How Often Should I Clean My Air Ducts?

How Often Should I Clean My Air Ducts?

Recently we have been focusing on quality of your indoor air where AC maintenance and cleanliness takes a leading role. One area in particular that should be getting cleaned are your air ducts.

Air ducts can quickly become a host for dirt and dust, fungi and bacteria. With dirt and dust as food, and the comfortable temperature in your air ducts, mold spores can happily move in. Ducts clogged with excessive dirt or debris can in turn be released into the home.

As you can guess, finding one or several of these things in your air ducts will have a negative impact on your indoor air quality. But, it can also eat away at the efficiency of your system too. Having particles in your air ducts will cause your AC system to work harder, ultimately leading a shortened lifespan of your system.

AC Maintenance

Some of those particles are going to be trapped in your furnace filter, but not all of them. With time and neglect, those particles will build up in your AC system. AC maintenance is important, especially as the weather continues to warm. Part of that maintenance is to have your air ducts cleaned by professionals you trust, like those at Sandy Heating & Air Conditioning.

With indoor air quality, efficiency and the overall well-being of our system in jeopardy, we know it’s important to clean the air ducts. But how often do they need to be cleaned? This answer will depend on where you live, and how often you use your AC system. If someone in your home is more sensitive to the indoor air quality, for example they have allergies or asthma, it may mean you need to clean them more often.

According to The National Air Duct Cleaners Association, the short answer for an air duct cleaning schedule is three to five years. That being said, there are many factors that can determine if you should have them cleaned closer to the three-year mark, or the five-year mark.

Your personal preference will play a big role, as well as the following:

  • Whether or not you have smokers in the home
  • You have pets with a lot of hair and dander
  • There has been damage to your AC system
  • Those in the home have allergies or asthma
  • You’ve recently done renovations or remodels
  • You moved into a new home

If there is visible mold growing on the sheet metal of the air ducts or other parts of your AC system, it is a good indication to have your air ducts cleaned. You’ll also want to clean them if there are any rodents or insects in the ducts.

Cleaning your air ducts is an important part of your AC maintenance. Remember, if you clean your air ducts you should also consider cleaning your entire system. This will in turn keep your air ducts cleaner longer, without pollutants from any other parts of the system spreading. Regular AC maintenance will keep your system happy and the people in your home healthy. Call Sandy Heating & Air Conditioning for any maintenance questions or concerns!