compounds (VOCs), like benzene or formaldehyde, which are certain types of air pollutants. The Story Is More Complicated The real story, however, is much less certain. While certainly, plants may help, the researchers conducted these experiments in controlled, plexiglass chambers the size of boxes. Our homes are far from these regulated chambers. In reality, good ventilation systems, which exchange indoor and outdoor air continuously, accounts for VOC removal in practice. It turns out, that while plants can improve indoor air quality, they are no substitute for quality air conditioning and ventilation systems because they simply filter too slowly. We at can install your air quality systems in Cleveland and across Northeast Ohio. Plants Help, but They Cannot Substitute Quality Air Conditioning So, do plants help improve air quality? In theory, they do. However, in real-life, their effects are very limited. An...

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