How Often Should Duct Cleaning Be Done?

Maintaining ideal air quality inside your home relies heavily on the cleanliness and functionality of your heating and cooling system.

If you have ducted heating, evaporative cooling or ducted reverse cycle air conditioning, you not only need to keep your filters in prime condition, but keep your ducts clean as well. But how often should duct cleaning be done?

Let’s explore just why your air ducts need cleaning, the benefits it provides and just how frequently you should get your air ducts cleaned.

Importance of Regular Air Duct Cleaning

When it comes to your ducted heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, it’s crucial to pay attention to air duct cleaning. As such a pivotal element of your home heating and cooling, the ducts faithfully work behind the scenes to circulate heated or cooled air throughout your home.

As is the case with almost any other area in your home, your HVAC ducts can build up significant volumes of dust, debris and potentially dangerous allergens. These often include nasty elements such as pet dander and dust mites, which can contaminate the indoor air you breathe. Neglecting to clean your HVAC ducts can also lead to visible mould growth, which is not a pleasant thought!

The Benefits of Proper Air Duct Cleaning

All ducted heating and cooling systems benefit greatly from regular, consistent maintenance, particularly when it comes to the ducts and vents themselves. Here are just some of the benefits of keeping up with your duct cleaning duties:

• Improve indoor air quality – Duct cleaning can eliminate household dust buildup, mould spores and other debris that compromises the quality of the indoor air.
• Ensure maximum efficiency – Cleaning dirty air ducts can dramatically improve overall system efficiency, which means your air conditioner need not work as hard to heat or cool your home.
• Alleviate respiratory problems – Contaminated air ducts can result in various health concerns, including respiratory problems. Regular cleaning can help reduce the risk of people being adversely affected by these health problems.
• Prevent mould growth – In humid conditions, dirty ducts can be a breeding ground for mould and other fungi. This leads to unpleasant odours and potential health risks. Regular duct cleaning can help prevent this issue.
• Increase system longevity – Regular air duct cleaning as part of HVAC maintenance can extend the system’s lifespan by reducing strain.

From the health benefits and lower energy bills to longer system lifespan, the benefits of clean air ducts make professional cleaning highly worthwhile.

Determining the Frequency of Duct Cleaning

So exactly how often do air ducts need cleaning?

Metropolitan Air Conditioning recommends air duct cleaning every 3 to 5 years. However, other factors can also come into play that may mean your system may require even more frequent cleaning. These can include:

• High dust and pollution levels – Living in areas with high dust, pollution, or construction activity increases debris in air ducts, necessitating more frequent cleaning.
• Home occupants with allergies or asthma – People with asthma or allergies are more sensitive to dirty air ducts, so more frequent cleaning can help reduce symptoms by keeping the air cleaner.
• Presence of pets – Your aircon system often easily sucks in pet hair and dander. Eventually it builds up inside your air ducts, resulting in increased allergens and decreased system efficiency.
• Recent home renovation – After a renovation or remodelling project, we recommend getting your air ducts cleaned to remove any accumulation of construction dust and debris.
• Smoking inside the house – Smoking indoors leaves residues that degrade air quality, necessitating more frequent duct cleaning to maintain a healthier environment.
• Water damage or flooding – Water damage can foster mould and mildew growth in your air ducts, increasing the need for regular inspections and duct cleaning.
• Rodent or insect infestation – Insects and rodent can find their way into your air ducts, leaving behind droppings and debris. Regular cleaning can prevent these from circulating in your home’s air.

Understanding your household’s specific needs helps you make informed decisions about more frequent air duct cleaning.

Identifying The Signs Your HVAC System Needs Duct Cleaning

Being mindful of certain signs can help you determine when you need your ducts cleaned. These include:

• Visible mould growth inside the ducts of your aircon system.
• Unpleasant odours coming from your vents.
• More dust and debris build-up around the air vents.
• Increased incidence of allergies or respiratory issues among family members.

If any of these signs occur, it’s time to contact a professional for air duct cleaning.

Benefits of Hiring a Professional

While it may seem like something you could do yourself, you’re best off leaving cleaning air ducts to the professionals. Equipped with the necessary tools and knowledge, a licensed heating and cooling technician can perform a comprehensive clean. One that will make your system more energy-efficient than it’s been in a while.

Professional air duct cleaning services include:

• Comprehensive cleaning and sanitising of air ducts.
• A detailed HVAC system inspection, including cooling and return ducts for potential problems.
• Preventing and removing mould and other harmful allergens.

Hiring a professional for clean ducts does more than prevent possible damage to the air conditioner. It also improves the air quality and the system’s efficiency.

Move Towards a Healthier Home

Maintaining a clean and efficient air conditioning system ducts plays a critical role in ensuring a healthy home environment. Having a licensed technician professionally clean your HVAC system ducts  by every 3-5 years is essential for an energy-efficient home. However, the frequency of duct cleaning may vary depending on individual circumstances and environmental variables.

Vigilance towards the condition of your air ducts and securing professional services for cleaning are worth investing in for indoor air quality and overall health.

Please note: Thank you for reading our blog “How Often Should Duct Cleaning Be Done?”. This information is provided for advice purposes only. Regulations differ from state to state, so please consult your local authorities or an industry professional before proceeding with any work. See our Terms & Conditions here.