Are there real benefits to cleaning the central air ducts in my house?

Question

I had the air ducts cleaned years ago and I was told later by somebody that it actually does not imrove air quality or save any energy costs.

Answer 1

For the most part this is a Scam business, but of course any timey you clean its a good thing. But think of it like this a Rolling stone gathers no moss- Air is blowing through there all the time- and unless you have floor vents ,nothing much is going to get into them but dust, and that blows on throurh to the filter, Change filters one a month . Keep it clean.

Answer 2

I've cleaned many ducts to great benefit for the occupants of the home, and I've also not cleaned ducts (which was also a benefit)
I find that most debris is in the return air duct and/or chamber under the air handler. And this, generally a result of poor or no filtration. Duct cleaning is effective at the removal of dust and loose debris, but it is not effect on mold, and can actually make matters far worse.

Sorry, I'm tired and have to go to bed. Good luck!

Answer 3

How does an air duct filled with growing bacteria sound to you? Stuff gets stuck down there all the time: dead bugs, water, food, toys, dirt and on and on. Does it make you feel good knowing air is blowing all around the house that's filled with dust and other crap living in it?

Some of that stuff does make its way to the blower and can cause problems.

In short, clean the damn ducts out you lazy bum, and change the filters every 6 months.

Answer 4

I was told not to bother with HEPA filters for my a/c, too. Don't believe it. If you have allergies, or if you just have any concern about your health, cleaning your ducts is a must. Not only does a huge amount of dust collect in them, but molds, spores, mildew and fungi will grow in the dust, especially if there is any moisture.

Also, the dust can, if it gets thick enough, impede air flow, which can put a strain on your a/c and cause increased power consumption. But that is far less of a concern than the health and cleanliness issues.

Answer 5

Cleaning the air ducts can save energy, because you are reducing the friction, and making it easier for the air to pass through, although it will probably not make a significant difference. A lot depends on how dirty they get, if it is very dusty in your area, and you have to change the furnace filter a lot, it wouldn't hurt to do it every five years.

Answer 6

i've never heard of that helping?? it may slightly improve air flow, but the filters would catch anything in the air ducts....their probably wasnt alot to actually clean due to the high air pressure going throught the ducts. Simply replacing your filters on time will save you the most money.

Answer 7

There can be - particularly if you've had a fire or have soot problems. Putting a media filter or electronic filter helps for some with breathing problems I have seen systems that were fifty years old, never cleaned, that did not present a problem. Does it save on energy costs? Rarely.

Answer 8

By cleaning the ducts you are eliminating a refuge for nasty little dust mites, and possibly a fire hazard.

Answer 9

If you have allergies yes there are benifits to getting them cleaned. If then not really

Answer 10

Read what OSHA has to say about cleaning airducts