Question for Our Experts:

I’m convinced that duct cleaning should be a part of my home or office’s routine maintenance schedule. But how often should my ducts be cleaned?

Our Experts’ Answer:

The Short Answer

Homeowners should have their ductwork inspected every 3 – 5 years. Based on the results of this inspection, duct cleaning may or may not be necessary. Office managers should faithfully have their ductwork cleaned every 3 – 5 years, or sometimes more frequently based on foot traffic in the building, legal requirements, or other factors. Keep in mind that these are general rules of thumb. We recommend a professional duct cleaner evaluate your building’s environment and provide a customized recommendation based on your unique needs.

The Detailed Answer

The answer depends on whether we’re talking about a residence or an office building. Also keep in mind that everything discussed here is of a general nature – a recommendation specific to your building will depend upon unique factors such as the location of your air filter(s), the frequency of filter changes in between service visits, whether you have many pets or lots of traffic in your building, etc. That being said, here are some general considerations:

• At Your Home: Have your ductwork inspected at least every five (5) years (for a normal home) or at least every three (3) years (for a home with high traffic, many pets, or other unique conditions). Based on the results of the inspection, have duct cleaning performed on an “as needed” basis. But how do you know when it’s needed? Well, let’s assume that you’re having HVAC preventive maintenance (PM) performed by a reputable mechanical contractor at least once a year (which we’d highly recommend). When it comes time for your PM visit, ask your service technician to spot check your ductwork system while he’s doing his routine maintenance*. While this won’t constitute a complete check of your ductwork, the service technician will be able to observe areas that are most likely to show dirt or debris. If these areas look dirty, the technician should recommend a complete inspection which, in turn, may lead to a full duct cleaning if necessary.

• At Your Office: A full duct cleaning should be faithfully performed at most office locations on a three (3) to five (5) year cycle. Again, the need for and frequency of duct cleaning depends on the occupancy rate and foot traffic that the office building receives. For example, a doctor’s office that with a large staff that’s open to the public may even need to have duct cleaning performed once or twice per year. At the other extreme, a small support office with a staff of three people and no public access would probably only require a “once-every-five-years” cleaning. It’s important to note that some facilities (such as nursing homes or medical facilities) may be required by law to have their ductwork cleaned at certain, very frequent intervals (in the interest of public health).

The Bottom Line

If you don’t know the last time your ductwork was cleaned or inspected, it’s probably time for a duct cleaning job! Otherwise, plan for a duct cleaning every 3 – 5 years at your home or office. The professional duct cleaning team at Tuckey Restoration is ready and willing to help you evaluate your needs and schedule your service – just give us a call!

For professional assistance with this and other HVAC or restoration work, the Tuckey is the local expert to call. Keep our number handy – you never know when you might need us! Call (717) 524-1198 or visit www.tuckey.com for more information.