What to Know About Getting Your Ducts Cleaned

HVAC ​Air Duct Cleaning - Yes or No

You’ve heard the commercials for duct cleaning. Are they true? Should you get your air ducts cleaned every year? According to the American Lung Association, indoor air can be more polluted than what you’re breathing in outside. However, the EPA reports that duct cleaning hasn’t actually been shown to prevent health problems. Is duct cleaning worth the effort, time and money? 

​When to Get Your Ducts Cleaned

The EPA recommends having your ducts cleaned if you’re seeing these things:

• There is mold growth in the duct system or in the components of your heating and cooling system.
• Your ducts are clogged with dust and debris and you’re seeing particles being released into the air through your registers.
• Your ducts are infested with rodents or insects.

 
It’s also suggested to get your air ducts cleaned if you have to frequently dust or are getting a lot of dirt and dust buildup on your air vents. If someone smokes inside your home on a regular basis, you should consider having your air ducts cleaned. People with allergies or breathing disorders may benefit from regular air duct cleanings.​

​How Often to Get Your Air Ducts Cleaned?

You should get your air ducts cleaned when they get dirty. That depends on a number of factors. How well sealed is your home? What type of air filters are you using in your HVAC system? How well weatherproofed is your home? How well does your vacuum small contaminants? There’s no set timeline for getting your ducts cleaned. It depends on the indoor air quality in your home.

If your home is well-sealed, you may not need to clean your ducts as often, maybe every three to five years. If you have to clean them more often, it could mean that you have a leak somewhere which is allowing dirt and dust to accumulate in your air ducts. If there are no leaks in your duct system, the contaminants enter through windows, doors, by your pets and the people living there. 

​What to Expect During a Cleaning

Your service provider, an HVAC contractor, should inspect your system before cleaning the air ducts. Technicians will look for asbestos in the system and any other problems before performing the work. You can expect us to protect the carpet and furnishings during the cleaning. Ideally, vacuum equipment should exhaust outside, but high-efficiency particle air (HEPA) is effective for indoor use. Your technician should protect the duct work and reseal any access holes that were made. Soft-bristled brushes are recommended. The EPA offers a checklist to determine if your technician did a good job or not. It’s a good resource to have.

Let Us Help With Your HVAC System

If you want to make sure that you have fresh, clean inside your home, contact Next Level HVAC. We’re a Diamond Quality Certified HVAC contractor in Santa Rosa and Marin County. We’re licensed, bonded and insured, with an A+ BBB rating. Request an estimate when you contact us online for service. Like us on Facebook for information on taking care of your HVAC system all year round.