How often should your air ducts be cleaned?
Cleaning your ducts depends on a lot of different factors. All homes have an average accumulation of dust, but also there are plenty of other factors that come into play when determining the complete time frame. From the presence of busy roads, the frequency of construction work in recent months, and more. As a general recommendation, the National Air Duct Cleaning Association recommends that homeowners clean their ducts every three to five years. Data has been collected by professionals that factor into this suggestion, and this is based on experience from a wide range of different systems.
Factors for determining the frequency of air duct cleaning
When deciding how often you should clean your air ducts you need to think about what surrounds your property and what and who is residing on your property. But even when we are armed with this knowledge it is hard to be the judge of that if you are not a professional. That is why we always recommend regular inspections of both air ducts and your HVAC systems.
Inside of the home
- Construction work: anything from small fixes to remodeling can cause significant dust buildups
- Smoking on the property
- Humidity on the property
- Residents with allergies or asthma
- Pets on the property
Outside of home
- Construction work in near proximity
- The area suffered a wildfire, or a nearby property recently caught on fire
- Outside humidity
- The proximity of a busy road
When to call the pros for an air duct inspection?
Some things to consider when determining if your ducts need an inspection are if you can visibly see dusty buildup on the outside of the vents in your home, if there is debris on or around the filter, a moldy smell coming from the air vents, dust building up quickly on furniture in your home.
Cleaning air ducts and allergies
If you have people in your household who are sensitive to allergens, you should consider having your ducts cleaned more often. Allergens such as pet hair and dander, pollen, cigarette or cigar smoke, or if you are engaged in a home remodeling or renovation project can make ducts dirty much faster than in homes without.
HVAC Cleaning
HVAC systems filter out the allergens in your home, leaving air much cleaner for your family to breathe, and with the other allergens added into the HVAC system, you may need to clean more often. That is why it is recommended that you have the HVAC system serviced when you move into a new home. Unless you have proof that the previous homeowners have had the system serviced and cleaned within 3-5 years, you should get the cleaning done to guarantee the system’s high performance.
Air Duct and HVAC Cleaning on Commercial Properties
For commercial properties, the recommendation for cleaning air ducts is slightly more often, every 2-4 years. With the higher number of occupants in a commercial building daily, the HVAC system is working overtime to keep the air quality high. Often, in a commercial building, you should have your system serviced and cleaned before showing any significant signs of wear and tear. Having an inspection regularly lowers the chances that you will see dust accumulation, Sick Building Syndrome, mold, pest infestations, and allergy flare-ups for entrants into the building.
Having your commercial system regularly serviced, about every 2-4 years, will ensure that the system runs in top shape and will not have to spend money on costly repairs. Servicing your commercial HVAC system is like getting a tune-up for your car- you don’t wait until something breaks down and you know the service is necessary for top performance. Taking a proactive approach to the systems and equipment will save your business money in the long run on energy bills and system efficiency and component performance.
Post cleaning maintenance for air ducts and HVAC systems
After cleaning, there are some things that you can do to ensure your commercial HVAC system runs efficiently. In your commercial system, it is recommended to use high-efficiency HVAC filters to keep your ducts as clean as possible. Changing the filters monthly is recommended. Ensure that contaminants entering the building are at a minimum. Do not prop open windows and doors during seasons when polled in prevalent. Also, do not let employees smoke in or near the building as this can get into the system and hinder performance, making the need for cleaning and servicing happen more often.
