Should You Clean Your Furnace Ducts? The Pros vs Cons

What To Think About Before Deciding To Clean Your Ducts?

On the one hand, professional duct cleaning can remove years of built-up dirt, dust, and debris from your ducts. This can improve the air quality in your home, and may even help reduce allergies or asthma symptoms.

On the other hand, professional duct cleaning can be expensive. It may also require that you temporarily move out of your home while the work is being done.

What Are The Benefits of Cleaning Your Ducts?

The pros of having your ducts professionally cleaned include:

Improved indoor air quality for you and your family members 

It’s not 100% fact as there is no research on the area, but cleaning your furnace ducts could provide you with better health and hygiene. This is certainly true if you have someone in your family with a respiratory illness such as asthma. You might find that this improves somewhat when you clean out your furnace ducts.

Reduced risk of allergies, asthma, or other respiratory diseases from dirty ventilation systems

If you have vermin in your ducts, then this severely increases the risk of diseases that you can catch. There are a number of diseases that are carried specifically through animals and vermin, which is why you want to avoid them being in your ducts. One of the worst diseases that you can get this way is called Hantavirus. This is very dangerous and can be caught when you breathe in the dust that has been contaminated with rodent droppings.

Longer lasting HVAC unit thanks to a more thorough cleaning process 

If your system is clogged with things such as dirt and debris, it’s not going to be working at maximum efficiency. As such, you’re not getting the best out of your HVAC system. Your system is going to be working twice as hard to ensure that your home is the temperature that you want it, but this isn’t an efficient way to do things. Instead, if you clean out the furnace ducts, you can get rid of all of the grime, ensuring your system is back to full working order. 

Are There Any Serious Downsides To Getting Your Ducts Cleaned?

The cons of having your ducts professionally cleaned include: 

Air Duct Cleaning Can Be Expensive

Air duct cleaning is a process in which a professional cleans the inside of your home’s air ducts. The cost of hiring a professional to clean your ducts can range from $269-$489, depending on the size of your home.

Inconvenience To Your Daily Routine

On very rare occasions professional air duct cleaning requires that you temporarily move out of your home. This means that most homeowners spend the night at a nearby hotel or with family members while their state is being restored to its usual cleanliness

Do I Need Professionals To Clean My Ducts?

If how clean your ducts is something you really want to tackle yourself, there are several different methods for doing so. However, it's important to remember that some do-it-yourself cleaning options may not be as effective as others. For example, using a traditional household vacuum cleaner will not always successfully remove built-up dirt and debris from a heating system vent. You also run the risk of damaging your ducts or HVAC unit if you're not familiar with how to properly clean them.

If you have any questions regarding ductwork and HVAC system services, please contact Midwest Duct Cleaning by filling out our online form or calling us at (913) 648-5300