How Often Do You Need to Have Your Air Ducts Cleaned?

by Hannah Stephens

The grate for the HVAC return has been removed from the floor return and sits on the tile floor behind the open air duct beneath the flooring, air duct, duct, AC, air conditioning, heating, HVAC, heating ventilation and air conditioning, tile floor, tile, floor, AC return

You clean your home regularly, so it also seems logical to clean the areas you can't see. Air ducts typically accumulate dust, and you may wonder whether to add air duct cleaning to your to-do list.

However, professional duct cleaning can be pricey, so it's worth understanding the potential benefits before shelling out.

Do You Need to Have Your Air Ducts Professionally Cleaned?

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), air duct cleaning is often unnecessary. Research shows that air duct cleaning doesn't prevent health issues or reduce the dust inside your home because it tends to stick to the inside of the ducts. However, you should schedule professional air duct cleaning if you notice any of the following issues:

Vermin infestations inside your air ducts
Large amounts of dust inside the ductwork
Dust escaping from your supply registers
Mold growth inside the ductwork or other components of your HVAC system

Determining whether you have mold growing inside your ductwork can be challenging. Often, the only way to diagnose mold is to have a sample professionally tested. Laboratories typically charge around $50 (CAD 66) to test a sample collected on clear sticky tape.

Some air duct cleaning companies claim that cleaning your air ducts can help prevent seasonal allergies and other health problems. However, illnesses associated with poor indoor air quality can have multiple causes. You should consult your doctor if you're concerned about symptoms in yourself or a member of your household.

Certain air duct cleaning techniques involve applying chemicals to the insides of the air ducts to inhibit dust accumulation or mold growth. However, it's unclear whether these methods are safe. Therefore, checking how your duct cleaning professional intends to clean your ductwork is essential.

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How Often Should You Schedule Professional Air Duct Cleaning?

How often to schedule professional air duct cleaning is a matter of personal choice. Some homeowners have their air ducts cleaned annually as part of their regular home maintenance schedule. However, it's only necessary to clean your air ducts if you notice an issue that could affect indoor air quality.

What Happens If You Never Clean Your Air Ducts?

Generally, you're unlikely to experience adverse effects if you never clean your air ducts. On the other hand, problems such as infestations and mold growth can worsen over time. If you're unsure, consider scheduling a ductwork inspection with a reputable HVAC company to determine whether you need air duct cleaning.

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Can You Clean Your Air Ducts Yourself?

You can clean air ducts yourself by unscrewing the grilles covering the vents and wiping down the accessible areas with a damp cloth. However, achieving the same results as a professional cleaning company is unlikely because professionals use specialized tools. Attempting to clean deep inside the ductwork could damage the materials and lead to expensive repairs.

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