Duct Cleaning
Some HVAC companies will try to tell you that you need to spend money on duct cleaning every three to five years. BUT we agree with the EPA that that’s excessive. We want your heating and cooling system to work efficiently for you for the lifetime of your system. So…
… if you’ve never had your ducts cleaned AND your home is 10+ years old, it’s probably time to get this scheduled.
Expert Advice on Duct Cleaning
Home improvement expert Bob Vila says: “Dirt, dust, and hair regularly pass through the HVAC system and can become stuck to the sides of the ducts. In small amounts, this debris doesn’t cause any harm and there is no evidence to suggest that it impacts the quality of the air within the home. In large quantities, however, dust and debris can create an air quality hazard, so it’s important to check the vents regularly and have the ducts cleaned if an excessive amount of debris is being blown into the home through the outlet vents. Additionally, consider having the ducts cleaned if there is a musty, burning smell when the furnace is turned on.”
Seven Signs that Your Home Needs Duct Cleaning
- Mold/mildew on vents
- Dust buildup on vents
- Furnace filters regularly clog (i.e., every few weeks)
- Dusty home, even shortly after dusting
- Airflow at reduced capacity
- Signs of vermin in your ducts
- Recent home renovation (e.g., drywall dust)
Pricing Determinations
- Size of your HVAC system
- Accessibility of your ventilation system
- Level of contamination within your ventilation system
After the Duct Cleaning:
- Use a high-quality furnace filter. We’ll help you decide which is best for you.
- Replace your furnace filter regularly. We can help, if that makes life easier for you.
- Vacuum and dust your home regularly. No, we don’t help with this one!
Individuals with sensitive respiratory systems or serious allergies should consider having the ducts cleaned more frequently to reduce dust and dirt buildup before it becomes excessive. It should also be noted that sharing your home with pets that shed will increase the amount of dust, dirt, and hair inside the vents, requiring the ducts to be cleaned more frequently.
Bob Vila
EPA: What to Expect with Duct Cleaning
- Open access ports or doors to allow the entire system to be cleaned and inspected.
- Inspect the system before cleaning to be sure that there are no asbestos-containing materials (e.g., insulation, register boots, etc.) in the heating and cooling system. Asbestos-containing materials require specialized procedures and should not be disturbed or removed except by specially trained and equipped contractors.
- Use vacuum equipment that exhausts particles outside of the home or use only high-efficiency particle air (HEPA) vacuuming equipment if the vacuum exhausts inside the home.
- Protect carpet and household furnishings during cleaning.
- Use well-controlled brushing of duct surfaces in conjunction with contact vacuum cleaning to dislodge dust and other particles.
- Use only soft-bristled brushes for fiberglass duct board and sheet metal ducts internally lined with fiberglass. (Although flex duct can also be cleaned using soft-bristled brushes, it can be more economical to simply replace accessible flex duct.)
- Take care to protect the duct work, including sealing and re-insulating any access holes the service provider may have made or used so they are airtight. Source