Duct Cleaning

Many homeowners have their air ducts cleaned in an effort to improve their home’s indoor air quality.  The effectiveness of air duct cleaning is the subject of some debate, largely due to duct cleaning companies who make inflated claims about the dangers of dirty ducts and the improvement you can expect from clean air ducts.

Before you spend money on duct cleaning, you should know that not every home needs duct cleaning and most homes don’t need routine duct cleaning.  However, duct cleaning can improve the air quality in many homes and for some homes, air duct cleaning can lead to improved health, especially for asthma and allergy sufferers.

Anyone who has changed their furnace filter knows that a lot of dust, dirt, pet hair, and other airborne debris circulates through your heating and air conditioning ducts.  In many systems, all this dust, dirt and debris can accumulate on the inside of your ductwork.  If you use a high efficiency pleated filter and change it regularly, you may not have much accumulation in your ducts.

On the other hand, if your HVAC system is equipped with a standard flat filter and you often wait a little too long between filter changes, there may be buildup of dust and dirt in your ductwork.  Duct cleaning can remove this buildup and lower the amount of dust, dirt, pet dander, and other airborne contaminants that are re-circulated through your home via the HVAC system.

If moisture accumulates on this mat of material, it can be a breeding ground for mold and mildew.  Mold and mildew spores are then distributed throughout your home every time your air conditioner, heat  pump, or furnace turns on.  If you or a family member suffers from allergies or asthma, duct cleaning under these circumstances may offer improved air quality and reduce allergic reactions.