Is Duct Cleaning Worth It? Pros and Cons (Updated for 2024)

Most American households use central HVAC to cool living spaces. Although these properties have air vents, few homeowners have considered cleaning their ductwork. People generally don’t incorporate this activity into regular home maintenance because its merits are widely unclear. Understand the pros and cons of duct cleaning to determine whether it’s worth the trouble.

What Are Ducts?

Ducts are a network of passageways HVAC units use to move air around the house. They reside within wall cavities along with electrical and home networking wires, pipes and insulation material. 

The largest one in diameter is the main trunk duct, and those that split off it are the smaller branch ducts. Return ducts inhale air into the HVAC equipment, while supply ones exhale it to individual rooms. 

Air ducts can be of various materials — sheet metal made of galvanized steel is the frontrunner. Some metal ducts contain plastic for flexibility and affordability, while others feature fiberglass linings for insulation. Fiberboard ducts textured with fiberglass strands are also on the market for budget-friendly customers.

Regardless of ductwork design, these air corridors are their defining characteristic. However, many other elements work behind the scenes.

• Air handler unit: This metal box is the beating heart of an HVAC system. It heats, conditions and blows the air into the ducts.
• Reducers and HVAC take-offs: These fittings balance airflow and pressure, allowing just the right amount of air to move between ducts of different sizes.
• Dampers: These plates or valves regulate air circulation, stopping distribution of air to spaces that don’t require more heating or cooling.

Compared to other ductwork components, ducts are nothing more than enclosed tunnels that ensure whatever is in them — air, heat, dust and debris — don’t get out. They can’t maintain themselves, so they can become filthy when left unchecked for an extended period.

Pros of Duct Cleaning

Proponents of air duct cleaning swear by these benefits.

Promoting Good Health

Ducts harbor various air contaminants that can make your family sick. They contain house dust, pollen and other particles. Poor ventilation can cause air to stagnate and condense, causing moisture to build on the surface. Mold species can colonize damp ductwork sections because they live off organic matter, including dead skin cells and animal dander found in dust. Dirty air ducts can also serve as breeding grounds for harmful microorganisms.

In theory, clean ductwork should protect you and your loved ones from serious health diseases. After all, leaving irritants, allergens and pathogens in the ducts alone leaves the door open for air contamination.

However, the authorities aren’t completely convinced that cleaning air ducts can improve the health of property occupants. State and municipal governments have echoed the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) stance on the dangers of dirt in ductwork. The federal agency says most of the dirt in the air sticks to duct surfaces and remains in place instead of ending up in living spaces. Plus, squeaky clean ductwork doesn’t prevent dust and dirt from entering rooms.

Be that as it may, allowing mold colonies in air ducts to thrive can turn your home into a respiratory danger zone. Mold infestation is a cause for concern in any shape or form. These fungi use the air currents flowing through the ductwork system to spread spores. Exposure to large amounts of these reproductive mold cells can trigger asthma attacks and allergic reactions. The more frequently you inhale them, the more sensitive you become.

Catching Animal Presence

Wildlife can infiltrate your air ducts for various reasons. Bugs may gravitate toward your air conditioner because of its humming sound, using the ductwork to be closer to where the noise is coming from. Pests may use ducts to roam around the house for food undetected. Rodents like rats prefer warm environments, so they may use the ductwork to find the most comfortable indoor space for shelter.

Duct cleaning aids wildlife detection. Technicians use cameras that can reveal or confirm the presence of any bugs, critters or traces of them in the ductwork.

Increasing HVAC Efficiency

Your home’s square footage dictates ductwork design. Undersized ducts affect airflow, jeopardizing your HVAC equipment’s ability to heat or cool your living spaces.

Significant duct buildup offsets the benefits of having properly sized ducts. Chunks of dust occupy space, congesting the cavity the air uses to travel around the house. Failing to heat or cool rooms accordingly can affect HVAC performance.

Reducing Fire Hazards

Dust can contain flammable materials, such as fine pieces of wood and food. Although the combustible components in the tens of pounds of house dust trapped in the air ducts may not suddenly ignite, they can accelerate the spread of flames in case of fire.

Boosting Property Value

Dirty air ducts don’t make a good advertisement for a property listing. Conversely, interested buyers may use them against you and force you to bring down your asking price.

If you plan to sell your house down the road, strongly consider getting its ductwork cleaned. Dust-free air ducts make an effective bargaining chip during price negotiations.

Cons of Duct Cleaning

While the pros of duct cleaning may outnumber the cons, critics believe these drawbacks outweigh the perceived benefits.

Spending Hundreds

The average homeowner pays nearly $400 for duct cleaning. Home size, number of vents, ductwork accessibility and contaminant removal affect the final bill. If you have a big house with lots of vents in hard-to-reach areas and ducts containing dirt, mold, asbestos and wildlife, you’ll likely pay more. Cleaners charge by the hour — the more laborious the job, the costlier it is.

Risking Property Damage

Inviting any contractor to do something in your house always involves the risk of property damage. Hiring a credentialed duct cleaning company can reduce your exposure to this risk.

Look for a local contractor that employs technicians certified by the National Air Duct Cleaners Association. This designation helps ensure that the crew abides by the industry’s professional standards.

Lacking Solid Evidence of Benefits

Naysayers often say that there’s no conclusive proof that duct cleaning translates to healthier space. Researchers haven’t found a link between this service and good indoor air quality. However, even the EPA admits that contaminants can circulate around the house through the duct system.

Weigh the Pros of Duct Cleaning Against the Cons

Both camps offer compelling arguments as to why duct cleaning is and is isn’t worth the trouble. Although it’s a fact that the ductwork get dirty over time, not enough science can back the claim that doing so can make indoor air healthier. Still, good hygiene is only one of the motivations for cleaning ducts regularly. Use your best judgment to decide whether this service is truly worth its weight in gold.

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Original Publish Date 11/23/2022 — Updated 10/4/2024