So you have done your research about air duct cleaning. Some say to have the ducts cleaned while others say not, but the film of dust on the return air grille is screaming at you that there has got to be more of that stuff inside the vent system. Unless your home is super dusty (lots of carpet, rugs, pets, or all of the above) seeing a film of dust on vents could be a sign of what’s going inside the arteries of your HVAC system (if you’re not sure, call a trusted air duct cleaning specialist for an evaluation). The only question remains when is the best time of year for air duct cleaning in NJ?

Think: When Is My HVAC Being Used The Least?

One of the factors that go into identifying when the timing is right for duct cleaning is the practical part of a typical service call. Try and imagine a technician turning on and off the air conditioning on a hot 90° summer day. The last thing any homeowner wants is for the cooling system to be turned off allowing the inside temperature to rise. As we all know that once the temperature in a home goes above 78° degrees it becomes a real challenge to cool the home down. Turning off the air conditioning on a hot day can impact the comfort of your home. 

Duct Cleaning During The Fall Is Opportune

When identifying an opportune season for air duct cleaning we need to take into account three things; location, average high, and average low. Here in New Jersey during the fall months the average high temperature ranges between 67°F to 50°F with average low between 57°F to 44°F. Rarely does the daily high exceed 74°F (of course while this article is being written it is currently 80°F on a fall day), and the daily low subseeds 36°F.   

Since the temperature in The Garden State during fall is relatively pleasant, naturally the HVAC system will not be used as much. Therefore when a professional duct cleaning service comes to your home and turns off the system most people won’t even notice it. The technicians could then do their work properly without having the home’s air comfort compromised.  

Another benefit of cleaning air conditioning ducts during the fall is that the venting system will be ready for the cold winter months. Having the ducts clear of any unwanted dust and debris allows for proper circulation of heat on a cold winter night. At the same time the heating system will work more efficiently without having to work as hard to warm the home. Efficacy can also be defined in layman’s terms as lower heating bills.   

Why Does My Home’s HVAC Need To Be Off During Duct Cleaning? 

To successfully complete the task of fall duct cleaning, all vents need to be completely sealed with vent film duct masking tape. Once all the vents are properly sealed, the duct cleaning master will then check to see that they have no air leakage at all. During the air duct cleaning process the entire HVAC system is placed under continuous negative pressure (vacuum) to prevent the spread of contaminants. This alone will not suffice for loosening the alien particles that hug the ducts which is why a sensitive tool that snakes through the ducts is used. The tandem team of negative pressure and a non-abrasive duct cleaning pressure will ensure that ducts are cleaned thoroughly for efficient operation. 

The buildup of negative pressure is vital to the success of the HVAC duct cleaning. Not having the vents in the home properly sealed can result in a loss in negative pressure and even worse the disbursement of alien particles into the living areas. Unfortunately this happens quite often when unlicensed air duct cleaning professionals are hired or homeowners attempt to clean ducts on their own. The last thing anyone would want is to hire a duct cleaning company and cause harm to the inhabitants, especially seniors and children with lower respiratory tolerance. 

Who Hasn’t Heard of Spring Duct Cleaning?

Having your ducts cleaned in the spring makes lots of sense due to the fact that the heat has been pumping all winter long. HVAC systems need to work very hard in order to maintain an indoor temperature that is comfortable. As it gets  colder outside, so does the climate in one’s home. On a cold winter night where there is a daily low of 30°F a HVAC system needs to climb by 40°F to get the home to a room temperature of 70°F. That’s a big climb of 40°F, and if you have loved ones that can’t stand the cold you might need to raise the heat even higher. On the contrary, during the summer months a hot home at 80°F just needs to descend by 10°F to get to room temperature.    

Over the course of the winter months the air duct usage increases in order to maintain a relatively comfortable temperature in the home. All that give and take allows unwanted elements like dust and particles to get into the ducts. The main factor is its usage and that is why a spring duct cleaning is recommended. Just make sure that your system truly warrants a professional air duct cleaning and not sold by some salesman.          

How Can I Prevent My Heating System From Working So Hard During The Cold Winter Months?

Prior to answering this question we need to understand that there are a few ways to heat a home. Though other ways like oil and propane heat are available the most common way to heat a home in the United States of America is through a natural gas furnace. Every time the thermostat senses a drop in temperature you will hear the furnace ignite, followed by the disbursement of warm air throughout the living spaces.   

 Heating a home via natural gas is  most economical for homeowners lowering energy bills by ensuring that there is no added cold air getting into the home. Often it is the most common entries where the cold air gets in and a little weather protection can make a big difference.

The Front Door: Taking a beating is an understatement but in reality the front door gets opened, closed, slammed, kicked, and bumped countless times a day. All that wear and tear takes a toll on how it sits flush within the lintel and cool air is allowed in. Sometimes it can get so bad that on a cold day one can actually feel a cool breeze as they walk by the entrance. The solution would be to buy a cheap weather strip that will fill the compromised space and keep the door sealed shut when it’s closed.      

Windows: In most cases one can assume that the window is closing flush and the only air getting in is via the glass pane. Manufacturers give their promise that no cold air will get through but as you put your hand against the window it’s cold. No need to purchase any expensive weathering kit, you can use any plastic sheet. Simply cover the window with as many layers that would suffice for a quality seal and tape all around. After that take a blow dryer on a low heat setting and blow to allow the plastic to contract, giving it a snug fit. It might not look pretty but it should do the job in keeping the cold air out.

Cold Attic Air: Ever go up to the attic during the winter? It’s pretty much like the temperature outside. Assuming that your attic is not a conditioned space and like most people’s attics, they are made to allow warm air to vent during the summer. That venting system is open during the cold winter months and all that air goes into the attic. Contractors install insulation on the bed of the attic but there are many places like ceiling vents and cracks that the cold air can penetrate into the living areas. One needs to identify these spots and plug them up to the best of their ability.    

Final Words

The fall is the best time of year to get those dirty air ducts cleaned since the HVAC usage is at its minimum. Having your air conditioning turned off won’t really bother you on a 58°F fall day. Just be certain that you use a licensed and reputable air duct cleaning company that will give you an honest opinion if your ducts really need to be cleaned. If you are not able to get them cleaned during the fall the next best season is spring. After a long cold winter it’s quite common for those ducts to accumulate dust and unwanted elements and spring duct cleaning would be a good idea. The idea is to get your ducts cleaned during a season when you don’t anticipate using your HVAC system as much. Here in The Garden State those seasons are fall and spring where the weather is nice and pleasant.