How Important Is Air Duct Cleaning? | Kitchener ON

While a Common Service, It Might Not Be Necessary

We get it. It’s important for things to be clean, especially in our homes. Who wants to breathe dirty or contaminated air, ever? Even in this blog we discuss the importance of regular ductwork inspections for leaks and critter infestations, and the necessity of changing your filters regularly to prevent airflow blockages or household irritants from reaching your living areas.

That said, the case for air duct cleaning is not as clear-cut as you might believe. Make no mistake- as a longstanding marketing tool for HVAC companies, handymen and other service companies, it’s been flogged for decades as an essential part of any HVAC maintenance plan. And yet, the facts are not as straightforward.

First, consider what the EPA has to say about it:

“Duct cleaning has never been shown to actually prevent health problems. Neither do studies conclusively demonstrate that particle (e.g., dust) levels in homes increase because of dirty air ducts…. there is no evidence that a light amount of household dust or other particulate matter in air ducts poses any risk to your health.”

As usually dry metal conduits from one part of your HVAC system to another, ductwork tends not to harbor much bacteria, mold, or other debris. Unlike the parts of your system where moisture can attract organic growth (yuck), the ductwork is only a passageway for air flow blowing towards the air filters and once filtered, the inside of your home.  In normal circumstances, the light dust that may gather there over time is neither substantial nor does it have any impact on your air quality. If you regularly get your ductwork cleaned but never change your air filters or inspect the rest of your equipment, you’re probably not improving much when it comes to indoor comfort or safety.

That said, there are certain conditions under which it’s imperative you must have your ductwork cleaned or even replaced. Assuming you’re having your system inspected at least annually for possible repairs and overall maintenance, your technician should be able to spot these conditions immediately.

Apparent mold growth or leaks in any part of your HVAC system

Keep in mind that determination of mold growth must be made by an actual laboratory analysis, which luckily can be obtained at relatively little cost. However, wet insulation, and/or excess moisture in your equipment can lead to contamination. In that situation, all affected sections of your system must be cleaned and/or replaced.

Rodent infestation

Here in Southern California, outside pests often become indoor ones. If you have a critter living in your HVAC ductwork, you need it removed and the equipment thoroughly cleaned. Weird noises, droppings, smells or infestations in other areas of your home may signal a problem. Be sure to get your ductwork checked out too.

Essentially, our message regarding cleaning your ductwork is: why stop there? Get your HVAC system checked out at least annually to head off problems before they start. Spending extra on cleaning ductwork probably isn’t necessary.

Need HVAC repair or maintenance in your home? Call the experts at Air-Tro. We’ve been keeping California comfortable since 1969. (626) 357-3535.