Heat Ducts Cleaning Yes or No?

dpg · 10-19-2020, 07:53 AM

Hello - So early next month I made an appointment for an air duct cleaning company to come out for a cleaning. Just for the hell of it this weekend I was Googling "air duct cleaning" and to my surprise it actually appears to not come highly recommended. Most of the articles stated it makes little to no difference for performance or even cleanliness. So my question to you good folks if you've had it done what did you think of the outcome did you notice ANY difference at all in any way? I know this heating system hasn't been "cleaned" for many, many years that I know of anyway, so I just thought it was a prudent thing to do. Although now I'm beginning to second guess my decision.

SAB1 · 10-19-2020, 08:16 AM

Also wondering the same. Wonder how it is actually done to get all surfaces in the ducts.

MotorHead · 10-19-2020, 08:30 AM

Twice a year, I turn the air handler on and spray couple cans of mold stuff and let it circulate.
I make sure everyone is out of the house. I am not sure if that does anything but gives me a piece of mind..

dpg · 10-19-2020, 08:36 AM

Well I happen to know it has been easily 20 years since anything like this has been done in the home so I thought what the hell why not? Please keep the responses/opinions coming! Thanks!!

MeredithMan · 10-19-2020, 08:44 AM

I would think if you have the furnace cleaned/maintained once a year and change the air filters in spring and fall, you should be fine. That's always been my practice, but I'm just a dopey homeowner, not an HVAC expert.

If the furnace hasn't been cleaned/maintained in many years as you indicated, I would suggest putting the money into that, as a priority over ducts being cleaned.

ishoot308 · 10-19-2020, 08:46 AM

I had it done at my house and probably would not do it again. The reason I did it was to remove construction debris and dirt that I felt needed to be removed. After actually seeing what was removed I felt it was a waste of time and money.

Unless you know for certain you have some kind of problem within your ducts, I wouldn't waste your money doing it...

Just my thoughts.

Dan

JanN · 10-19-2020, 09:06 AM

Our house was built and we moved in 1984. Have the furnace maintained every year, change filter at that time and a new furnace installed last year and have never had the ducts cleaned and haven't had any problems ever.

Just adding my information to the mix.

boat_guy64 · 10-19-2020, 10:50 AM

My son bought a 33 year old house last week. We pulled off all of the vents and put down a shopvac hose. Clearly, no one had ever done this before. We pulled up a lot of interesting stuff. About half a dozen boxes for electric receptacles from 1987. Lots of snack wrappers, plumbing pieces, screws, nails and lots of wood scraps. 90% of this was within one foot of the vents. We used a flashlight, and taped a USB camera to a six foot stick and I would say they looked pretty clean after the 33 year old construction debris was removed. Not sure if he would benefit from a formal professional cleaning but I'm thinking there will be a positive impact with the two hours we spent.

camp guy · 10-19-2020, 12:55 PM

Hmm, 33 years - did you find any Twinkies ? - they would just be coming into their own.

Barney Bear · 10-19-2020, 01:04 PM

We have our propane gas furnace serviced annually, and change filters at the same time. Cleaning the ducts has never been recommended. 🐻

Music Man · 10-19-2020, 11:26 PM

Although our current house doesn't have any ductwork, we've lived in many houses that have. If you keep your filters clean, the air coming out will be clean. If not, you also run the risk of fouling up the cooling or heating vanes, making them run inefficiently - as well as sending dirty air throughout the house.

My folks had an old oil furnace many years ago, and there was an accumulation of soot around each vent. Then they switched to gas, did get the ducts cleaned, and never had the problem again.

dpg · 10-20-2020, 08:52 AM

Hmmm reading these responses I can't see any reason the keep the appointment! I left a message this morning with an independent guy for a Boiler check/tune-up which I know has also been a handful of years. I think my money may be better spent just pursuing that for now. If they call back I'll also get their opinion about the ducts but I have a feeling what their going to say!

Kamper · 10-20-2020, 03:57 PM

My wife bought a cleaning from a 'group-on.' The cleaners got here and saw white cloth tape on our ducts. "That's asbestos. We won't touch the ducts until you get it remediated."

The deal was non-refundable. After a little chat with customer service, we gave it to a friend with newer duct work. They did not notice any difference.

I've been tied up with other projects but I may just cut it away and replace our ducting.

A friend had it done after a fire in their condo. It still took a while for the smoky smell to go away.

Reilly · 10-21-2020, 04:44 AM

Do not do it if you have any Flex ducts

swnoel · 10-21-2020, 10:33 AM

If the filters have always been in place and changed routinely ,the only thing you need to do is to remove the supply registers and vacuum in that area.

swnoel · 10-21-2020, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Music Man

Although our current house doesn't have any ductwork, we've lived in many houses that have. If you keep your filters clean, the air coming out will be clean. If not, you also run the risk of fouling up the cooling or heating vanes, making them run inefficiently - as well as sending dirty air throughout the house.

My folks had an old oil furnace many years ago, and there was an accumulation of soot around each vent. Then they switched to gas, did get the ducts cleaned, and never had the problem again.

My guess is they had a cracked heat exchanger... must have stunk oil every time it fired up!

dpg · 10-21-2020, 01:15 PM

I'm making a management decision and canceling!

Thanks and keep the opinions and/or experiences coming if you would... Appreciate it!

10-19-2020, 07:53 AM	#1
dpg Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,619 Thanks: 157 Thanked 235 Times in 172 Posts	Heat Ducts Cleaning Yes or No? Hello - So early next month I made an appointment for an air duct cleaning company to come out for a cleaning. Just for the hell of it this weekend I was Googling "air duct cleaning" and to my surprise it actually appears to not come highly recommended. Most of the articles stated it makes little to no difference for performance or even cleanliness. So my question to you good folks if you've had it done what did you think of the outcome did you notice ANY difference at all in any way? I know this heating system hasn't been "cleaned" for many, many years that I know of anyway, so I just thought it was a prudent thing to do. Although now I'm beginning to second guess my decision.

10-19-2020, 08:46 AM	#6
ishoot308 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Gilford, NH / Welch Island Posts: 6,367 Thanks: 2,422 Thanked 5,349 Times in 2,093 Posts	I had it done at my house and probably would not do it again. The reason I did it was to remove construction debris and dirt that I felt needed to be removed. After actually seeing what was removed I felt it was a waste of time and money. Unless you know for certain you have some kind of problem within your ducts, I wouldn't waste your money doing it... Just my thoughts. Dan __________________ It's Always Sunny On Welch Island!!

10-19-2020, 10:50 AM	#8
boat_guy64 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Windham and Meredith Posts: 225 Blog Entries: 5 Thanks: 33 Thanked 90 Times in 43 Posts	air ducts My son bought a 33 year old house last week. We pulled off all of the vents and put down a shopvac hose. Clearly, no one had ever done this before. We pulled up a lot of interesting stuff. About half a dozen boxes for electric receptacles from 1987. Lots of snack wrappers, plumbing pieces, screws, nails and lots of wood scraps. 90% of this was within one foot of the vents. We used a flashlight, and taped a USB camera to a six foot stick and I would say they looked pretty clean after the 33 year old construction debris was removed. Not sure if he would benefit from a formal professional cleaning but I'm thinking there will be a positive impact with the two hours we spent.

10-19-2020, 12:55 PM	#9
camp guy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: formerly Winter Harbor, still Wolfeboro Posts: 1,205 Thanks: 309 Thanked 535 Times in 299 Posts	Heat ducts ... Hmm, 33 years - did you find any Twinkies ? - they would just be coming into their own.

10-19-2020, 01:04 PM	#10
Barney Bear Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 962 Thanks: 498 Thanked 274 Times in 175 Posts	Service, Please We have our propane gas furnace serviced annually, and change filters at the same time. Cleaning the ducts has never been recommended. 🐻

10-19-2020, 08:16 AM	#2
SAB1 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Tuftonboro Posts: 1,254 Thanks: 193 Thanked 335 Times in 243 Posts	Also wondering the same. Wonder how it is actually done to get all surfaces in the ducts.

The Following User Says Thank You to SAB1 For This Useful Post:
CL 240 LS (10-19-2020)

10-19-2020, 08:30 AM	#3
MotorHead Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2020 Posts: 281 Thanks: 53 Thanked 85 Times in 64 Posts	Twice a year, I turn the air handler on and spray couple cans of mold stuff and let it circulate. I make sure everyone is out of the house. I am not sure if that does anything but gives me a piece of mind..

10-19-2020, 08:36 AM	#4
dpg Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,619 Thanks: 157 Thanked 235 Times in 172 Posts	Well I happen to know it has been easily 20 years since anything like this has been done in the home so I thought what the hell why not? Please keep the responses/opinions coming! Thanks!!

10-19-2020, 08:44 AM	#5
MeredithMan Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Bedford, NH; Meredith, NH Posts: 979 Thanks: 263 Thanked 823 Times in 340 Posts	I would think if you have the furnace cleaned/maintained once a year and change the air filters in spring and fall, you should be fine. That's always been my practice, but I'm just a dopey homeowner, not an HVAC expert. If the furnace hasn't been cleaned/maintained in many years as you indicated, I would suggest putting the money into that, as a priority over ducts being cleaned.

The Following User Says Thank You to ishoot308 For This Useful Post:
Reilly (10-21-2020)

10-19-2020, 09:06 AM	#7
JanN Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 43 Thanks: 174 Thanked 20 Times in 11 Posts	Our house was built and we moved in 1984. Have the furnace maintained every year, change filter at that time and a new furnace installed last year and have never had the ducts cleaned and haven't had any problems ever. Just adding my information to the mix.

The Following User Says Thank You to camp guy For This Useful Post:
JEEPONLY (10-20-2020)

10-19-2020, 11:26 PM	#11
Music Man Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Posts: 104 Thanks: 37 Thanked 25 Times in 16 Posts	Although our current house doesn't have any ductwork, we've lived in many houses that have. If you keep your filters clean, the air coming out will be clean. If not, you also run the risk of fouling up the cooling or heating vanes, making them run inefficiently - as well as sending dirty air throughout the house. My folks had an old oil furnace many years ago, and there was an accumulation of soot around each vent. Then they switched to gas, did get the ducts cleaned, and never had the problem again.

10-20-2020, 08:52 AM	#12
dpg Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,619 Thanks: 157 Thanked 235 Times in 172 Posts	Hmmm reading these responses I can't see any reason the keep the appointment! I left a message this morning with an independent guy for a Boiler check/tune-up which I know has also been a handful of years. I think my money may be better spent just pursuing that for now. If they call back I'll also get their opinion about the ducts but I have a feeling what their going to say!

10-20-2020, 03:57 PM	#13
Kamper Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Thornton's Ferry Posts: 1,312 Thanks: 67 Thanked 172 Times in 128 Posts	My wife bought a cleaning from a 'group-on.' The cleaners got here and saw white cloth tape on our ducts. "That's asbestos. We won't touch the ducts until you get it remediated." The deal was non-refundable. After a little chat with customer service, we gave it to a friend with newer duct work. They did not notice any difference. I've been tied up with other projects but I may just cut it away and replace our ducting. A friend had it done after a fire in their condo. It still took a while for the smoky smell to go away. Last edited by Kamper; 10-20-2020 at 07:11 PM.

10-21-2020, 04:44 AM	#14
Reilly Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 191 Thanks: 695 Thanked 56 Times in 40 Posts	material Do not do it if you have any Flex ducts

10-21-2020, 10:33 AM	#15
swnoel Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 529 Thanks: 83 Thanked 194 Times in 118 Posts	If the filters have always been in place and changed routinely ,the only thing you need to do is to remove the supply registers and vacuum in that area.

10-21-2020, 01:15 PM	#17
dpg Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 2,619 Thanks: 157 Thanked 235 Times in 172 Posts	I'm making a management decision and canceling! Thanks and keep the opinions and/or experiences coming if you would... Appreciate it!