Is duct cleaning absolutely necessary?

Question

If so, how often should duct cleaning be performed?

It has been 4-5 years since we moved to our current home, and we have not had duct cleaning yet. Just wondering if it is neccessary.

Answer 1

only if you are really dust intolerant.. some dust does go in the ducts when  not in use, especially ducts under the floor, not so much if in the ceiling. but you could also take the registers off yourself and vacuume out the collected dust as far in as you can reach... be careful there are sharp edges and s***w points that can cut skin easily.

Answer 2

It will improve the efficiency of your furnace and save you money in the long run on your heating.I have my dryer vent also cleaned every two

years as it clogs up as well. It makes the clothes dry faster and

you are less likely to have a fire in the dryer  

Answer 3

Your filter catches the dust before it gets to your ducts so they should never need cleaned. Even if you ran without a filter all the dust would stick and clog up your A Coil.

Answer 4

I think I'd do it every 5 years to keep them clean.

Answer 5

Only if they are dirty.  I don't believe that in 20+ years of remodeling I have ever found significant dirt inside any intact ductwork that I have taken out.

Now, if you have mold or significant allergy problems, your ductwork could be suspect, but I would find the source of the problem, not just keep cleaning the ducts.  Usually, there is water infiltration from a bad connection in these cases.

Answer 6

No .It is a rip off.If ducts are that foul that they need "cleaning",they need to be replaced.

Not necessary.

Answer 7

It's a rip off. Just make sure you change your furnace filters whenever they should be changed.  My house is 87 years old, with the original ductwork, and they have never been cleaned.