Should I have my air ducts cleaned?

Benefits to having your air ducts cleaned

There are many benefits to having your air ducts cleaned.  Although, dirty air ducts have not been proven to pose a risk to your health, they could possibly become infested with insects and/or rodents, cause unwanted odors and contribute, to a certain degree, to the levels of dust particles present in the home.  Having your air ducts cleaned by a professional service provider will help to eliminate the possibility of these problems.  

Cleaning your air ducts is a process

Cleaning your air ducts is a process and selecting the proper service provider should be also.  You should be sure to select a service provider that is willing to provide justification that supports having your air ducts cleaned.  In some cases, the return vents may be covered in dust, but the actual duct work may not need much attention, at all.  Contact a service provider that’s willing to offer an estimate after a thorough evaluation of your system.

Cleaning air ducts should not be considered system maintenance

Cleaning the air duct vents and ductwork is only a small part of truly cleaning an HVAC system.  Cleaning the actual unit includes the plenums, blower blades, blower compartment, air filters, etc.  

In conclusion:

There are many cases that support having you air ducts thoroughly cleaned, but light dust is expected in any system.  If you suspect that your ventilation system may have significant dust/debris build-up, contact a professional to evaluate the situation.  

Although, having a dust-free system with clean filters could have a direct affect on system performance, it should not be considered complete maintenance of your heating and cooling system.  System maintenance should also include a full inspection of your equipment by a service professional.