How Often Should You Have Your Air Ducts Cleaned?

Of all the air conditioning services that you can do on your house, having your air ducts cleaned regularly is probably one of the most important. Not only will it reduce the amount of wear and tear on your AC unit, but you also improve your indoor air quality, which will substantially improve your family's health as well.

But how often should you have your air ducts cleaned? While other services such as changing air filters and cleaning the air conditioner coils have normal maintenance schedules, when to have your air ducts cleaned can be largely subjective. Indeed, depending on where you live and how much usage your unit gets, that number can vary wildly, although most experts agree your ducts should be cleaned every three to five years.

Below are a few questions you can ask yourself to help make the determination as to how often you should have your air ducts cleaned. If you need help with any of it, contact an HVAC company as soon as possible.

Are There Any Weird Smells?

One of the first signs that you need to have your AC ducts cleaned is if you have any kind of weird smell emanating from your vents. While dust and dirt can be one thing, any mold or mildew smells need to be taken more seriously. This not only means that bacteria have found their way into your air vents but also that you may have increased humidity or a water leak somewhere that is causing that bacteria growth.

Is There a Lot of Dirt in Your Area?

Some parts of the United States have more dirt circulating in the air than others, such as the Texas Panhandle and the plains of Kansas. While you may not necessarily live in these areas, if there has been a lot of dirt picked up in your area, whether because of new construction, high winds, or even an especially high pollen count, it's a good idea to have your ducts cleaned more regularly.

Does Your Family Have Allergy Issues?

Anybody in your home that suffers from asthma or allergy issues requires a better indoor air quality than others. On average, the air inside your home is 2 to 3 times worse than the air outside your home, which means that cleaning your air ducts is even more important moving into the winter months, since most people will be forced to stay inside. Instead of the usual 3 to 5 years for air duct cleaning, you should shoot to have your air ducts cleaned every other year, if not sooner.

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