Is furnace duct cleaning necessary?

When is the best time to have your home’s furnace duct cleaned? How do you choose professionals to do this task for you?

Experts advise homeowners to have their air ducts at home cleaned every three to five years. You can also have the air ducts cleaned sooner or more frequently if you have someone in your household who is asthmatic or is prone to allergies.

There are a few signs that will tell you that you need to have your air ducts cleaned at once. For one, if you notice that molds have developed on the air ducts, you need to have these cleaned. Pest infestations (rodents and insects) are also some of the important signs that furnace duct cleaning is needed. Finally, if you notice a cloud of dust coming from the air vents, you’ll know that these need to be cleaned immediately.

Debris and dust coming out of the air vents is a sign that pollutants inside of your home have been recycled over and over again. Furthermore, these signify that the system in your home has become too dirty.

If you have moved into a new home or work has been done in and around the house, you may also need to have the ductwork cleaned. Typically, dust and debris circulate inside the home during a remodeling project, affecting the cleanliness of the ducts.

If you have pets at home, fur and dander may circulate and come into the ductwork, spreading to all the parts of your house.

How do you choose professionals to clean your home’s duct work?

One of the first things that you want to avoid is a professional who suggests frequent duct cleaning. Again, ductwork needs to be cleaned every three to five years. You can have your ductwork cleaned sooner if you use your system often and if you have family members who have asthma or are prone to allergies.

Reputable companies do not charge ridiculously low prices. Furthermore, they are upfront about the costs involved. The good ones will carefully inspect all components of the system, including the furnace and air coils. These firms will use negative air machines mounted on trucks along with vacuum systems to collect and contain the debris.

Typically, cleaning furnace ducts takes a few hours. If the company is done in an hour or less, you may not be dealing with true professionals and you may need to have the air ducts cleaned again.