Having a professional heating duct cleaning should be an important part of your home maintenance routine, but it’s one that’s often overlooked. You’re not able to see deep inside your home’s ducts, so without an inspection, you may assume you don’t have a problem. As dirt and debris build up, however, your home and family could face a variety of issues.

Benefits of Having Your Ducts Cleaned

A heating duct cleaning can yield the following benefits:

• Energy savings

Dirty ducts make your heating and air conditioning work harder. When debris is removed, your system works more efficiently, and energy bills are likely to decrease.

• Fewer breakdowns

As your system works harder, there’s a greater chance that it will develop problems or even break down. Repairs can be more expensive than a cleaning and cause your home to be cold while you’re waiting for your heating system to be fixed.

• No unpleasant smells

When you first turn on your heating system during the winter, you may notice a burning smell. This happens because when your furnace isn’t used for a while, dust that has collected in the ducts and on the heat exchange burns off. You may also smell a musty smell resulting from mold. Having your ducts cleaned should eliminate these unpleasant odors.

• Better indoor air quality

Air circulates through these ducts and ends up in your home. Over time, ducts can become filled with dust, dead insects, and other debris. Mold, bacteria, and fungi can all thrive on the inside of ducts. If these contaminants are present, they’re being carried inside your home, reducing your indoor air quality.

How Often Should Ducts Be Cleaned?

How often you should have your ducts cleaned depends on a variety of factors. The National Air Duct Cleaners Association recommends a schedule of every three to five years on average, with more frequent cleanings in some instances.

For example, if your home has recently been renovated, you may have more dirt and debris than normal in your duct system. In addition, if you have allergies, have pets, or smoke, you may want to have your system checked and cleaned more frequently. 

For more information about home maintenance, check our First Quality Roofing & Insulation blog for other related posts.