Should I Have my Air Ducts Cleaned?

Air Duct Cleaning
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Most homeowners have no idea what goes
on inside their home's air ducts. But the
fact is, they can become littered with years
of accumulated dirt, debris and allergens like
pollen, dust and pet dander.

Industry standards recommend that you have your air ducts inspected every 2 years for cleanliness, and have them cleaned, on average, every 5-7 years. Of course, this will vary with the conditions in your home.


By having your air ducts cleaned regularly, you’ll help improve the indoor air quality in your home, and enhance the efficiency of your heating/cooling system, which may reduce energy bills.

This is an ad by a "typical" duct-cleaning service company.

If you don't know if your house has ever had its duct cleaned and you feel its time to have it done...let me give you some food for thought.
If it's been more than 5-7 years since you've lived in your house, it might appear to be obvious that duct cleaning would be needed. But that is not necessarily the case.  The Environmental Protection Agency recommends that air ducts be cleaned only if they contain substantial deposits of mold or dust, are infested with vermin, if family members have allergies or other respiratory ailments, or if there is a musty odor coming from the ducts. The EPA suggests consulting with the service that you use to maintain your heating and cooling equipment.

Health Claims and Duct Cleaning

It's true that cleaning out your HVAC or central air system can improve air circulation and safeguard your health in cases of blowing particles, mold growth, and related issues. What isn't so accurate is that cleaning your ducts can give you extroardinary changes to better health for you. The EPA and the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) warn consumers to beware of any company that makes huge positive health claims over a simple cleaning of your ducts. Obviously there are plenty of examples of how cleaning your system can benefit your health, such as curbing mold growth, blowing particles, allergens which may get blown through the system, and other health issues that can affect some people more negatively than others. Compare the claims of competing duct-cleaning services and hire the company that makes the most sense.

Firms that clean air ducts can also be consulted. Some may provide free inspections of your air ducts. But keep in mind that duct-cleaning companies want to sell their services and that their opinions might be biased. If you are handy, sometimes possibly check the inside ducts yourself, by removing a register and using a flashlight and mirror.

Air-duct cleaning can cause problems, especially if cleaning is done by poorly trained workers or the equipment they use is defective. Contaminants can be released by faulty vacuum systems, and clumsy work can damage the heating and cooling system. Therefore.... there is no definite schedule for cleaning.  For more information on possible problems and answers to other questions about air-duct cleaning, visit the EPA Web site...http://www.epa.gov ... and search for Air Duct Cleaning.

Another source of information worth checking into, is the Web site of the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (http://www.nadca.com).