Is air duct cleaning necessary?

7 years ago

We're having some rugs cleaned and they are also trying to sell us on air duct cleaning. Is that something you are supposed to do regularly? Is there a noticeable difference?

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Elmer J Fudd

7 years ago

Flame, are you looking for customers who are influenced by such unsupported scaremongering statements?

Getting ducts cleaned is really going to prevent spreading viruses?

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Comments (7)

User
7 years ago
Probably worthless.

The EPA does not have a horse in the race. Here's what they have to say.

Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned?
schoolhouse_gw
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Worthless unless you have a cat that started to pee down the floor registers. My neighbor had this problem with a rescue for awhile and I think they had to have their ducts cleaned twice. Now I'm not sure to what extent i.e. the entire duct work system or the ones below the affected registers.

Otherwise good question OP because I was tempted to call to have the furnace ducts cleaned imagining them full of my cat's hair. Now that I'm having all new installed soon I won't be doing so.

Thanks for posting that link SaltiDawg.
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All furnace manufacturers recommend, and state in the owners manuals, that you have your furnace cleaned and inspected on an annual basis. This is important for furnace reliability and for safety reasons. I have not seen any manufacturer of furnaces state that it is important to have the ducts cleaned. Some people prefer to have their ducts cleaned for their peace of mind but an air cleaner added to your furnace may do more good than just cleaning the ducts. I have been in the heating business for 21 years and have never had my ducts cleaned, but I do have a whole house air cleaner attached. P.S. for the duct cleaning guys - There is nothing wrong with duct cleaning but I also do not worry about the tiny mite monsters lurking in the hidden recesses ready to eat me alive. Here is a link that might be useful: Woodbury
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I had mine cleaned last summer. I think there's a noticeable difference, and my friends with allergies seem to have less problems now. My house is old, I got it 3 years ago and who knows when they'd been done, if ever. When I took off my cold air return and other registers to have a look it was quite, um, gross. When they were all shiny and not gross, I was much happier. I probably won't do it after the reno though. I'm just changing my furnace filters weekly right now and so far, so good. The dust in the house seems to be settling or getting sucked up, so I don't feel like I'm breathing it in all the time. Tip: Take the vent cover off, stick a hand or vanity mirror into the duct with a small flashlight, angle the mirror so you can see down the duct and take a look. You should be able to tell if it's dusty and needs a cleaning.
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If it's new construction then it may be a good idea to have it done to get the sheetrock dust and other debris that may have fallen into the ductwork. Otherwise you'll live with it circulating or getting caught in air filters. That said, we built in 1996 and I didn't have it done till 2010 and we got along fine. It cost us $450 but they said they could not get a good suction because some of the vents opened up in the floor joists between the basement and main level, which others told me is sometimes done that way. We have about 1900 sq ft on main floor w/ full basement and no 2nd level.
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"How could ducts even get dirty with pressurized air blown through them all the time? Invest in a better air filters for the HVAC instead." well well...how could they get dirty. from duct leakage. at the take offs at the supply plenum, supply plenum not being properly sealed not only at takeoffs, but also where supply connects to equipment. return leakage & leaks at return to equipment. each supply box not being properly sealed to penetration into cond space. corners of plenums & supply boxes...lot of areas for dirt to get into the duct system. first inspect for mold/debris in supply plenum. lots of people replace dirty ducts & leave the dirty plenum in place. if there are issues like mold inside the plenum & it is not replaced when ducts are changed then it will just re-grow/spread into the ducts. same with supply boxes. if moldy or dirty re-mediate when doing work on duct system. once ducts/plenums/returns/supply boxes are properly sealed...then you add a 4" media filter. older hard duct systems may be sized for heating only, and may be undersized for hvac system. evaluation of duct sizing, layout of duct system & degree of dirt/debris would all be prior to any sealing work. best of luck
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sktn77a
7 years ago
If you have any flex duct in your ductwork, don't let them near it. Othertwise, it shouldn't do any harm, but I don't think it does any good unless you have other problems that need attending to first.
Bruce in Northern Virginia
7 years ago
If you have floor heat registers you may have things fall into them, but all other ducts should only be full of dirt that is drawn into them from the cold air return. Since HVAC filters are usually on the return air side, this means that the dirt drawn in must have somehow made it by the filter and then been blown out into the ducts. Its always possible that the ducts are dirty, but I just don't see how the ducts would really built up a large amount of dirt and dust unless someone has removed the filter in the system.

Bruce
Elmer J Fudd
7 years ago
My comment above makes no sense because it was a response to a post that has been removed.

I was challenging a response of "Pro" Flame Heating Cooling & Electrical, who had said more or less the following words I found on their website:

"Without proper air duct cleaning and maintenance, these contaminants can
collect in your air ducts and get back into the air you breathe, which
can irritate allergies, asthma, sinuses, and spread cold and flu-causing
viruses."

Sorry, this is nonsense. Dust in very dirty ducts, sure. Viruses, no.
geoffrey_b
7 years ago
It's a scam. Duct cleaning is actually harmful - it dislodges the film that adheres on the ducts.

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Is air duct cleaning necessary?

Elmer J Fudd

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schoolhouse_gw

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