How Often Should You Clean Your Air Ducts? 

The tubes that carry heated and cooled air throughout your home are called air ducts. For optimal performance, air ducts need routine maintenance, much like any other HVAC system. The advice from NADCA (The National Air Duct Cleaners Association)gives a general guideline of 3 to 5 years to clean the ducts in your home. For the sake of your family’s and your home’s health, the accumulation of mold and other allergens may warrant a more urgent air duct cleaning.

Is cleaning air ducts required? 

Through air ducts, these airborne contaminants travel throughout your home, posing a risk to your family and property. The following situations may necessitate a more urgent appointment to get your ducts in order, in addition to routine ductwork cleaning by a certified HVAC and indoor air quality contractor.

Evident mold or musty odor 

Mold thrives in wet, humid, and difficult-to-reach areas, such as your air ducts. The polluted ductwork should be cleaned if you notice visible mold, smell mustiness in the air, or have symptoms like coughing or itching. By cleaning the area to eradicate any existing development, a reputable service provider can repair the mold and help stop it from growing again.

Too much debris or dust 

Dust, pet dander, dead skin cells, and harmful allergens can accumulate in ductwork over time, which is another reason to clean your air ducts. Poofs of dust produced from air vents might be a visible sign of these extra particles. Buildup can impair the system’s air movement and functionality while putting you and your family at risk for respiratory and other health problems. To guarantee optimal airflow that is safe for your family to breathe, a professional cleaning can remove this accumulated dirt from your air ducts.

Pest infestation

If you see pests in or around ductwork or notice a decline in your system’s performance, proper cleaning can eradicate vermin and prevent them from bugging you any longer.

Following the NADCA and EPA’s guidelines is the best course of action if you or your family are dealing with respiratory and health problems that may be related to indoor air quality. As part of your routine house maintenance, be mindful of the need to clean your air ducts.