The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) says there is no evidence that cleaning your ducts improves health. So, are there any furnace duct cleaning pros and cons? Is there any benefit to having your ducts cleaned?
Does that call from an irritating marketer trying to sell you duct cleaning services leave you wondering how you would know if you need to clean your ducts?
According to EPA, you should have your ducts cleaned if:
- A lot of dust is blowing out of supply vents.
- Insects and rodents are coming out of your vents.
- Your ducts show signs of mold growth.
Get a professional duct cleaning company to clean your ducts if any of the three signs above show in your ductwork.
If you do not see any signs but feel unsure about cleaning your ducts, we are here to help. Call us today and let one of our trusted and expert technicians assess your ductwork and HVAC unit.
If you have been changing your filters and none of the above signs are present, you may not need to clean your ducts. If you are new in a house and do not know if the previous occupants changed the filters, call us today for a free assessment of your HVAC and ductwork.
What Happens During Furnace Duct Cleaning
Duct cleaning removes dust, dirt, dander, debris, mold, pollen, and other contaminants that collect over time on the ductwork. HVAC experts and technicians offer duct cleaning services, which take some hours to complete.
Cleaning experts use specialized equipment that includes brushes and special vacuums to clean all the parts of the HVAC system. These are,
- Ducts – this part of the system comprises a metal passageway that connects to the HVAC and through which air flows throughout your house.
- Air handlers – these handle the air. They contain the blower that circulates and regulates the air in your unit and the heating and cooling elements.
- Drain pans collect water from the coils and stop leaks around the unit and water damage.
- Registers – these are metallic and slotted. They cover the entrance through which air flows into a room.
- Motors – these are connected to the furnace and air conditioner.
- Coils – evaporator and condenser coils in air conditioners and heat pumps remove and absorb heat from your home.
- Fans blow the conditioned air from the furnace or air conditioner into the ducts.
Here are the pros and cons of cleaning your Furnace
Pros of Furnace Cleaning
- Duct cleaning improves your unit’s efficiency
The efficiency of your system improves when dirt and debris are cleaned away during duct cleaning. A clean system without dirt and debris strains less because it does not overwork itself. Utility bills are lower. - Duct cleaning could improve health.
EPA states that there is no evidence that duct cleaning improves health. However, the case for good indoor air quality improving health is a strong one. Clean ducts imply the air in your home is cleaner and fresher. Cleaner air has a lower risk of causing or worsening indoor air health problems such as respiratory diseases and asthma. - Lower risk of disease transmission
Insects and rodents in your air ducts are a potential breeding ground for diseases such as the hantavirus. Hantavirus is one of the worst infections you can get from infested ducts. The condition spreads when the air is contaminated by dust with rodent droppings or urine.
All kinds of rats and mice in your air ducts cause these problems. In some parts of the country, issues like the plague can occur when fleas living on rodents infest your home. You reduce the incidence of all these problems by regularly cleaning the air ducts. - Removing unpleasant odors
Dust may trap stale or musty odors in your air duct. Getting rid of such dust through air duct cleaning can eliminate strange odors from your house.
Cons of Furnace Cleaning
- You risk damage to your ducts if you get an unprofessional company
A careless, unprofessional company will send inexperienced and poorly trained staff who will do more harm than good to your ducts. The contractor may improperly use the vacuum tubes, which could end up damaging the interior of the ducts by creating holes in them. Holes could become leaks. A careful, well-trained contractor will not harm the interior of your ducts.
For your duct cleaning services, not any company will do. Follow EPA’s guidelines to choose the right contractor. Make sure:- They do not tell you outright lies about duct cleaning benefits. Do your due diligence and find out about the service.
- Check with Better Business Bureau to find out if there are any complaints from customers.
- Ensure the cleaners they send your way have met all requirements by law.
Providers who do not meet the requirements expected under the law could be scamming you by promising a service they cannot offer.
- Air filters keep dirt from your ducts.
The function of your air filters is to keep dirt and dust from your HVAC unit and ductwork. Filters keep dust from your furnace and air conditioner and stop it from getting into the ductwork and blowing around the house. Regularly changing your filters keeps your system in tip-top functioning shape, and you won’t need to clean your ducts too often.
If you do not regularly change your filter, have a professional inspect your ducts for dust buildup. Animal dander, dead skin cells, pollen, insect parts, and dirt are dust constituents in your ductwork. The contaminants build up in your ductwork when you do not change the filters regularly. Such dirt is undoubtedly not what you want floating around your home or blocking your HVAC unit.
- Duct cleaning does not prevent the problem from recurring soon again.
Removing and cleaning dirt and debris from HVAC and ductwork is a temporary fix to the problem. It could recur at anytime if measures are not in place to prevent a recurrence. For instance, you need to look for structural issues, leaks, and moisture access that can cause duct problems at your house. Mold and other contaminants can regrow again very fast if you don’t fix the root of the problem.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Improves indoor air quality by removing dust, allergens, and other pollutants from the ductwork | Can be expensive, especially if the ducts are very dirty or in need of repair |
| Helps HVAC system run more efficiently, which can lower energy bills | May not be necessary for all homes or HVAC systems |
| Reduces the risk of fire by removing built-up debris and dust | Can be disruptive to daily life, as the cleaning process can be loud and require access to every room in the house |
| Can extend the lifespan of the HVAC system by reducing strain on the system and preventing breakdowns | May not completely eliminate all pollutants from the ductwork, especially if the cleaning is not done properly |
| Helps to eliminate unpleasant odors caused by mold, mildew, or bacteria growth in the ducts | May not be effective if the source of the odors is outside of the ductwork, such as in the attic or basement |
| May be required for some home warranty or insurance policies | Can be time-consuming, as the cleaning process can take several hours or even a whole day |
