Air Duct Cleaning - Worth It?

[King Cwab]

We’ve been in our house for 8 years or so and have not gotten one before. Pricing it out is 700-1000 which isn’t the most exciting bill to pay.

Our upstairs has been feeling warmer the last couple summers and we have a cat. Our HVAC company said it might help with better airflow/distribution upstairs.

Anyone had this done lately? Worth it?

 

[QChawks]

we've had it done twice, once at our older house and then we had the ducts clean before moving into our new place.

that prices seems really high, I think we paid $300 but that was at least 5 years ago.

I would say it's worth it, especially if you have allergy sufferers in your family. Helps the HVAC system run more efficiently too.

 

[desihawk]

granted i know little about hvac ducts but i was under the impression that as long as the ac operates frequently the ducts pretty much stay clean. i get the hvac serviced yearly and nobody’s ever pitched this to me.

 

[soybean]

By and large duct cleaning is a scam. Forced air from your furnance and AC running through your normal filter is almost always adaquate.

 

[SWIowahawks]

Cleaning the ducts will do zero to help with airflow. Unless they are including the cleaning of the evaporator coil.

 

[The Tradition]

I don't think it had ever been done here at Tradition Manor (more than 30 years).

We did it this year and the housekeeping staff says they don't have to dust as often.

 

[Moral]

OP, you said you have a cat? Just tie some dusting pads onto it and put it into the HVAC. Tie a string to it so you can pull it out.

 

[*hawksrock*]

Get a mini flex cam and have a looky loo inside the duct, that should provide enough evidence for or against duct cleaning.

 

[On Iowa]

Complete sham and waste of money. The only time I would even begin to consider it was if I was moving into a house that had pets previously and someone in the family was HIGHLY allergic. Any dust that is in that duct has been there for a LONG time and isn't just breaking loose and blowing all over the house. Sure, they may get some crap out of there, but it would have stayed there forever if you left it alone. Messing with the stuff is more likely to disrupt it and cause it to dislodge. Save your money.
In 20+ years of HVAC system design and construction, I've recommended duct cleaning exactly 1 time- when a duct had internal liner that was becoming detached from the duct and breaking free, which isn't a thing in residential construction.
I see this service advertised on Facebook from time to time and I love to troll them. They have no idea what they're doing or how to make it work.

 

[kc78]

only if you've had high humidity that could lead to mold or your home is over 15 years old.

 

[King Cwab]

Aaaaand throwing away those quotes.

 

[kc78]

I had a tenant demand that I do it once because she swore there were bugs coming out of the vents. We sent out pest control who checked everything and determined there were no bugs in the vent although one or two water bugs had come through a drain.

So we treated for bugs. The she demanded it because she had allergies and was breaking out in hives.

Our house was 7 years old. I told her to shove it.

 

[unsubstantiated]

I agree most residences probably do not need it.

But when you need it, you NEED it. I've seen some shit.

 

[Moral]

I've seen some shit.

In the air ducts? Some people, I swear.

 

[unsubstantiated]

In the air ducts? Some people, I swear.

Unrelated to my above post, but some guy I knew at UNI got into a dispute with the landlord as he was moving out...... you can fill in the rest.

 

[Rifler]

Furnace filters exist for a reason,.. just use them.

 

[Colonoscopy]

Well, if you have something in there that needs cleaning. Like lots of pillow dust. Few collie dog hairs? Let it flow.

 

[millah_22]

OP, you said you have a cat? Just tie some dusting pads onto it and put it into the HVAC. Tie a string to it so you can pull it out.

Its best to fish the wire through before tying it to the cat. That way you can just pull straight from where you want it to come out.

 

[millah_22]

In the air ducts? Some people, I swear.

When I was like 6, I didn't want to miss my cartoons so I pissed down the vent in the living room. Shit is in the realm of possibilities.

 

[Moral]

Furnace filters exist for a reason,.. just use them.

And you only have to install them once per lifetime of the furnace. Best 7 dollars a person can spend.

 

[Joes Place]

We’ve been in our house for 8 years or so and have not gotten one before. Pricing it out is 700-1000 which isn’t the most exciting bill to pay.

Our upstairs has been feeling warmer the last couple summers and we have a cat. Our HVAC company said it might help with better airflow/distribution upstairs.

Anyone had this done lately? Worth it?

We use these things called "furnace filters"

 

[Joes Place]

Furnace filters exist for a reason,.. just use them.

And replace every 3 months.

I just got a K&N re-usable/washable one. MERV 8
Seems to be working great for me...

 

[longliveCS40]

Definitely get your ducts cleaned. Then make an appointment at the chiropractor to help with your vision. Then go to a psychic to determine what direction you should take your life.

 

[Rifler]

And you only have to install them once per lifetime of the furnace. Best 7 dollars a person can spend.

Okay,.. you might need duct cleaning.

 

[BlIIlken2]

The only duct that needs cleaning is the dryer vent which you can easily do yourself.

 

[Joes Place]

The only duct that needs cleaning is the dryer vent which you can easily do yourself.

Yep.

$10 drill-attachment kit on Amazon worked like magic

AND, a Youtube video of an Army Vet who demo'd how to attach your leaf-blower to the inside vent tube, and shoot all the lint 20-30 ft from your house outlet. That was frigging GENIUS, IMO.

 

[QChawks]

gheesh there certainly are a lot of companies doing duct cleaning these days

is it some sort of starter business kit?