HVAC Air Duct Cleaning


You may be wondering how often HVAC air duct cleaning should be done. The National Air Duct Cleaners Association recommends HVAC duct cleaning:

  • Before moving into a new house.
  • After home renovations.
  • When the home has been flooded or experienced significant moisture.
  • When you see visible dirt and debris inside your HVAC ducts.
  • If you’ve seen evidence of rodents in your HVAC ducts (such as droppings, fur or nests).

The National Air Duct Cleaners Association says the proper frequency of HVAC air duct cleaning depends on a number of factors, including:

  • If anyone in the home smokes.
  • If there are pets in the home, particularly pets that shed a great deal.
  • If anyone in the home has respiratory problems like allergies or asthma.
  • Preference of the home owner.
HVAC Air Duct Cleaning

If you’re not sure if you need HVAC duct cleaning or not, you can have a professional examine your HVAC system for you and let you know. Of course, you might be wondering how you’ll know if he’s telling you the truth. Couldn’t he just say your HVAC ducts were in need of cleaning, even if they weren’t, in order to get your money? Ask the professional examining your HVAC system to show you why it needs to be cleaned. He will have tools, including special mirrors, that allow you to see far inside the HVAC ducts and can point out dirt, debris, mold and other issues to you. The picture above shows ducts that are extremely dirty and in need of cleaning.

By the way, the National Air Duct Cleaners Association recommends you ask the professional that cleans your air ducts to show you the insides of your ductwork after he’s completed the job, as well. He can point out all the areas he cleaned. There should be no visible dirt or debris inside the air ducts after they’ve been cleaned.

Hiring an HVAC Air Duct Cleaning Professional

If you need HVAC duct cleaning, it’s important to hire a qualified professional. You might want to have a couple different professionals come in and give you a cost estimate, but be careful not to just go with the cheapest one. You need somebody that knows what he is doing; otherwise, your ducts could be damaged by the instruments or techniques used to clean them, or bacteria or mold could be spread to other parts of your home, making matters worse.

To make sure you’re getting a qualified HVAC air duct cleaning professional, we recommend:

  • Asking if the professional is licensed by the state (licensure is not required in all states, but if it is required in yours, you want to make sure the person you hire holds the proper license or certification.
  • Avoiding professionals that claim to be certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) because the EPA does not certify HVAC duct cleaning professionals in any way.
  • Asking if the professional is certified by the National Air Duct Cleaners Association, and if not, if he adheres to their standards of operation.
  • Asking if the professional also adheres to the standards of operation outlined by the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association, if your air ducts are made of fiber glass duct board or insulated with fiber glass duct liner (the more commonly-used HVAC duct cleaning techniques can easily damage these surfaces, so professionals need to be familiar with the alternate techniques that need to be used).
  • Contact your local Better Business Bureau to make sure no complaints have been filed against the professional you hope to hire.

To find a list of qualified HVAC Air Duct Cleaning Professionals in your area, just follow the link.




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