3 Signs It’s Time to Get Your Air Ducts Cleaned

Duct cleaning is not something on any homeowner’s regular to-do list, but it is important to do if you’re noticing issues like:

• Your home is dustier than usual (and there’s dust on your AC return and supply vents)

• A spike in your energy bills

• Inconsistent airflow throughout your home

Below, we’ll look at each of these issues in more detail, so you can get a better idea of whether or not you need to invest in duct cleaning.

If you want a professional’s opinion, we’d be happy to take a look at your ducts. Unlike scammy techs who may try to convince you that you need your ducts cleaned when you actually don’t, we will carefully assess your ductwork and provide you with an honest recommendation. Learn more about the duct cleaning services we offer or 

A tell-tale sign that your ducts may need to be cleaned is an excessive amount of dust around your home. 

Now, if you haven’t been cleaning as thoroughly, the dust build-up is probably not from your ducts. However, if you haven’t changed much about your cleaning habits but are noticing that items in your home are covered with a layer of dust, dirty ducts could be your issue.

Because air from your AC or heating system blows through your ducts, if your ducts are covered in a layer of dust and debris, that dust will get blown out of your vents and circulate around your home. 

Dusty/dirty air ducts can be caused by:

• Normal buildup of dust over time

• Leak(s) or hole(s) in your ducts allowing dirt and dust to enter your duct system

• Dirty air filter that is allowing dust and other particles to enter your duct system

Regardless of what is causing your ducts to become dirty, a tech will still need to come to your home and clean your ducts. 

During this time, a tech should take the time to assess the root issue of your dirty ducts. If your ducts are dirty because of a clogged air filter, you’ll just need to replace your air filters regularly going forward (every 1-3 months). 

However, if your ducts are dirty because of a leak in your ductwork, you should have a tech repair this leak before cleaning your ducts, otherwise, they will end up dirty again in the near future. 

Another potential sign that your ducts need to be cleaned is a noticeable spike in your energy bills. If the temperature hasn’t changed significantly, you haven’t changed the temperature of your home significantly or your utility bills haven’t increased, a rise in energy bills could be due to a dirty duct system.

Your ducts serve as a pathway for air to travel from your AC system to the rooms in your home. And if that pathway is blocked with dust and other particles, air won’t be able to travel as efficiently, which can increase your energy bills. 

If you notice another dirty duct  “sign” (like dust around your home) AND your energy bills have increased, dirty ducts are likely your issue. 

Either way, you’ll want to have a trusted HVAC tech come and assess your duct system to determine what the issue is before you invest in having your ducts cleaned. 

If you’ve noticed that some rooms in your home are suddenly warmer than others or the pressure of the airflow isn’t as strong in some rooms as it usually is, that could be an indication that there is some kind of blockage or buildup of debris in your air ducts. 

Of course, airflow won’t be the exact same in every room, but it should be essentially the same, so if you notice a drastic difference, clogged ducts may be the issue. 

As we mentioned above, your ducts can become clogged with dirt for a variety of reasons, but if there is enough dirt/debris to affect the airflow of the AC system, you likely have a hole (or a few holes) in your duct system that is allowing debris to enter and clog your ducts. 

Sometimes, a reduction in airflow can also be caused by critters or insects in your duct system. Because your ducts are untouched, dark and cool, they are the perfect home for a variety of insects and small creatures.

Before cleaning your ducts, an HVAC tech should determine what the root cause of the dirty ductwork is, so if it is a leak or an infestation, it can be taken care of before you spend money cleaning your ducts. At Advanced Air, we use Aeroseal’s duct sealing process which uses a computer to detect and monitor leaks, guaranteeing that the job is done 100% correctly. Learn more about our duct sealing services here.

If you are experiencing any of the issues above, you probably need your ducts cleaned. At Advanced Air, we will take the time to assess your ducts and give you a free estimate before we clean them. That way you have a better idea of the extent of the service needed and what it will cost.