Why Duct Cleaning may be Necessary in Your Home

Does your home’s central cooling and heating system need a duct cleaning? That’s not an easy question, and depends on several factors in your home. They can range from when’s the last time your ducts were cleaned to how many dogs and cats you own.

However, if any of several factors apply in your home, a duct cleaning probably is needed. Not only will it improve indoor air quality; it will allow your HVAC system to operate more efficiently.

How do ducts get dirty?

Look at it this way: Your home’s ductwork serves as the respiratory system for your home’s forced-air heating and cooling system. It distributes conditioned air throughout the house, and then pulls air back to the furnace or AC to be heated or cooled again. As the “old” air returns to the equipment, it brings along dust and debris that’s suspended in indoor air. This unwanted material contains

• dust mites,
• carpet fibers,
• mold spores,
• pet and human dander,
• chemical residue
• and more.

A significant amount of contaminated material may get deposited in the air ducts, accumulating over time.

Why are dirty ducts so bad?

As conditioned air is delivered throughout your home, it picks up a variety of contaminants from inside dirty ducts, resulting in dirty and unhealthy indoor air. The National Air Duct Cleaning Association has found that indoor air recirculates through a home five to seven times a day. Each time the air picks up more contaminants and redistributes them.

While health authorities have stopped short of concluding that dirty ducts can cause negative health effects that can be quantified, various airborne contaminants picked up from dirty ductwork – among them, mold spores, bacteria, viruses and even insect parts and feces – clearly aren’t good for your health.

Dirty ducts have other negative consequence as well. As the ductwork fills with dust and debris, less space is available for air to move through. This means your HVAC equipment must work harder to push conditioned air throughout your house. This wastes energy, erodes performance and comfort, puts unnecessary stress on parts, and eventually will result in system breakdowns.

Smooth airflow is a hallmark of any forced-air heating and cooling system.

Common questions about duct cleaning

Does your ductwork need to be cleaned? If your ducts have accumulated

1. dust,
2. pollen,
3. carpet fibers,
4. pet hair and dander,
5. mold,
6. bacteria,
7. or even residue from insects and vermin nests and feces,

they probably need to be cleaned. This is especially the case if it’s been five or more years since your home has had a duct cleaning.

How can you tell? Inspect the few visible feet of ductwork below registers and vents as a first step in determining whether they need to be cleaned. Are dust bunnies blowing from the registers? That’s another sign your ducts need to be cleaned. Evidence of rodent or insect infestation is another red flag.

Similarly, if you see mold growing near or on the ducts, that’s a good tip-off that they’re overdue for a cleaning.

What if dirty ducts don’t get cleaned?

As stated above, dirt and debris inside ducts can impede airflow in a forced-air heating or cooling system. This forces the furnace or AC to work harder to provide the same degree of comfort. Air quality also can suffer as conditioned air picks up these contaminants and transports them throughout the home.

Can your health be endangered by dirty ducts? As covered earlier in this article, you don’t need to be a brain surgeon to conclude that air passing through ducts that are filled with contaminants, including bacteria, viruses, mold spores and allergens, won’t be healthy for family members.

It’s important to keep in mind, however, that any duct cleaning that doesn’t also include cleaning of connected HVAC equipment is a job that’s less than complete. Ask your duct-cleaning specialist about the extent of the work. Does it include components of the furnace or AC?

How do you know it will be done right? As with any home-repair task, you’ll want to hire a professional with a stellar reputation in your city or town. Request references and testimonials. The duct-cleaning technician should be accredited by the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA). Many of the best HVAC companies in Cincinnati offer this service.

How often does duct cleaning need to be done?

This depends on several factors, though many HVAC experts recommend every five years. Likewise, a duct cleaning is probably worth doing when you move into an older home with no record of a duct cleaning, or after a major renovation project in your home.

Factors that could signal the need for more frequent duct cleaning include

• whether your home has smokers or pets that shed,
• doesn’t get cleaned very often,
• is near a dusty road or construction site,
• or has pollen-producing foliage nearby.

Plus, if you don’t keep up with maintenance of heating and cooling equipment, such as with regular air filter changes, your home likely will require more frequent duct cleaning.

Lastly, if you live in a climate where your forced-air heating and/or cooling systems are operating most of the time, duct cleaning will need to be done more often.

How does ductwork get cleaned?

The NADCA recommends placing ducts under negative air pressure so solid materials can be removed and disposed of. A strong vacuum will depressurize the ducts, allowing the debris to be easily sucked out. Technicians will use specialized tools such as soft-bristle brushes to chip away at dirt and other materials that the vacuum can’t dislodge.

Another benefit of duct cleaning

When technicians spend time inspecting and cleaning ducts, they also will have an opportunity to spot any other issues with ducts. These can include

1. deteriorating or separating duct sections,
2. flaws in the duct network design, or
3. gaps or holes in individual ducts.

They likely will be happy to correct these issues either during that visit or on a future one.