Does cleaning air ducts really make a difference?

Duct cleaning has never been shown to actually prevent health problems. Neither do studies conclusively demonstrate that particle (e.g., dust) levels in homes increase because of dirty air ducts or go down after cleaning.

What happens if you don't clean air ducts?

Over time, without proper air duct cleaning and maintenance, the moisture will start to grow mold and mildew. The real problem here is due to what your ducts do: disperse air throughout a structure. If you have moldy air ducts, that mold is going to be blown all through your home or business.

What are the benefits of cleaning air ducts?

How often should you be cleaning your air vents in your home?

According to the National Air Duct Cleaners Association, homeowners should have their air ducts cleaned every three to five years, but the timing really depends on the region in which you live, how often you use your HVAC system and whether you have family members that have respiratory problems.

Does duct cleaning make things worse?

Duct cleaning may not prevent health issues.

Unless a family member is allergic to dust and you want to take special precautions beyond using a HEPA vacuum, cleaning the ducts might not make a difference, health-wise, in indoor air quality. In certain cases, discussed below, duct-cleaning is a good idea.

Do NOT Get Your AIR DUCTS CLEANED Until You Watch This Video! Air Duct Cleaning In St Louis MO

How do I know if my air ducts need to be cleaned?

Will cleaning my air ducts make my house less dusty?

Getting your ducts cleaned will help eliminate the excess dust in your home by blowing out any dirt, dust, and debris trapped in your ductwork. If dust is accumulating in your home, there's likely much more sitting in your ductwork. You also help your air filter do a better job since the dust won't keep clogging it up.

Why is my house so dusty?

Both low humidity and high humidity play a role in why your house is so dusty. When the air is dry, your air can be extra dusty. But when it's too high, it can feed mites and promote mold growth. If your air is dry, run a humidifier so that you can reach a comfortable level.

Can dirty air ducts make you sick?

Develop Respiratory Infections, Disease

If your family is getting sick more than normal, experiencing coughing, sneezing, sore throats, runny noses, nasal congestion, headaches, and low-grade fevers, they may have upper respiratory infections as a result of dirty air ducts.

How can I clean my ducts myself?

Will cleaning air ducts improve performance?

Your HVAC system has to work harder, thus using more energy to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. So, in a simple answer, yes, duct cleaning can help a lot with efficiency—as long as you actually need it!

Does duct cleaning help with allergies?

When your HVAC blows air through ducts coated in dust, you end up with airborne dust and dust mites in your home. Plus, pet dander, bacteria, viruses and mold spores. So it stands to reason that cleaning dust, allergens and other contaminants from ducts could improve air quality and reduce allergy symptoms.

How do I know if I have mold in my air ducts?

Can mold travel through air vents?

Mold typically enters an air duct system any time steady amounts of water or condensation are present in the vents. If an air conditioning unit is infected with a strain of mold, oftentimes it will spread from the air conditioning unit throughout the air duct system.

How do you keep dust out of your vents?

Change Air Filters Regularly

So if you have been wondering how to keep dust from coming out of vents, keep checking the air filters to ensure they are working well. The filters should be replaced regularly to ensure maximum efficiency in cleaning dust.

Can dirty air ducts cause sinus infections?

Sinus Infection: Just like respiratory infections, sinus infections happen when mold, dust, pollen, or other airborne irritants are blown throughout a home from air ducts that have accumulated these particles.

How did Grandma eliminate dust?

Emily White, owner of Two Maids and a Mop, was taught by her grandma to use a pillowcase so you can catch the dust in it, then dump it in the trash afterward. "You just stretch the entire case over the blade and wipe off the dust inside," she says.

Should I dust or vacuum first?

When doing your thorough cleaning, dust the room before vacuuming so you can vacuum up the particles that float into the air as you work and settle on the floor.

Does dust come out of vents?

Sometimes the dust and debris originates from your ductwork and heating vents. Your heating and air conditioning system will try to filter out the dust and debris in your home, but sometimes that is not enough to keep your air clean in this situation.

How often should you vacuum your vents?

As a general rule of thumb, the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) recommends air duct cleaning every 3 to 5 years.

How do I know if my AC vent is clogged?

Differences in Temperature

The biggest symptom of clogged air ducts in your home is a difference in temperatures. This is most likely to occur if you set your whole-home thermostat to the desired temperature and then notice that one room isn't as warm or cool as the others.

Can dirty air ducts cause a fire?

Dust and debris accumulate over time. However, if allowed to accumulate over an EXTENDED period of time the accumulation of particulates can become a risk for fire and poses a danger of spreading fire to other parts of your building via the HVAC system.

Does black mold grow in air ducts?

Unfortunately, your air conditioning system and your air ducts are a common place for black mold to reside. Moisture plays a significant role in the growth of mold. Your air conditioning system can act as an incubator for black mold because of its constant change in humidity levels throughout the summer season.

Will duct cleaning remove mold?

Air duct cleaning services are an important part of home maintenance. Air duct cleaning will not only get rid of dirt, dust and other particles, but it will also get rid of mold. Mold can be quite detrimental to human health.