The National Air Duct Cleaners Association recommends having your air ducts cleaned every 3-5 years. However, answering the question “How Often Should Air Ducts Be Cleaned” is not always that simple. There are many other factors to consider when deciding when to have your air ducts cleaned.
What Are Air Ducts?
Air ducts are tubes that have been connected to your Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system. The HVAC pulls air in from its surroundings and heats or cools that air, depending on how you have set your thermostat. Then the HVAC system pushes air through the ducts and out of vents throughout your home.
How often should air ducts be cleaned? It is a good idea to clean your air ducts regularly because the air ducts could be an entry point for allergens, mold and allergens. The National Air Duct Cleaners Association recommends that your air ducts be cleaned every 3-5 years unless there are additional factors to consider. Additionally, it is best to have your ducts cleaned during cool months. Cool air is less likely to cause damage to the ducts.
How Often Should Air Ducts be Cleaned?
The main question to answer when choosing when to have your air ducts cleaned is whether or not you want your AC system to run properly.
Your AC system is constantly cleaning your air ducts and producing fresh filtered air to the rest of your home. However, over time, dust and grime can build up within the system. This forces your system to force hair through that built up junk, which can lead to long-term issues with your unit. There are other factors to consider when deciding how often should air ducts be cleaned.
These factors include:
- The age of your air ducts and HVAC equipment
- How well your system has been maintained
- The amount of dust in the air
- The environment the air ducts are in
- The status of the ducts
Why Should Air Ducts be Cleaned?
HVAC air duct cleaning is one of the best ways to ensure the health and safety of your heating and air conditioning system. Ducts typically become blocked from dirt, dust, pet hair, animal dander, or other particles that may collect.
This can block the flow of air through the ducts, which may eventually lead to mechanical failures and be expensive repairs to your HVAC system.
Additionally, there are four other reasons your air ducts may need a cleaning:
- Mold has been found in your air conditioning system or in your furnace
- Your home has recently had extensive renovations or reconstruction or is newly built
- You find that your home is dusty often, no matter how often you clean or dust
- Heating and cooling costs have increased
How Often Should Air Ducts be Cleaned: Benefits of Regular Cleaning
- Cleaning provides a better and cleaner environment
- Spend less time dusting
- Furniture, bedding, and flooring will all require less frequent cleaning
- Reduces allergens’ spread throughout the building, allowing those who struggle with asthma or allergies to breathe easier
- Cleaner air is better for everyone to breathe, even if you or someone in your household does not have chronic respiratory issues.
- Harmful microorganisms like bacteria, mildew, and mold spores will not be inhaled
- Contaminants created by cleaning products and other materials will be removed from the air
- Your home will smell better, especially if you have pets
- The HVAC unit will run more efficiently which leads to lower monthly bills, fewer repairs, and greater longevity for heating and cooling units
How Should Air Ducts be Cleaned?
Some people believe that cleaning air ducts yourself is best because it’s easier and cheaper than paying to have them professionally cleaned. However, you should make sure you have the skills, knowledge, and tools to handle the job.
- Open access ports or doors to allow the entire system to be cleaned and inspected
- Use vacuum equipment that exhausts particles outside the home, or we may use High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) vacuuming equipment if the vacuum exhausts inside the home
- Protect carpet and household furnishings during cleaning
- Use well-controlled brushing of duct surfaces in conjunction with contact vacuum cleaning to dislodge dust and other particles
- Use only soft-bristled brushes for fiberglass duct board and sheet metal ducts internally lined with fiberglass. Flex duct can also be cleaned using soft-bristled brushes or an air whip connected to an air compressor
- Remove, clean, and reinstall all registers and vents
- Take care to protect the duct work, including sealing and re-insulating any access holes the service provider may have made or used so they are airtight
What Should You Know Before You Have Your Air Ducts Cleaned?
SMRSI will have an air duct cleaning technician on-site to ensure that everything is done to the highest possible standards. Air duct cleaning is one of the most essential home maintenance tasks you can perform, and it’s best to get your air ducts cleaned regularly so that your air ducts can keep the heating or cooling running efficiently. How often air ducts should be cleaned is reliant on all of the factors that we mentioned earlier. If your home is past due for an air duct cleaning, it might be time to reach out to SMRSI.
When your life gets turned upside down, call on ServiceMaster Restoration by RSI. We are prepared to handle calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Call us now (405) 251-7286 or fill out our contact form to help you restore your peace of mind.
