Good indoor air quality is essential to a healthy home. When dust, mold, fungus, pet hair, debris, food and even small toys clog up the ductwork in your house, they can cause allergy symptoms such as headaches, sneezing and itchy eyes and force your equipment to work harder — raising your energy bills and the possibility of a breakdown as well.

You should also consider cleaning your ducts if:

• You experience a musty or burning smell when you turn on the furnace for the first time
• You have family members with allergies or asthma
• You have pets, young children or several people living under one roof
• You’ve recently moved into a new home or completed renovations
•  A duct cleaning will help protect from dirt and dust being pulled into your new equipment