Duct cleaning, plainly
What duct cleaning can and can’t do
Duct cleaning is sold harder than it’s needed. We follow the EPA’s guidance.
The EPA doesn’t recommend cleaning ducts routinely. If no one at home has unexplained symptoms and you can’t see mold, pests or heavy dust in the ducts, cleaning is probably unnecessary. The EPA also hasn’t found that it prevents health problems.
We look inside before we quote
We show you what we see
If cleaning won’t help, we say so and tell you what will
Why us
Side by side
| Cleaning can’t | Cleaning can | |
|---|---|---|
| Visible mold | Cleaning can’tSave wet, lined or flexible duct; that gets replaced | Cleaning canBe worth doing on hard duct surfaces, once the moisture is fixed |
| Pests | Cleaning can’tKeep them out; sealing the openings does that | Cleaning canClear nests and droppings from a duct they used |
| Dust | Cleaning can’tStop the house from getting dusty again | Cleaning canRemove heavy buildup, like drywall dust after a remodel |
| Health and bills | Cleaning can’tPromise fewer allergies or a lower bill; the EPA has found no proof of either | Cleaning canTake out dirt you can see, and show you before and after |
| Hot rooms | Cleaning can’tFix a room that won’t cool; leaks, sizing and return air usually explain it | Cleaning canClear a run that is packed with debris |
| Smells | Cleaning can’tCure a musty smell that comes from the coil, the drain pan or the house | Cleaning canHelp when the source is in the duct, like a dead animal or old mold |
When we will clean
The three cases where cleaning makes sense
These are the cases the EPA lists. Each one has something to fix first.
Mold you can see
Growing on hard duct surfaces or on parts the air passes over.
We fix the moisture source first
Lined and flexible duct is replaced, not cleaned
Pests in the ducts
Nests, droppings or a dead animal in a run.
We close the opening they used
Then we clean what they left
Heavy debris at the registers
Dust or construction debris blowing into the house.
We find how it got in
We show you a before photo
If we clean
How a cleaning goes
- 01
Step 1: Show you the problem
A camera or a look inside at the registers, so you see what we see.
- 02
Step 2: Hold the system under suction
A vacuum pulls air out of the ducts, so what we loosen goes to the vacuum and not into your rooms.
- 03
Step 3: Brush and vacuum each run
Brushes and air tools loosen the buildup run by run.
- 04
Step 4: Close up and check
We seal the access openings, replace the filter and show you the after.
What we don’t sell
Two things we’ll talk you out of
Ozone generators
The EPA doesn’t recommend ozone generators in homes where people are present.
Promises about health
The EPA doesn’t certify air cleaners or UV lights. We’ll say what a product does, and not that it will keep anyone well.
Cleaning questions
Should I have my ducts cleaned?
Probably not. The EPA says routine cleaning isn’t needed. It makes sense when you can see mold growing on hard duct surfaces, when pests have used the ducts, or when dust and debris are blowing out of the registers. We look first and show you what we find.
My ducts have mold. What now?
Ducts with mold on lined or flexible material are usually replaced, because that material can’t be cleaned well. Hard metal duct with visible mold can be cleaned once the moisture source is fixed. We fix the moisture first.
Will cleaning help my allergies?
The EPA hasn’t found that cleaning ducts prevents health problems. If someone at home has allergies or breathing trouble, start with the filter, the humidity and any leaks, and talk to their doctor.
Do air purifiers and UV lights in the ducts work?
The EPA doesn’t certify air cleaners, and ozone generators aren’t recommended for occupied homes. A clean filter that your system can handle matters more. We’ll tell you what a product does and doesn’t do, and we won’t promise health results.
Want a second opinion on a quote?
Send us what you were quoted. We’ll tell you what the EPA says about it.