The Benefits of Duct Cleaning Before Allergy Season Hits North Texas

Spring allergy season in North Texas can be brutal. High pollen counts from trees, grass and weeds trigger allergy symptoms for thousands of residents.

Keeping doors and windows closed can help reduce the amount of pollen entering your home, but allergens still make their way inside on your clothes, pets and whenever you open a door.

Once inside your home, pollen and other allergens will circulate through your HVAC system and settle in ductwork. Over time, pollen, dust and pet dander can build up inside air ducts, creating a constant source of airborne irritants.

Professional duct cleaning removes these trapped allergens, enhancing indoor air quality and improving HVAC efficiency. While not every home needs regular duct cleaning, it can be a smart investment—especially for households with allergy sufferers, recent renovations or excessive dust buildup.

The Most Common Airborne Allergens in North Texas

There’s a reason Northeast Texas has become a magnet for the U.S. population. Although we can experience extreme temperatures in summer and winter, most of the year is mild compared to much of the Lower 48.

Arlington and the greater DFW area lie at the meeting point of the Texas Blackland Prairies and Cross Timbers regions, giving us diversified geography and ecology that offers natural grandeur and countless recreational opportunities.

The downside to the mosaic of woodlands, savannas and prairies is the diversity and high concentration of local tree and grass species. As a result, Arlington has at least one allergen that affects nearly every allergy sufferer.

How Different Allergens Affect Indoor Air Quality

Not all allergens behave the same way inside a home. Pollen tend to stay airborne, meaning they get picked up by HVAC filters more easily—as long as filters are changed regularly.

Dust, pet dander and dust mites are more prone to settling in ductwork, where they remain trapped until physically removed. This means that even if the outdoor pollen count drops, contaminants inside your ductwork can continue affecting indoor air quality, which is bad news for people with pet dander and dust mite allergies.

Why Clean Ducts Improve Both Air Quality and HVAC Efficiency

Dust, dust mites and dander buildup reduce the efficiency of an HVAC system over time. This can cause air filters to clog faster and lead to more dust settling on HVAC coils and blower motors, which can reduce efficiency over time. Keeping ducts clean minimizes the amount of debris being pulled through the system, helping it run more effectively.

While air filters trap some contaminants, excessive dust buildup in ductwork makes it harder for filters to do their job effectively. By keeping ducts clean, homeowners can improve both air circulation and HVAC performance.

When Duct Cleaning Is Most Beneficial

Some home service providers overstate the necessity of their maintenance services. Unlike routine seasonal HVAC maintenance checks and tune-ups, duct cleaning is optional. Most homeowners will not need to invest in duct cleaning every year. However, it is useful when:

• You’ve had renovations or home improvement projects – Dangerous sawdust, drywall dust and silicate dust from tile or flooring work can settle in ductwork and get blown into the air.
  
  
• Your home has pets – Pet dander and fur accumulate in air ducts, especially in homes with multiple or high-shedding pets.
  
  
• Your household has severe allergy or asthma sufferers – Clean ducts can help reduce allergy triggers and improve breathing conditions indoors.
  
  
• Visible dust or debris blows from vents – If dust is being released into the air when the HVAC system runs, it’s likely time for a cleaning.

Are High-Quality HVAC Filters Enough to Prevent Dirty Ducts?

A common misconception about indoor air quality is that HVAC filters alone can stop allergens from circulating. While filters are essential, they can’t completely prevent dust, pet dander and pollen from accumulating inside ductwork. Once contaminants settle in ducts, they continue to recirculate every time the system turns on—until they’re physically removed.

Is Your Arlington Home in Need of Duct Cleaning This Spring?

Duct cleaning isn’t a necessary spring cleaning task for every household, but it can make a significant difference for allergy sufferers, pet owners and homes that have recently undergone renovations. In Northeast Texas, where pollen levels are consistently high, having Tom’s Mechanical remove trapped allergens from your home’s air ducts can help reduce symptoms and improve overall air quality.

You can learn more about our air duct cleaning services or schedule an estimate by calling us at 817-277-4493.