How Often Should You Clean Your Air Ducts?

A United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report on indoor air quality (IAQ) notes that, “Americans, on average, spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors, where the concentrations of some pollutants are often 2 to 5 times higher than typical outdoor concentrations.” If that’s true for you, and most of your time is spent in your home or place of work, it’s time to take control of your indoor air quality. One key way to do this is to look into air duct cleaning. But once you do, you may find conflicting information. For instance, how often should you actually clean air ducts? Let’s get into it.

General recommendations from the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) recommends that air ducts be cleaned every 3 to 5 years. And for the average family and situation, that will likely still apply. But this is run-of-the-mill advice. The true answer could be an outlier and fall either more or less frequently, depending on several factors.

Here's a more detailed breakdown of the reasons why you might need to clean your air ducts more often:

• Allergies or Respiratory Issues: If someone in your home deals with allergies, asthma, or other respiratory conditions, indoor air quality becomes a top priority. Even low levels of contaminants can aggravate their condition or spark a flareup. Dust, pollen, mold spores and other allergens can accumulate in ductwork–cleaning removes this harmful buildup.

• Pets In The Home: Our pets are part of the family, but they can bring unwanted fur, dander, and other contaminants that they pick up while outdoors. Not only can these particulates accumulate in the ducts, but they can also be recirculated, aggravating existing respiratory issues.

• Number of Residents: The more people and pets in your home, the more opportunities there will be to bring in outside dirt and debris. And the more individuals there are living within a home, the more dust there will be. Frequent air duct cleaning prevents buildup of these everyday contaminants and particulate matter. 

• Indoor Smoking: Smoke from tobacco holds particulate matter that can linger in ductwork, leading to a buildup of contaminants. This can lead to unpleasant odors and aggravated respiratory problems.

• Recent Home Renovations: After new construction or a major renovation, duct cleaning is recommended to remove the excess dust and debris that can accumulate and recirculate.

• New Occupancy: When setting up your new-to-you home, you can’t account for the habits or lifestyle of the previous owners. They may have had several pets, smoked indoors, or rarely cleaned their air ducts. This is a good time for a fresh start. 

• Water Contamination: If your home experiences any sort of water damage, the risk of mold and mildew go up significantly. Once remediated and repairs have been made, it is recommended to also clean air ducts in order to remove and prevent accumulation of mold, mildew or fungus spores.

In residential settings that meet any of the above criteria, experts recommend cleaning air ducts at least every two to three years for optimal cleanliness and allergen prevention. However, for commercial facilities, more frequent HVAC duct cleaning is vital.

• Food Manufacturers: Sterilization and cleanliness are vital for food producers. However, unavoidable food particulates that collect in air ducts can lead to mold growth and pest infestation concerns. 

• Manufacturing Operations: Whatever your industry, if excess amounts of dust are created during the course of daily operations, then frequent air duct cleaning is vital. Not only does this help to remove sources of contamination, but it also reduces the hazards created by combustible dust.

• Hospitals and Health Centers: Healthcare facilities are concerned with preventing contamination between ill patients, but are also aware that allergens and particulate matter can cause adverse reactions in sensitive individuals.

• New or Renovated Facility: No matter how careful contractors are, construction is messy. While the new facility may look pristine, the ductwork will likely tell a different story–dust and debris can quickly accumulate and recirculate. Air duct cleaning is one piece of the puzzle to staying OSHA-compliant post construction.

• No Prior Record: If you are the new owner of a building that is 10 years old or older, and there is no record from previous owners of an air duct cleaning, you can assume that the air ducts are in dire need of a cleaning. Without evidence of it being done, it’s likely that the air ducts have either never been cleaned, or it has been far too long since the last cleaning.

In these commercial and industrial settings, experts recommend, and standards may require, quarterly, semi-annual or annual air duct cleanings. Food particulates and combustible dust hazards make this necessary, both to prevent mold or pest infestations and to keep employees, clients and patients safe. Production facilities can also aid in their efforts to prevent contamination and resulting recalls if air ducts are kept clean.

Get Your Ducts In A Row–Schedule A Cleaning With Scrubber Ducts Today!

If your home or business fits the above criteria, it could be time for an air duct cleaning! And if not, keep an eye out for excess dust, mold, pet dander, or signs that your HVAC system is working harder than it should. Failing equipment and rising energy usage could indicate that ducts are dirty and air flow is being hindered. The time to improve your indoor air quality is now!

Get in touch with Scrubber Ducts to learn more about our services and to schedule an appointment. For an idea of what to expect from an air duct cleaning, check out our before and after page and see what customers are saying about our work. We’d be happy to answer any and all questions about the equipment and techniques we stand behind. Let’s get started on improving your everyday!