Do you really need to pay good money to have your ? The short answer is “probably not.” But before you call up dad to chant “I told you so,” it’s important to understand why you probably don’t need to do it — and why we just italicized “probably.”(Because some people actually should. Hope it’s not you!)In order for your forced-air furnace or HVAC to deliver warm and cool air into your rooms, that air has to go through a system of ducts. So technically, you’re breathing in any dust, cobwebs, pet hair, and dander that line those ducts. Not according to the experts. Dan Stradford, National Air Duct Cleaners Association treasurer and CEO for Action Duct Cleaning in Los Angeles, says there are no conclusive studies saying that duct cleaning will improve your home’s indoor air quality.Asa Foss, LEED residential technical director for the U.S. Green Building Council, concurs. “I’ve never seen any data that suggests duct cleaning has a positive impact on indoor air quality and human health,” he says.

But Foss also says that’s only true when your ducts are airtight. Leaky ducts can pull in dirty air and allergens from basements, crawlspaces, garages, and attics — and blow it all around your house, Foss says.So unless your ducts are leaky (easily fixed with foil-backed duct tape and insulation), or you have a special need, like a compromised immune system, nasty allergies, or you just did major construction, you probably don’t need to worry about air quality when it comes to the state of your air ducts. Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule. Both the EPA and the National Air Duct Cleaners Association recommend professional duct cleaning if you have , vermin (vermin!), or excessive amounts of dirt and debris in your ducts.How do you know if you have vermin in your ducts? You can actually look yourself. Do a visual inspection by pulling off the register grill and looking around with a flashlight, or stick your arm in and take a photo with your phone. (Finally, an excuse to use that selfie stick you got stuck with at your work’s white elephant gift exchange.)

If you see mold, or a dead mouse, or any run-of-the-mill nasty stuff like droppings (ew, we’re so sorry), go ahead and call in a pro. Get those ducts cleaned.Another situation that calls for cleaning, says EPA spokesman Mark MacIntyre, is right after . clean internal laptop fan“You wouldn’t want to have that being dispersed into the house when you turned on the heat.”best solution to clean vinyl blindsAnd finally, if you’re just finicky, you just be you. price of vacuum cleaner in puneBe your own special circumstance.“best vacuum cleaner for construction dust

We have customers [for whom] just the thought of dirty ducts is upsetting to them,” says Stradford. OK, so you’re gonna clean your ducts. Your dad will be proud. But be wary of scams. Stay away from companies willing to clean your ducts for $49 or another lowball figure, Stradford says. best way to clean acura leather car seatsOften they’ll do a quick inspection and some vacuuming, tell you there’s mold growth and charge you thousands for clearing it out. couch cleaning service phoenixIt’s common enough that the National Air Duct Cleaners Association has an anti-fraud task force.Look out for duct cleaners claiming they will sanitize your system. “We can’t legally use the words ‘sanitize’ or ’disinfect,’” Stradford says. “By definition sanitizing or disinfecting requires extremely high kill rates and there’s no way we can guarantee 100 percent saturation.”

Also, cleaning your ductwork alone is not going to make a difference. A real professional knows that, and should do annual maintenance on your entire system, including the air handler (that’s what they call that big metal box outside that cranks out the noise). {{ start_tip 7 }}Otherwise it’s the same as dusting your ceiling fan after you’ve vacuumed.So how much will it cost, and how long is it going to take? Typically, duct cleaning takes two to five hours, but it can go on for two days if you have a large house with lots of ducts, Stradford says. On average you should spend $300 to $700.Related: 7 Household Expenses You’re Probably Wasting Your Money OnCost to Clean Ducts To estimate costs for your Clean Ducts project, change the size and default options below... Home Size 1600 square feet Labor Type Vendor supplied Do you need to know the average cost to clean ducts in your zip code? Do you need a fair, trustworthy and easy-to-understand 2017 estimate of Duct Cleaning material and labor costs?

Just enter your project size, job options and zip code - and then select Update. Do you need professional help for your project? The FREE homewyse hiring guide helps you find and hire great help, get quality craftsmanship and create a fair contract. Duct Cleaning - Pricing Notes Cost estimate includes labor to remove lint, debris, accumulated surface dirt and mold from the Duct(s). Includes time required to move/replace or protect items, materials and surfaces in or near the Duct Cleaning area. Includes allowance for equipment expenses typically required to complete Duct Cleaning properly. Estimate includes costs for disposable materials, equipment consumables and supplies used in Duct Cleaning. Labor total includes time typically required to setup, clean and breakdown equipment needed for Duct Cleaning. Estimate includes transportation costs for workers and equipment to and from the job site. Duct Cleaning - Pricing References NCMA Resource Guide The National Concrete Masonry and Hardscape Association, Mar 2011, Editorial Staff