When and how often should I get my ducts cleaned?

At least every 2 years. If you or one of your family members have respiratory problems such as asthma or allergy to pollens, or if you are living in relatively dusty neighborhood, you should clean your ducts more often.

Based on our experience, here are some guidelines in determining when to have your air ducts cleaned.

• When a newborn baby joins the family or if a mother expects a child. Even if you have cleaned the air ducts 2 years ago, you shouldn’t take any chances. Infants’ lungs are so small and sensitive that any airborne contaminants can immediately affect them. 
  
  
• Flooding or moisture problems. Duct cleaning could make sense if you have a problem with moisture in your ductwork. Moisture may result in mold growth in the air ducts. First it is important to solve the problem. Next, clean the entire ductwork system where the mold has grown and have the rest of the ducting system cleaned as well.
  
  
• New construction project. If you are moving into a newly constructed or newly renovated house, duct cleaning should be high on your list. Drywall dust, fiberglass pieces, sawdust and other construction debris can restrict air flow and cause damage. For similar reasons, duct cleaning is always advisable for older homes after renovations.
  
  
• If your house is cold or drafty. If you experience problems with the furnace airflow, duct cleaning could uncover significant blockages. You should have the ducts cleaned before you pursue additional expensive solutions like duct work replacement or air duct rerouting to solve an airflow problem. Furnace cleaning and air conditioning component cleaning (e.g. furnace fan blower, air conditioning coil, humidifier, furnace heat exchanger, etc.) have also proved to make a huge difference in air flow.
  
  
• Visible inspection of air ducts. Although the hidden components within your heating and cooling systems are often the dirtiest parts, if you see that your exposed vents are dirty, just imagine how dirty the rest of the ductwork system is. If you look into the cold air return registers and see an accumulation of dust and debris in the air ducts, you may want to have it removed. Research has shown that cold air return air ducts which are relatively big and have slow moving air, are generally much dirtier than the supply ducts.
  
  
• If you have household pets. Households with hairy pets may find it necessary to inspect their return air ducts more frequently. Pet hair and pet dander, toys, food items and even feces matter seem to all find their way into the air ducts. If you have pets or small children, you may want to plan on more frequent duct cleaning.
  
  
• If any of the situations listed above have helped you determine whether you should clean your ducts now, please contact us and schedule a duct cleaning appointment at your convenience, using our online form.