How To Tell Your Home Needs Professional Duct Cleaning

There is a lot that goes into maintaining a home. And if there's one task that many overlook, it's having their air ducts cleaned. The ducts are hidden, so it's easy to understand why you might forget about the need to clean them. However, while you might not be able to see inside your home's air ducts to determine whether they need a cleaning, there are some other things that can clue you in. When speaking exclusively with House Digest, Richie Drew, the vice president of Operations at One Hour Heating and AC, highlighted a few signs that it might be time to hire a professional duct cleaning company. He said, "Clogged air filters and vents restricting airflow, [and] visible particles of dust and debris being released from supply registers," are two things you should be on the lookout for.

It's important not to ignore these warning signs. According to Drew, keeping your ducts clean "gets rid of dust mites and reduces allergies and asthma issues." Everyone in the home will appreciate being able to breathe more easily without the risk of irritating their allergies or triggering an asthma attack. Ahead, we'll take a closer look at the various signs that your ducts need to be cleaned, as well as Drew's recommendations for how often this maintenance task is typically required. We'll also explore whether this is a task you can consider attempting on your own, or whether it is one of those home improvement projects that are better left to the professionals.

There are some key indicators that your ducts need to be cleaned. Your home's dust bunnies might be trying to tell you something. As Richie Drew explained above, if you see a lot of dust and debris accumulating on your supply registers, it often indicates that the air ducts need to be cleaned. During an exclusive interview with House Digest, Drew identified two other indicators that the ducts may be dirty: "signs of vermin, rodent, or insect infestation [and] visible mold growth." If the ducts are clogged, not only can mold grow in the dust and debris, but it will also spread throughout the house in the air that is getting circulated.

"The frequency of duct cleaning will be determined by the quality of the duct system, the filtration being used, the amount of airborne contaminants, and the hours of operation," according to Drew. While professionals typically recommend having your ducts cleaned about once every five years, Drew says, "Ducts should be inspected annually for cleanliness and leakage." He also notes that various circumstances can make more regular cleaning necessary. "Home renovation work generates massive amounts of dust, dirt, and debris. Unsealed ducts are prime for contamination. Schedule a ductwork inspection after a remodeling project. Your technician will check for buildup in your HVAC system." If you have cats and dogs, you'll also want to be on higher alert for the need to clean your ducts. According to Drew, "Homes with pets tend to accumulate more pet hair, dander, and allergens in the air ducts, potentially warranting more frequent cleaning."

There are plenty of home maintenance tasks that you can complete on your own. However, cleaning your ducts probably isn't one you'll want to undertake. "It is important to hire a company to clean your ducts that is reputable and is also a licensed contractor, as a big part of cleaning the ducts properly is cleaning the inside of the air handler or furnace," Drew said when speaking exclusively with House Digest. The process is too complex for the average homeowner to perform correctly. As Drew explains, "Each component needs to be cleaned including the cabinet, the coil, the blower housing, the blower motor, blower wheel, the return plenum, the supply plenum, all supply and return branches. All registers and grilles should be removed, cleaned, and sanitized as well. It really is more than just a vacuuming." So, in order to experience the benefits of getting your ducts cleaned regularly, you'll want to leave this task to the pros.

However, that doesn't mean that there isn't anything you can do to help air pass freely through your ducts and reduce the frequency with which you'll have to hire a professional to clean them. Drew recommends keeping up with regular air filter changes, keeping furniture away from the return openings, and ensuring that your home's humidity level stays between 30% and 50%. He also highlights the importance of keeping your HVAC system working properly by listening for odd noises and hiring a professional to perform yearly maintenance.