Air Duct Cleaning 101
Your air ducts are a crucial part of your HVAC system. They carry air throughout your home and ensure you stay comfortable. But just like how your HVAC unit can collect dust and debris, so can your ducts. That’s why it’s important to keep an eye on them and clean them when necessary.
Here’s what you need to know about cleaning your air ducts.
Why They Need Cleaning
Your air ducts collect any dust and debris not caught in your air filter. (To reduce dust buildup, make sure to change out your filters.)
As dust collects in your ducts, it can hinder airflow and reduce efficiency in your HVAC network. While regular dust buildup can be cleaned with a vacuum or another cleaning method, professional cleaning should be performed if you notice the following:
- Extreme buildup of dust or dirt
- Mold growth
- Dead animals
- Unexplained allergic symptoms from members of the household
How Often to Clean
There’s no secret formula for when to clean out your air ducts or when to have them cleaned by a professional, although a good rule of thumb is every 5 to 7 years. Otherwise, you should simply watch out for the signs that they have become excessively dirty.
As part of your regular HVAC maintenance or home cleaning schedule, take a look inside your air ducts to judge the amount of dust that has collected. You don’t need to dust them out as often as you would your countertops or bookshelf, but you should clean them when a thick film of dust is present.
