Air duct cleaning has become popular with homeowners in recent years, with commercial air duct cleaning services popping up everywhere. As an expert in the field, I understand the concerns and confusion surrounding this topic. You may be wondering if the service is worth it, or a scam?
In some instances, duct cleaning may be necessary and homeowners should make informed decisions regarding their HVAC system maintenance needs. In this article I’ll help you decide if you need to clean your home’s HVAC system ductwork and how to avoid common scams.
Air Duct Cleaning Services
Professional duct cleaning services use specialized blowers, vacuums, and brushes to clean out the supply, intake, and return ductwork throughout your home.
Duct cleaning should also involve a thorough cleaning of the air handler, registers, grilles, fans, motors, housings, and coils of the HVAC system.
There’s no research currently proving that routine duct cleaning improves indoor air quality or reduces dust in your home. There is, however, evidence that dirty heating and cooling coils, motors, and air handling units can make your HVAC system less efficient.
While duct cleaning alone doesn’t seem necessary, there are cases where cleaning the HVAC unit and ductwork could be useful.
Should I Have the Ducts Cleaned?
Due to growing concerns from homeowners about indoor air quality, it’s easy to convince homeowners that their ductwork needs cleaning.
There is usually no need to clean your air ducts unless they are visibly dirty. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends cleaning ducts and HVAC systems only if they are contaminated. Duct cleaning, when done properly, is not harmful. However, it is not a task that needs to be included in your regular home maintenance routine.
- Renovation: If you’ve made home improvements recently, you may need to clean your ductwork, especially if there was asbestos abatement, lead paint removal, or significant dust. Dangerous dust and debris can lodge inside unproperly sealed ductwork.
- Animals: If there’s evidence of animal infestation or nesting in your ducts or HVAC system, you may have mites along with allergens. Remove the animals and clean the ductwork and HVAC system.
- Mold: Clean the HVAC ducts and the HVAC system if there is visible mold growth inside the ductwork.
- Contaminants: Clean HVAC ducts if you smell a strange odor or see noticeable debris, pet hair, or other contaminants in the room. If these are still there after you’ve cleaned and vacuumed the registers, call a professional.
- Illness: If someone in your family is suffering from an unexplained allergy-related illness, and you’ve taken every other possible step to decontaminate your home, clean your HVAC ducts, or disinfect your AC to see if the HVAC system was the culprit.
How To Avoid Duct Cleaning Scams
When considering air duct cleaning services, discerning reputable companies from potential scams is important. I advise homeowners to avoid succumbing to pressure tactics.
Don’t be frightened into emptying your checkbook when a duct cleaning company claims your home might be “unhealthy”. Beware of gimmicks and choose a company that holds certifications from recognized organizations.
Here are some tips for avoiding scams if you decide to research having the ductwork and HVAC system in your home cleaned:
- Full Service: Don’t settle for just duct cleaning — get a full cleaning of the heating/cooling unit. Additionally, if your air ducts are too far gone, you might need to check with the contractor on the air duct replacement pricing.
- References: Get and check references in your area to find out what service was provided for the money. Also, find out if those customers were happy with the results provided by the duct cleaning company.
- Estimates: Ask for written estimates from at least three HVAC cleaning services. A reputable company should provide a free inspection and estimate.
- Avoid Gimmicks: Ads for “$79 whole-house specials” are scams. At most, a few ducts will get a very cursory vacuum. At worst, you’ll end up talked into a much more expensive package. High-quality HVAC and air duct cleaning costs upwards of $500, takes several hours with sophisticated equipment, and involves multiple workers.
- Certifications: The duct cleaning company should be certified by the National Air Duct Cleaners Association, which sets standards for HVAC system cleaning. The EPA does not certify duct cleaners, so avoid anyone making that claim. Check for relevant licenses and insurance – some states require a license for duct cleaning while others don’t.
- Check Standards: The company should follow the guidelines of the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association.
- Verify Results: A quality duct cleaning company will offer a complete visual inspection of the HVAC system and ductwork, either in person or by remote camera. Before paying, make sure every single duct is clean, and insist on an inspection of the inside of the HVAC unit.
- Don’t Get Fooled: Intake ducts (room ducts that return air to the heating/cooling unit) are likely to be dirtier than supply ducts (which deliver conditioned air from the HVAC unit), since they often don’t have filters. Make sure any “before-and-after” photos are of the supply ducts, where it’s most important that the air is clean.
- Avoid Sealants and Sprays: Both the EPA and the NADCA don’t recommend using sprayed sealants or other harmful chemicals inside air ducts. Biocides and anti-microbial treatments are also iffy, since the chemicals may cause more harm than good to your health. No chemicals are currently registered with the EPA for use inside ductwork.
- Avoid Steam Cleaning: Do not use steam or moisture to clean ducts.
Is Air Duct Cleaning Worth It?
Air duct cleaning can be beneficial in specific situations, such as contamination, mold growth, or animal infestations. When considering air duct cleaning services, choose a reputable company that does not rely on gimmick pricing. Insist on comprehensive service, verify references, and request written estimates from multiple HVAC duct cleaning companies. Be wary of gimmicks and make sure that the chosen company holds certifications from recognized organizations like the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA). Verify the cleaning with a visual inspection, and exercise caution with sealants, sprays, and steam cleaning.
Further Reading
- Should You Have the Air Ducts In Your Home Cleaned? (EPA)
- The Best Home Warranties For 2023
- Alternative to Cleaning Air Ducts
- Best HVAC Installation Companies
- Best Air Conditioner Brands
