While we generally recommend that you first professionally test your ductwork to see if they need to be cleaned, and then that you use a professional to do the necessary cleaning, some DIY-inclined homeowners handle the task themselves. It is generally recommended to inspect air ducts every 3 to 5 years. Cleaning them may be recommended if conditions such as mold formation, excess dust, pest infestations, or reduced airflow are observed, especially if people living at home have allergies, asthma, or other respiratory diseases. Cleaning the ducts isn't necessarily a bad idea, but the truth is that it's not necessary in most cases.
Cleaning ducts, which are usually full of dust, provides no real value. If done correctly, duct cleaning can be useful in limited situations. Over time, HVAC ducts normally accumulate dust, pet hair, dirt, and pollen. Sometimes, the ducts develop mold or trap larger objects, such as construction debris, vermin, or insects.
Do-it-yourself duct cleaning allows you to clean your home's air conditioning supply and vents at a much lower cost than professional duct cleaning. The EPA does not recommend cleaning air ducts except when necessary because of continuing uncertainty about the benefits of duct cleaning in most cases. If you discover signs of pests or rodents in the air ducts, such as excrement or nesting materials, it's essential to clean the ducts to prevent the spread of germs and allergens. When service providers come to your home, ask them to show you the contamination that would justify cleaning the ducts.
If you think that cleaning the ducts might be a good idea for your home, but you're not sure, talk to a professional. In the case of self-cleaning of ducts, a chimney cleaning head connected to flexible 10-foot nylon rods is sent through the supply and return ducts. As part of the duct cleaning process, the ducts may have service holes so that tools or vacuum hoses can access them, and they may not be properly sealed after use. While the debate over the value of periodic duct cleaning continues, there is no evidence to suggest that such cleaning is harmful, provided it is done properly.
Scary before and after photos of the ducts can be great photos with discount coupons, but it's unlikely that your ducts are in bad shape. Whether or not you decide to clean your home's air ducts, it's essential to commit to a good preventive maintenance program to minimize duct contamination. Self-made duct cleaning differs from professional cleaning because professional machines are not available to DIYers and are difficult to duplicate if done by yourself. When turning with an electric drill, the chimney head cleans much of the ducts, but it cannot touch all sides of the duct or move as forcefully as a pressure vacuum powered by compressed air from a professional duct cleaning company.
However, there is little evidence that cleaning the ducts alone will improve system efficiency. You can consider cleaning the air ducts simply because it seems logical to you that the air ducts will get dirty over time and need to be cleaned from time to time. Air duct cleaning service providers may tell you that they need to apply a chemical biocide to the inside of the ducts to eliminate bacteria (germs) and fungi (mold) and prevent future biological growth. However, there is little evidence to indicate that simply cleaning the duct system will increase the efficiency of the system.
While many of these products can be legally used inside unlined ducts if all instructions on the label are followed, some of the instructions on the label may not be appropriate for use in ducts.
