Do I Need My Air Ducts Cleaned? - The Answer Will Surprise You!

Air duct cleaningsounds good and sanitary and is advertised as almost a necessity, however even with indoor air pollution becoming an issue of growing concern it may not be right for you.  I used to think everyone should have it done if they can afford to, but I never actually read further about it until recently.  Now my opinion has changed.

There is no substantial evidence that points to air duct cleaning in and of itself, as having a great impact on the energy efficiency of your home. There are some circumstances though that call for air duct cleaning. If your home suffers from one of these situations, you may wish to consider air duct cleaning.  Anything super gross in your air ducts, other than some dust should trigger some desire to get your air ducts cleaned.

Air duct cleaning is recommended if there is visible mold growing on hard surfaces in and around air ducts. Keep in mind it is hard to see inside the air duct for visible mold so you many want to contact a professional if you suspect there might be mold in there.  Also if air ducts are infested with rodents or insects or if they show excessive amounts of dust and debris. If particles are released into your home from your supply register, that would indicate a need for cleaning as well.

Much of the dirt or dust adheres to the inside surface and does not necessarily enter the living space. Dirt and dust build up sound gross, but unless it is coming out of the supply register it isn't causing a problem. Mold growth inside air ducts can be dangerous if the mold is toxic. Inhalation is the most dangerous way that humans come into contact with toxic mold. Even though not all mold is toxic, it is safer to treat it as though it is, until lab tests prove otherwise.

If you have insulated air ducts and the insulation gets wet and moldy, it should be removed and replaced. The conditions causing the mold growth must be corrected or the mold will recur. 

Presently the EPA does not recommend that air ducts be cleaned routinely, but rather only as needed. There is also the question of what chemical biocides will be applied to the inside of air ducts to kill bacteria and fungi and whether these biocides are safe or whether they can cause more problems than the contaminants themselves.

Ozone, which is a lung irritant, is sometimes used instead of biocide. A light amount of household dust in your air ducts is normal and does not warrant cleaning with biocides or ozone.

Preventing water and dirt from entering the duct system is the best way to prevent contaminated air ducts. Use high efficiency air filters, and change them frequently as needed. Have your air conditioner cooling coils and drain pans cleaned or checked yearly if possible. Vacuum your carpet with a HEPA filter vacuum.

Keep moisture out of air ducts by repairing any leaks or damage. If you see standing water and debris in the condensate pan that isn't draining have it checked right away. Air ducts running through attics, crawl spaces and other non-air-conditioned spaces should be sealed and insulated. Steam cleaning and any method involving moisture should never be used to clean air ducts.


Some companies advertise application of a sealant to prevent release of dust and dirt particles inside the air duct to the air. There are still questions about the safety and even the effectiveness of sealants. Also how they perform over time and do they disintegrate under different conditions is still questionable. More evaluation and research is needed before this type of procedure should be widely recommended.


Methods of cleaning air ducts are different depending on what the air ducts are made of. Sheet metal air ducts may be cleaned differently than flex duct, fiber glass duct board or fiber glass lined air ducts. Clean air ducts sound great, but don't just get your air ducts cleaned with dangerous chemicals without doing research and understanding that there are likely risks involved, that haven't been fully discovered yet.

If you suffer from allergies, or have other health problems your evaluation may be different than other peoples evaluation.  Look up the EPA website at http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/airduct.html#Should  before calling someone to clean your air ducts.

For more discussion and information on how to make your home energy efficient and cut your electric bills  please visit my website at   http://www.homes-energy-efficient.com/ 

Please feel free to share your opinion and comments below!