Is Duct Cleaning a Total Waste of Money?

Duct cleaning divides people. Some think it is a good idea, whereas others believe it is a total waste of money. 

If you try to find an answer and browse the internet, you will find:

• Some health studies concluding that you may clean your ventilation and HVAC.

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• The National Institute of Health states that there is not enough proof to conclude anything. ​

​Ultimately, beyond the flow of biased, unqualified, unhelpful information, the knowledge about the potential benefits and possible air duct cleaning problems is limited.

Sadly, it leaves families in doubt. As it is right for many other things, homeowners have to come up with their conclusions.

Here are some perspectives on duct cleaning that you may consider.

What is Duct Cleaning?

Duct cleaning scopes different elements. 

It is a full cleaning of your HVAC and air ducts. During the duct cleaning process, the company in charge of the cleaning will focus on:

• Ducts
• Housings
• Furnace & air conditioning unit
• Fans
• Motors
• Grilles
• Air handlers

These elements collect dust, mold, mildew, soot, pollen, and debris during their lifetime. 

What Can You Do to Avoid Duct Cleaning?

Suppose you are interested in air quality and system efficiency. In that case, a good practice is frequently changing your system’s filters to prevent exterior contaminants from settling in your HVAC system and duct network. 

Changing your filters will reduce these contaminants’ impact that you will ultimately breathe. 

Of course, filters have different efficiencies, and different circumstances affect the filter’s performance.

Moisture or temperatures, size, and installation are factors impacting filtration too. 

Even if you are very diligent about changing your filters, removing all airborne contaminants is simply not possible in most homes or facilities. 

So, every time you turn on your HVAC to heat or cool your home, particles are pushed through your ducts and vents. 

Some particles will stick to the inner surface of your ducts and vents. Some particles will be released in the air you breathe.

Depending on specific circumstances, these particles released in the air you breathe may trigger flare-ups with your allergies. 

Here is why you will never get a straight answer because it depends on the circumstances. All homes and cases are different.

Consequently, you may consider having your air ducts cleaned because air ducts will get dirty over time, and it is a good idea to clean them.

So Why Use Duct Cleaning Services?

You must have a reason or a perceivable problem.

It seems obvious, right?

So, let’s clarify that with clear examples of clients we help in Chester County, PA.

Some people use duct cleaning services to remove any contaminant, allergens, or debris from their systems, just like you would remove dust from a piece of furniture. 

People using our duct cleaning services periodically have asthma, bad allergies, and respiratory issues and factor duct cleaning in their home maintenance process.

​Typically, people in that category would have a duct cleaning service performed every other year.

Although duct cleaning will not cure their asthma, allergy, or respiratory problem, they consider duct cleaning as one component to improving air quality. 

The second category concerns people who have identified a more significant problem, and they want some remediation performed to mitigate an issue like:

• Mold contamination and development
• Pest infestation
• Substantial deposits of dust

Most of the issues we have seen over the years relate to:

• Mold development due to moisture in ducts: Typically, a musty odor comes out of the vents. It is a clear indication that there is an issue. 

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• Pest issues using the duct network: dead or living rodents, organic matters left behind, the spread of rodents and insects throughout the house.

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• Dust problem: Some places of your home collect more dust than others, and there is no apparent explanation. If you are continually dusting, you might need to check out your ducts. ​

What Have We Learned?

Beyond the confusing studies and potentially biased results, duct cleaning has value if you have a purpose or a real problem. 

Do you incorporate duct cleaning as a component of your air quality improvement strategy? Or, do you have a real problem you need to remediate?

There is no right or wrong answer. It depends on your circumstances. 

Since all conditions in every home are different, it is impossible to generalize. Therefore, perform an air duct cleaning if there is a need or perceived benefit.