How Often Should I Have My Air Ducts Cleaned?
You might be asking yourself that question as you’re getting more in touch with the importance of indoor air quality, and you’re totally right too. Air ducts are a part of the HVAC system that people rarely see. In fact, they’re kind of hidden away until it comes time to clean them. So, knowing how often you should have your air ducts cleaned can help keep your air cleaner, home more efficient, and family healthier.
Air Duct Cleaning Frequency Recommendation
For most homes, the experts recommend having a professional come clean the air ducts in the home every 3-5 years. This seems to be a good frequency for most homes that don’t have a high amount of dust, no recent home renovations, and aren’t dealing with any air quality issues.
This is a general recommendation, not a hard-and-fast rule. Different factors such as your home, family, and lifestyle will all play a part in determining the best frequency for your home.
Factors Which May Mean You Need to Have the Air Ducts Cleaned More Often
If any of these below apply to you, you may need to have the air ducts in your home cleaned more frequently than every 3–5 years.
You Have Pets
Pets shed their hair and dander, and a lot of it can build up quickly in your ductwork. It’s common for homes with multiple pets to need to have the air ducts cleaned every 2–3 years.
You or Your Family Have Allergies or Asthma
If you or your family members have allergies, asthma, or other respiratory issues, the cleaner the air you breathe, the better. In these cases, it may be wise to clean your air ducts more frequently to help reduce airborne allergens.
You Have Recently Had Home Renovations
Drywall dust, construction debris, and dust from any remodeling or building projects can easily make their way into the ducts. Even if you sealed off the work areas, dust finds its way everywhere. After renovation, it’s a great idea to have the air ducts cleaned.
You Can See Dust Buildup or Debris in the Air
You may also need your air ducts cleaned more frequently if you see dust build-up around the vents, notice dust or debris blowing out of the registers, or when your HVAC system is running, you get a musty odor in the house.
Your Home Has Mold or Moisture Issues
Any signs of mold growing near your air vents or inside the HVAC system is a problem. Not only does it need to be cleaned up and remediated, but mold spores can get into the ductwork and put your family’s air quality at risk.
When You Can Clean Less Frequently
If your home:
- Doesn’t have pets
- No one smokes inside the house
- No one in the home suffers from allergies
- You have a high-quality air filter in the home
- You do regular maintenance on the HVAC system
…it’s possible that you may be able to clean them closer to every 5 years. Of course, filter changes and maintenance will help with this as well.
Why Professional Cleaning is Important
Filter changes are one thing, but the filter only captures debris and particles that make their way through the system. Duct cleaning is performed to clean out all the dust, debris, and other build-up from inside the ducts.
Filters don’t capture debris that’s already collected in the ductwork. Professional air duct cleaning services can remove that built-up debris from your home’s supply ducts, return ducts, and even some of the HVAC components. This will help your system to run more efficiently and put cleaner air in the home.
Meet ThoroClean: Your Albuquerque Air Duct Cleaning Professionals
When it’s time to have the ducts cleaned, you need to make sure you find the right professional to help. ThoroClean is a company that offers air duct cleaning in a professional manner that will improve the indoor air quality in your home, reduce allergens, and help your HVAC system run more efficiently.
Their technicians are experts in the field and will come to your home, assess the system, explain what they’re doing and find, and give you a thorough cleaning without upsells or cutting corners.
Conclusion
For most homeowners, cleaning the air ducts every 3-5 years is a good rule of thumb. If you have pets, allergies, recent renovations, excess dust in the air, or mold or moisture issues, you may need to clean them more often.
If you’re not sure whether or not the air ducts in your home need cleaning, you can have a professional inspect them. Clean air ducts lead to better air, better comfort, and a healthier home and, with professional help from ThoroClean, it’s something you’ll be able to feel with every breath you take.