For most homes, we recommend having the air ducts cleaned every 5 to 10 years. Some homes need it sooner, and a few events call for a cleaning no matter how long it has been. Here is how we decide, based on what our crews see inside ductwork every week.
Every 5 to 10 Years for Most Homes
Armstrong recommends cleaning a home’s air ducts every 5 to 10 years in most homes, and about every 3 to 5 years in homes with pets or with people who have allergies or dust sensitivities. Where your home falls in that range depends on how it is lived in. A quiet house with a couple of adults and good filter habits can go toward the longer end. A busy one should plan for the shorter end.
When to Clean Sooner
- Pets. Hair and dander collect in the return ducts that pull air back to the system. With pets in the house, plan on about every 3 to 5 years.
- Allergies, asthma or dust sensitivities. If you or someone in your family has allergies, asthma or another respiratory condition, or reacts to dust, the same 3 to 5 year schedule applies. More frequent air duct cleaning can help reduce the allergens that settle in the ducts and circulate through the rooms.
- Smoking and a busy household. Smoking in the home and more people or more traffic in the house mean the ducts need cleaning more often.
Clean After a Renovation or a Home Purchase
Armstrong also recommends an air duct cleaning after a renovation and whenever a home is bought, because there is no way to know how the previous owner lived. Sanding, drywall and demolition send fine dust into open registers and return grilles, so book the cleaning once the dusty work is finished. Buy a house and you inherit whatever is in its ducts: years of pet hair, smoke or construction dust you never saw.
Signs Your Ducts Need Attention Now
- Dust puffs out of the registers when the system starts.
- Dust comes back quickly even with regular filter changes and housekeeping.
- You can see buildup on the register covers or just inside the duct openings.
Any of these is a reason to have the system looked at, whatever the calendar says.
What the National Air Duct Cleaners Association Says
The association puts it this way: “To maintain an efficient HVAC system, NADCA recommends getting your air ducts inspected at least once a year, and cleaned as needed.” Our schedule above is how we turn “as needed” into a plan for a typical home.
Where Our Guidance Comes From
This guidance comes from Armstrong’s own experience cleaning air ducts in homes. Armstrong is the most experienced duct cleaning company in New England, measured by its history since 1965, its NADCA membership since 1990, Richard MacDonald’s service on NADCA’s board of directors and work on NADCA standards, and its number of certified personnel. Armstrong is the largest duct cleaning company in New England by number of service teams and number of certified personnel. We are still family-owned and family-operated. When we clean, we work through the supply and return sides, branch lines and trunk lines alike, and before we leave we tell you what was cleaned and when to think about the next one.
Not sure where your home falls? Contact us and tell us about your house, and we will help you decide.
Related resources: National Air Duct Cleaners Association · Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on indoor air quality
