Hi, Try hard! Here's a link to the responses I got to this question a little while ago; it's still a concern of mine, so I hope you get some more information.

Congratulations on your so-near closing! Kate.

Here is a link that might be useful: 'Cleaning heating ducts before moving in'

Were they actually running the unit while creating all that dust? I would definitely have the entire system cleaned out if that is the case. We aren't installing the last of our AC/heating until all the "mess" is over with.

They were running the heat while creating the dust. The AC hasn't been used yet, other than when the installer turned it on to be sure it worked.

I don't see any special filters on the returns, so I don't think they did anything about it during construction.

try_hard

Duct cleaning I believe should always be on the list of items a couple of days before you move in. That way if there is lots of 'stuff' in the ducts, they will come out before your furniture and rugs are in the house.

And, if they do come out, better give the air cleaner a chance to do it's thing before your lungs such it up, as it were.

We have moved a lot, both resale homes and new, and have yet to find one that didn't have lot's of you-know-what in the ducts.

Shouldn't cost that much to have done and in a few hours it will all be over.

I hope that helps,
Dan

Thanks everyone!
try_hard

yep....clean everything or you will be dealing with dust forever. I hope they didn't use much flex duct....that stuff is nearly impossible to get clean.

Follow-up to my original post:

I called 3 air duct cleaning companies this morning for estimates, which ranged from $530 to $750 for cleaning the ducts in my 3,000 sf house (2 story, 3 furnaces).

DH and I have decided that at this time, we don't want to spend that much money for air duct cleaning. We've decided to wait and see if either of us develops allergy problems or notices alot of dust in the house before we pay for a cleaning.

I thought it would be more like $200 (although I have nothing to base that on, since I know nothing about air duct cleaning!) Unfortunately, $500+ for clean ducts is not in the budget right now.

Thank you all for the feedback and suggestions.

try_hard

Woof! that's a lot of money! We were told, casually, by subs who were standing around it that a complete clean would cost a couple of hundred dollars.

$500+ is not in MY budget, either; $200 barely is! Thanks for following up; if I hear anything interesting I'll follow up as well.

Kate.

You got a good price! My single floor, 2000 sqft costs $450. And IMO it is worth every penny! The price actually is not computed by sqft, but by the number of vents.

Ask those subs just who does a full duct cleaning for a couple hundred? *IF* they can name someone, check 'em out, but I think the subs were just blowing hot air.

You can DIY -- and it won't be nearly as good as professional, but 1000% better than nothing. Seal the duct entry at the furnace, and all vents other than the one you are working from. Wear a dust-mask and goggles. Use the rods for a chimney brush and attach a slightly-smaller-than-duct-sized bundle of soft rags. Start with the vent farthest from the furnace. Run rag-bundle through the duct as far as you can reach, swirling and brushing the dust towards you as you pull the rod back. Vacuum the accumulated debris. Do not swear at the amount of splfft. Repeat the brush-swipe until there are no more wood chips, screws, nails, metal filings, plasterdust or sawdust. Repeat the process at each vent opening. The last vent should be the one at the furnace. Vacuum that vent and duct. Remove the seals from all vents. Done.

The first time I DIY'd mine Without skill or practice, (and not the proper tools) it took me ten hours . It takes a pro about 2 hours AND he does a vacuum of all duct surfaces -- much better than brush alone.

Please consider not only the health aspects [who really wants to breathe dust-laden air??] but remember that not cleaning the ducts will just about guarantee your furnace is going to get dust-filled, which is not good for the electronic controlss and worse for the burners and mechanical parts. Cleaning the furnace --assuming it won't need repairs-- will cost almost the same as the preventive duct-cleaning. In fact, read the HVAC warranty carefully, because sawdust and plaster-dust deliberately left in the ducts just might void it.

Just got a bid from our furnace installer: $300 for the first ten openings, $15.00 each for each additional opening. I'll have to go count later today, but I'll bet we've got more than ten on the ground floor alone (house is just under 2500 s.f.)