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Jun 30, 2022|Duct Cleaning

Is Duct Cleaning Worthwhile?

air duct with air coming out

Have you started smelling musty odors, noticing excessive dust, and experiencing heightened allergies in your home lately? While many other sources of contamination can degrade indoor air quality, ruined or leaky HVAC air ducts are a potential culprit worth exploring. Use the information here to help you decide if air duct sealing services could be worth exploring in your situation.

Be aware of air duct cleaning when it might be damaging to your ducts, or over-priced and not helpful or necessary. Even when requested, we like to inform the consumer of why duct cleaning may not be necessary or a good use of their money.

Schedule a Ductwork Inspection First

The best way to know if your air ducts are an issue (including leaking) is to have an HVAC contractor inspect them. Their findings may warrant repair work and can help you decide if ductwork sealing would be beneficial:

  • Damage caused by rodents, attic traffic, or age: These factors may cause ductwork to collapse or deteriorate, leading to comfort problems and decreased efficiency.
  • Leaks, holes, or disconnected sections: Significant energy loss can occur if air ducts are not properly connected and sealed.
  • Air duct size: Undersized air ducts are a major source of comfort problems. If they aren’t large enough to transport a sufficient amount of cooled air, your home will be difficult to keep comfortable on the hottest days.

Should I Have My Air Ducts Cleaned?

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), duct cleaning is recommended under the following circumstances. However, it is important to be mindful of the types of ducts you have so that they are not damaged, and to make sure your ducts truly do need to be cleaned or repaired (which may include sealing for leaky ducts):

  • Mold growth is visible inside your air ducts: Microbial growth is dangerous and can cause allergic reactions in sensitive people. Thorough duct cleaning and replacing contaminated insulation can restore good indoor air quality.
  • The ducts are infested with rodents, insects, or other vermin: Your home’s ventilation system is vulnerable to intrusion from unwanted visitors. If a technician finds evidence of vermin in your ductwork, have cleaning performed right away.
  • The ducts are excessively clogged: While a thin layer of dust is normal, your ductwork should not be caked with excessive cobwebs, pet hair, dust, and other particles. A good cleaning may be helpful to remove this debris.

Tips to Keep Your Air Ducts Cleaner, Longer

Whether you decide to have your air ducts cleaned or not (as the cleaning may not be necessary), some simple preventive maintenance can minimize ductwork contamination. Follow these tips:

  • Never run your HVAC system without an air filter installed.
  • Upgrade to a higher-efficiency air filter and change it according to the manufacturer’s directions.
  • Schedule routine HVAC maintenance, which should include cleaning system components that could contaminate the air ducts.
  • Seal off return and supply registers during home renovation work. Don’t run the HVAC system again until the dust has been cleaned up.
  • Vacuum and dust your home regularly.
  • Control moisture to prevent mold growth in the air ducts. Here’s how:
    • Make sure the condensate pan drains properly.
    • Check insulation near the AC’s indoor evaporator coils for wet spots.
    • Ensure your air ducts are sealed and insulated in non-conditioned spaces to prevent condensation.
    • When replacing your air conditioner, have it sized properly to ensure adequate humidity removal.

Schedule HVAC Services and Duct Sanitization (antimicrobial spray) in Central Florida

At Certified Climate Control, promoting your health and safety is our number one priority. We include free duct sanitization (antimicrobial spray) at every scheduled maintenance visit for Certified Protection Plan members. Rest assured that we retain an A+ rating with the BBB and have won the Super Service Award 11 years in a row. Contact us today to learn more about our HVAC maintenance programs or to schedule a HVAC and duct inspection in Orange, Seminole, or Volusia County, FL.

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