Air Duct Cleaning vs. HVAC Maintenance: What’s the Difference?

You know you need to keep up with maintaining the various systems that keep your home running smoothly–like the HVAC system–but maybe you aren’t sure about the difference between that and air duct cleaning. In this article we’ll break down the differences between the two and outline when air duct cleaning is a good idea.

What Is HVAC Maintenance?

HVAC maintenance focuses on the HVAC system, obviously, but it takes into account every aspect of it. That means heating, ventilation, and air conditioning–all the components and parts thereof. Often called a tune-up, HVAC maintenance is generally done twice annually, once in spring to make sure that the air conditioning equipment is in good working order before the heat of summer, and once in fall to ensure that the heating components are working properly before winter rolls in. Tasks done during HVAC maintenance can include things like changing filters, inspecting electrical connections, checking thermostat settings, and cleaning coils and drains. Moving parts are lubricated, outdoor units are thoroughly cleaned, and any vegetation growth is cleared to maintain proper airflow. While ductwork may be inspected to ensure that it’s still properly functioning, it isn’t thoroughly cleaned.

What Is Air Duct Cleaning?

As the name suggests, air duct cleaning is a service that is part of good HVAC maintenance, but it’s hyper specific to just one component–the air ducts, the pipes that air flows through. Companies like Scrubber Ducts are not going to clean coils and clear vegetation around outdoor condenser units, instead, they’re going to be focused on deep cleaning the interior of your HVAC system’s ducts and vents. Years of use can cause build up, and so for the average household it's recommended that every 3-5 years, air ducts get a thorough scrubbing to remove dust, allergens, mold spores, and other contaminants that could end up recycling through the air in your living spaces. 

Air duct cleaning involves vacuuming dust and debris from inside air vents, disinfecting air ducts, using specialized brushes and other cleaning equipment to remove buildup from duct walls, and more. Air flow can improve, along with indoor air quality, and your HVAC equipment can end up working more efficiently. If you have a large family, several pets, smoke indoors, recently renovated or just seem to have a particularly dusty home, more frequent air duct cleaning is a good idea.

Do You Need HVAC Maintenance or Air Duct Cleaning?

The answer is yes! This isn’t an either-or sort of situation, instead it’s more of a both-and type of scenario. HVAC maintenance and air duct cleaning are very different services, but they are complementary to one another, and together they ensure that your HVAC systems are running optimally, year in and year out. So every home that has an HVAC system will need to schedule annual maintenance checkups with a trusted HVAC mechanic, but they’ll also want to fit in regular air duct cleanings to maintain system efficiency and indoor air quality. Both services can also help to reduce the chances of sudden breakdowns and unexpected costly repairs, so they’re very worth doing.

Schedule Air Duct Cleaning Services

Air duct cleaning and HVAC maintenance are both vital practices to maintain ideal HVAC system function in Cleveland, Ohio, or anywhere else you may live. Scrubber Ducts is happy to offer state-of-the-art air duct cleaning services, along with kitchen venting installation, furnace and A/C installation or replacement, and dryer vent cleaning. Contact us today to learn more about our services and to schedule an appointment.