[LVguy]

Hi guys how often do you guys hire people to clean the air ducts system in the house? I was changing the air filter and inside the duct it's full of dust and fiber? thing. I think it's like the throughout the whole house's duct system! Before when I had heater on, the top of desks would collect dust REALLY fast! I think dirty ducts is the problem. I just moved in a few months ago I guess I should hire someone to clean it up. You should have it cleaned once a year? can you guys recommend some decent companies for air duct cleaning? thanks

I heard the vacuum thing they use to clean the ducts they don't really do anything, and if your duct system aint' sealed up good it might damage the system, what do you guys think?

[winter-rabbit]

Originally Posted by LVguy

Hi guys how often do you guys hire people to clean the air ducts system in the house? I was changing the air filter and inside the duct it's full of dust and fiber? thing. I think it's like the throughout the whole house's duct system! Before when I had heater on, the top of desks would collect dust REALLY fast! I think dirty ducts is the problem. I just moved in a few months ago I guess I should hire someone to clean it up. You should have it cleaned once a year? can you guys recommend some decent companies for air duct cleaning? thanks

I heard the vacuum thing they use to clean the ducts they don't really do anything, and if your duct system aint' sealed up good it might damage the system, what do you guys think?

I wonder if I am renting, will the homeowner cover this cleaning expense?

[Danknee]

Relevant thread one
Relevant thread two

Arguments for and against in both those threads. Chris Hanson had a pretty great video clip focusing on the many ways HVAC duct cleaning companies try to rip you off>>
YouTube link

Personally I'm never going to clean mine. I change the intake filters at recommended intervals and call it good.

[tiger08]

I didnt watch the video but I've heard over and over again that duct cleaning can tear up flex duct, which is what most homes built since the late seventies, early eighties have.
I've installed lots of duct and can tell you that the inner liner on flex duct can be torn easily and I really wouldnt want anybody messing with my junk.

Keep your filters changed and have the evaporator coil washed on the a/c every couple of years and call it good.

[vtvette]

We had a professional cleaner (all he does is clean ducts) come out and clean ours when we bought our house. He said many ducts he cleans do not need the service. It turns out ours only had a little dust. They had never been cleaned. The house was built in the mid-80's.

He advised us AGAINST cleanings as it can cause wear/tear on the flexible ducts in the walls.

He said the events that require a cleaning are excessive construction/remodeling (particularly sheetrock work) where care was not taken to prevent dust from entering the ducts, people experiencing bad allergy reactions especially when moving to a new home (possible pet dander in the vents) or cigarette smoke remediation. He advised us to keep our filters changed out frequently and DON'T have the ducts cleaned too frequently.

[tiger08]

To add another note. There are quite a few homes here that were built in the seventies that have round fiberboard duct with no liner inside and I would fear to see what duct cleaning would do to those.

I've been in a few of those attics here and would have to suggest that if anyone has them, replace them soon! Not only do they hold a lot of dirt but they fall apart everywhere, major leaks.

[Buzz123]

We've been in this house going on 13 years and have been talking about it, but the guys that installed our new A/C units recently said it's not necessary. I've read a lot of for and against. On Angies' list I saw some rip off incidents, but also some positive things.

[PinkString]

I think I asked the same question on another thread, but can't find it now. So, if we lived here for 10 years(since it was built), never had the ducts cleaned, but get a lot of dust, should we just change the filters more often and hose off the outside a/c thing? A bug did fall out of a duct within the last month, but figure it came from outside somewhere. I would hope it was a lone bug, and not a colony up there.

[MediocreButArrogant]

Originally Posted by tiger08

I didnt watch the video but I've heard over and over again that duct cleaning can tear up flex duct, which is what most homes built since the late seventies, early eighties have.
I've installed lots of duct and can tell you that the inner liner on flex duct can be torn easily and I really wouldnt want anybody messing with my junk.

I've reached my arms into our ductwork and felt the fragility of the flex duct, and seen the brushes that they use to clean ducts, and everyone who has written that cleaning them can tear up the ducts is absolutely correct.

You absolutely don't want to do this if you have flex duct.

[clutchcargo777]

Originally Posted by PinkString

I think I asked the same question on another thread, but can't find it now. So, if we lived here for 10 years(since it was built), never had the ducts cleaned, but get a lot of dust, should we just change the filters more often and hose off the outside a/c thing? A bug did fall out of a duct within the last month, but figure it came from outside somewhere. I would hope it was a lone bug, and not a colony up there.

If you have a split system (a unit outside on the ground) that is the condenser. The poster that suggesting getting the evaporator coils cleaned bi-yearly is referring to the half of the "split" that is inside the home above a condensate pan. That's the part that a fan blows air over a coil that is cooled by expanding refrigerant that makes the cold air that makes your house livable. That's not to say you shouldn't get your condenser coils cleaned as well. That's the part that's outside that removes the heat from your house. Equally helpful.