Frequently asked questions about air duct cleaning services
Over time, various allergens, dust, mold, and other airborne pollutants can accumulate in your home's air duct system. Air duct cleaning removes these contaminants to keep the indoor air in your home clean and safe. Professionals recommend that you clean your home's air ducts every three years or more often if you notice HVAC or air quality issues. The process requires skill and experience, which is why you should look around for air duct cleaning services in your area rather than trying to do the job yourself. Check customer reviews to ensure the contractor is certified by the National Air Duct Cleaning Association where possible.
Professional air duct cleaners use specialized tools and equipment, such as rotating brushes and powerful vacuums, to remove excess dust, dirt, and debris. These specialized contractors use this equipment to clean air ducts without damaging walls or accidentally loosening vital connections. If you try to do the job yourself, you risk not fully cleaning the air ducts and may end up causing unintentional damage to your home. Any damaged connection between ducts can affect your HVAC system's ability to function efficiently. Dirty air from your attic or basement could also enter your home's system and cause further damage. For this reason, hiring an air duct cleaning professional is the best way to ensure the job is done properly while giving you peace of mind.
You may be wondering if air duct cleaning is worth it. Particles and common airborne pollutants are blown out of the ducts of your heating and cooling system when it is running. Since you can't see dust, allergens, mold, or other airborne contaminants, you can assume that cleaning your ducts is a waste of your hard-earned cash. But if you or someone in your family suffers from sudden respiratory problems like allergies or asthma, or if your home seems dustier than it should be, it's probably because your air ducts are dirty. Some pests, such as mice and other small animals, also like to nest in air ducts. This is another reason why it is worth cleaning the air ducts in your home.
Another way to alleviate air quality concerns in your home is to change your HVAC air filter regularly. Use a special HEPA filter to capture tiny particles and allergens in the air, keeping the air in your home clean and safe to breathe. Some air pollutants can settle on surfaces that don't affect the air, such as furniture, carpets, and appliances. If you notice an unusual accumulation of dust, you should have your home's air duct system checked by a professional. These experts will determine if cleaning your air ducts is worthwhile or if you could spend your money in other ways to fix the problem.
Before you contact someone to clean your air ducts, make sure they really need cleaning. Look for these common signs that your air ducts need cleaning as soon as possible:
If you've recently remodeled your home, it's probably a good idea to clean out your air ducts. Dust from construction can easily get into air ducts and clog them.
If you haven't cleaned your HVAC system's air filter in a few months, mold, contaminants, and allergens can become trapped in the air ducts.
Visible dust settling on air vents or on surfaces in your home may indicate that you need professional air duct cleaning.
Look at your monthly energy bill and see if your heating and cooling bills are abnormally high. Dirty air ducts make it difficult for your system to regulate temperature.
Check the airflow in every room in your home. If airflow is uneven from room to room, dirty air ducts could be to blame.
Family members experiencing sudden, unexplained allergy symptoms may be dealing with airborne allergens from a polluted air duct system.
Listen to your HVAC system when it's running and listen for unusual noises. Loud noises can indicate that your air ducts are ready for a professional cleaning.
According to most experts, the air ducts in your home should be cleaned regularly to keep the air you breathe clean and your HVAC system running smoothly. These cleanings remove various contaminants from the ducts, including dust, mold, pet dander, and allergens to prevent them from entering the room air through the HVAC coils. Breathing dirty air can cause various health problems for the whole family, including your pets. Most experts recommend cleaning your air ducts every three years. However, you may need to clean them more frequently if you have pets.
There may be other times when you need an air duct cleaning, especially after completing a remodeling project. Home renovations can release a variety of particulate matter into the air, including sawdust and drywall dust. It is best to have a professional air duct cleaning carried out in your house after every major construction project. Unusual noises and odors emanating from your system may also mean you need an air duct cleaning before the age of three. Unusually high energy bills can also mean it's time to clean out your home's air ducts to keep your system running more efficiently. At the very least, if you notice anything unusual, you should have your air ducts checked by a qualified technician to make sure they are clean and unclogged.
While some claim that air duct cleaning is ineffective, it does have a number of positive benefits. First, keeping your air ducts clean can help reduce the amount of allergens and particles in the air in your home. When the air you breathe is clean, it can help reduce or eliminate symptoms of allergies, asthma, and other respiratory irritation. Keeping your air ducts clean also improves airflow throughout your home, keeping your HVAC system running smoothly. This should result in lower monthly heating and cooling bills because your system doesn't have to work as hard to regulate airflow and temperature. Regular cleaning of air ducts can also reduce dust in your home, saving you time cleaning and dusting furniture and vacuuming your floors.
If your air ducts have become a haven for rodents or other pests, cleaning them should eliminate the problem. Watch for signs of pests, including noise or droppings. If you notice these signs, it's always a good idea to have your air ducts checked and cleaned. When air ducts are cleaned, the process removes pollutants, dust, pet dander, mold and other allergens from the system. These particles are removed with a brush and then vacuumed off with high-performance vacuum cleaners. An experienced and qualified air duct cleaner will ensure your ducts are pristine and free from excessive contamination that could be causing some of the problems mentioned here.
The cost of professional air duct cleaning depends on various factors. Most qualified air duct cleaning companies charge clients based on the number of vents in a home and the vent configuration. The size of your home can also play a role, with larger homes taking more time and effort to clean. Your location can also affect the cost of air duct cleaning based on the availability of qualified professionals in your area versus current demand. If your home's air duct system has defective ducts, a rodent problem, or other issues, it can also cost more.
Contact a qualified air duct cleaner in your area and ask them to do an on-site assessment to get you a quote. The professional will inspect your air ducts to confirm that they need cleaning. Many air duct cleaning companies use a probe with a camera attached to the end. The probe is inserted into the ducts so the technician can see inside through a monitor. Other companies may have to drill a small hole in the piping to get a good view, but they have to seal the hole after inspection. The inspector looks for dirt, dust build-up, and cracks or leaks that can affect your system's performance and the cleaning process. Once the inspection is complete, the technician should provide you with a cost estimate for the cleaning.