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Is Air Duct Cleaning Worth It for Riverside Homes?

If you’re dealing with excess dust, allergy flare-ups, musty odors, or weak airflow, you might be wondering if air duct cleaning is worth it. In Riverside, where dry weather, wildfire smoke, and seasonal allergens impact air quality, keeping your ductwork clean is essential for a healthier home and an efficient HVAC system.

Over time, dust, pet dander, and mold spores accumulate in your ducts, circulating throughout your home and affecting indoor air quality. So, should you invest in professional duct cleaning? Let’s break it down.

Signs Your Air Ducts Need Cleaning

Your air ducts don’t need cleaning every year, but certain signs indicate it’s time for a professional inspection:

  • Excess dust buildup around vents, furniture, and surfaces – even after cleaning.
  • Increased allergy or asthma symptoms from airborne pollutants trapped in the ductwork.
  • Musty odors come from vents, which could signal hidden mold growth.
  • Uneven airflow or weak heating and cooling in different rooms.
  • Higher energy bills, meaning your HVAC system is working harder than it should.

How Riverside’s Air Quality Affect Your Ducts

Riverside’s dry climate and frequent wildfires contribute to high levels of airborne dust and soot, which can settle inside your ductwork over time. In addition, seasonal pollen spikes in the spring and fall make clean air ducts even more important for allergy sufferers.

Without proper cleaning, clogged ductwork can worsen indoor air quality, trapping pollutants and recirculating them throughout your home. Removing this buildup helps improve air circulation and reduces respiratory irritants.

What Happens If You Never Clean Your Air Ducts?

Neglecting your air ducts can lead to a variety of air quality and HVAC performance issues, including:

  • Mold Growth – Humid conditions inside ducts create a breeding ground for mold, which releases airborne spores that can trigger respiratory problems.
  • Higher Energy Bills – Blocked airflow makes your HVAC system work harder, consuming more energy and increasing utility costs.
  • Lingering Odors – Pet dander, dust, and debris trap stale smells, making it difficult to maintain fresh indoor air.
  • Worsening Allergies – Pollen, dust mites, and other allergens continuously circulate, triggering year-round allergy symptoms.

How Often Should You Schedule Duct Cleaning?

Experts recommend professional duct cleaning every three to five years, but homes in Riverside may need more frequent cleaning due to:

  • High dust and pollution levels from local construction, wildfire smoke, and dry air.
  • Pets that shed dander and hair, which accumulate in ductwork.
  • Recent home renovations, which generate dust and debris.
  • Severe allergy symptoms that worsen when airborne particles circulate indoors.

A professional ductwork inspection can determine whether your home needs cleaning sooner, especially if you notice dust buildup, weak airflow, or worsening allergies.

Breathe Easier With Dragonfly Heating & Cooling

So, is air duct cleaning worth it? Absolutely.

At Dragonfly Heating & Cooling, we specialize in HVAC maintenance and indoor air quality solutions to keep Riverside homes comfortable and healthy.

Are you ready to enjoy cleaner, healthier air in your home? Call us today at (951) 684-0880 to schedule your services in Riverside!

8 Signs You Should Replace Your Ductwork in Your Riverside, CA Home

One of the most vital systems in your home is the HVAC unit. The air ducts determine how well this system functions because they transport warm air into cold rooms and cool air when the temperatures are above normal. Unfortunately, these ducts are liable to wear out after some time, resulting in a very uncomfortable home. To avoid this, here are some of the things you should watch out for to determine if your ductworks need replacement.

1. THE PERIOD OF TIME IT HAS BEEN IN USE

Damage caused by aging is inevitable. When your ductwork is transporting hot air, it will expand due to the heat. Similarly, it contracts when transporting cold air. This repeated contraction and expansion alone is enough to make it grow old and brittle, which could ultimately lead to holes, gaps, and cracks on its body.

A duct system that has been maintained well over its years in use will last for approximately 10 to 20 years. Good maintenance involves regular inspections, cleaning, and repairing damages immediately they occur. Failure to do either of these will fasten the damage process of your ductwork. However, the basic rule of thumb is replacing your ductwork after every 15 years of use. Don’t wait until it’s totally worn out.

2. WHEN YOU NOTICE THE PRESENCE OF MOLD

Mold infestation is one of the major complaints in homes. You can find them anywhere in your home, such as your pool, bathroom, basement, wall, including your ductwork. Molds spores can be carried in the air; therefore, when your unit sucks in air to warm it up or cool it, mold finds a way to get into your ductwork. For mold to form a colony, it will need water and food. Water droplets that accumulate inside the ducts are plenty enough for mold to flourish. And they will use dirt, dead skin cells, and dead insects trapped inside as their source of food.

Mold infestation in your duct is hazardous because it puts you and your entire family at a health risk. Breathing in the spores will cause headaches, breathing problems, skin irritation, itchy eyes, nasal congestion, sneezing, coughing, and other allergy-related symptoms that only get worse with time. You can detect mold visible or by their odor. Usually, they appear white, black, or green and produce a strong, musty odor.

3. VISIBLE DAMAGES

You can also spot physical damages on your ducts by visually inspecting them. You will often find that the segments that run through your garage or attic are prone to damages. The situation gets worse when you are used to storing things on top or exposed parts of the ducts. Continuous storage will make the duct brittle and could eventually collapse or crush.

Also, duct segments near sections of your house that were recently renovated are liable for damages. Dent on the duct could restrict airflow, or they start to leak. Of course, you can repair small damages. However, if it is too much, you should replace the entire ductwork.

4. INEFFECTIVE DESIGN

If your ducts were installed over a decade ago, chances are their design is outdated and could be either causing you huge bills or doesn’t cool or warm your house as required. Old ductworks have major design flaws. You will find some of them with improper insulation, unnecessary twists and kinks, or uneven heating and cooling in your home.

Ductwork with sharp bends impedes the flow of air from reaching the vents. If the size is too large, your HVAC unit will fail to heat or cool the air indoors adequately. And if the distance between the delivery event and the HVAC unit is too long, there will be heavy energy losses, and you will be giving the HVAC unit too much work. Dragonfly Heating & Cooling can help you in building a great design that is both effective and energy-efficient.

5. DECLINING AIR QUALITY

Indoor air quality is affected by multiple parts of the entire HVAC system. However, ducts are the major culprit. Dust particles, pollen, and pet dander will often get trapped inside the ducts. So even after changing your filters, the air flowing through the ducts will pick up these particles and spread them in all your rooms. Also, as mentioned earlier, pollen and dust particles provide perfect conditions for mold to grow and spread in the duct. The bigger they get, the worse the indoor air quality becomes.

Moreover, leaky ducts can pick up particles and distribute them throughout your house. So, if a dead rat or possum is lying close to your home, or any other foul-smelling things, the filtration system won’t be able to freshen that air. Bad odors can also be caused by back-drafting. This is when a leaky duct causes the reversal of the ordinary direction of airflow. Carbon monoxide from combustion appliances will be sent to your rooms. You should call for help immediately when this happens because continuous exposure to carbon monoxide can cause serious health problems.

6. INCREASING ELECTRICITY BILLS

Any problem with your duct always translates to the bills you pay. For example, a poorly designed duct system will overwork the HVAC unit, leading to high energy requirements. Also, if air is leaking, the thermostat will force the system to work harder to heat or cool the house, leading to high energy consumption.

You should take note of the amount of money that you pay monthly for electricity bills. When you notice a sudden rise, then something is spending more energy than it is supposed to. You can contact Dragonfly Heating & Cooling to inspect the source of the spike. The source of the problem could be your other electronics or parts of your HVAC system besides the duct.

7. PEST INFESTATION

During the cold nights of winter, or the extremely high temperatures in summer, pests will often look for a comfortable place to shelter, and for most of them, your duct is the perfect spot. It has perfect temperatures despite the conditions outside. They are undisturbed and dark—exactly what pets are looking for. If there is a leak somewhere in the duct, pets will crawl through, causing blockages in your duct systems. Some may even fail to find their way out and end up dying, causing awful smells that are very difficult or almost impossible to locate the source. Other problems with pests include weird noises in the house and the spread of bacteria and microbes that you have no idea where it came from.

Do a thorough inspection of your ductwork to see if there are holes that can allow pests. Also, cover your vents with a mesh that will prevent any animal from getting in. if the damages appear too server for repairs, then it is time to replace your ductwork. Consult with us if you need any professional help.

8. WHEN MAKING UPGRADES

If you are installing a new air conditioner or furnace, some parts or the entire ductwork system may require replacement or adjustment. This is particularly common if you are getting a new model that is not compatible with your current duct system.

If you have any problems with your duct, either repair or replace it immediately. Postponing the process will only lead to more serious problems, including serious health issues. Our technicians are qualified to give you tailored solutions to any type of problem you are facing. Call Dragonfly Heating & Cooling of Riverside, CA, today to inspect, repair, or replace your duct system.

Great business and they have employed very polite and capable technicians.
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I always request Dustin, who has been doing regular annual maintenance on our mini split AC/heating system in our tenant's unit for years since it first had leaking issues. He takes pride in the work he does and takes his time to do a thorough job. Not many companies work on mini splits, so I was happy to find a reliable company I can call when needed. He was also able to flush my water heater as well and make sure everything was running smoothly. Everyone at Dragonfly has been really friendly and I highly recommend this company.
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Excellent experience and excellent employee's
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Excellent service and communication. Professional and friendly technician.
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Always great fast service at a fair price !
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They are very nice and professional
Response from the owner:Thanks for the 5 stars Rose!!!
Dustin did a great job diagnosing and fixing my heater, which had a bad connection. He was professional, efficient, and took the time to explain the issue. He also recommended swapping out the board while we still have time, which I appreciate. Solid service and honest advice—definitely recommend!
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Got a concrete patio put in where my condenser units were and Dragon Fly came out to lift my units while the pad was poured. My concrete guy didn’t even realize that was an option. Super friendly and professional staff. Highly recommend these guys.
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Excellent job, excellent service...wonderful staff.
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