Derek ColeGM, Simmons One Hour Heating & Air · AI HVAC Answers

Duct Cleaning Yearly? | HVAC Tips

16 Mar 2021 · 2 min

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1:31

In this video, HVAC professional Derek Cole explains that duct cleaning should be performed only as needed rather than on a strict yearly schedule. He emphasizes cleaning ducts before any duct sealing work to remove accumulated dust, dirt, and even objects like toys, ensuring a clean surface for the sealant. Cole estimates a typical cleaning interval of about five to six years under normal conditions. If a homeowner finds themselves needing annual cleanings, it likely signals a problem such as a hole, improper grill placement, or debris entering the system (e.g., shoes near a grill). He provides practical examples of how external factors can introduce dirt into ducts and advises that frequent cleaning indicates a need to investigate and fix the underlying issue.

Chapters

You should have your ducts cleaned now on a regular basis. I'm not sure what that means, if it's like yearly. Usually you only need to clean your ducts as needed. We do a lot of duct sealing, and we recommend a lot of duct cleaning before that sealing because you want to clean that duct, get all the dirt, get all the dust, get all the toys out of it. You'd be surprised how many toys you find on duct cleaning. Get all the toys out of the way before you seal it. That way you're starting fresh and then you have it sealed and now you're starting from that place. But as far as a regular basis, you shouldn't need to do that. You shouldn't need to do it as needed every now and then. I would say, off the top of my head, I would think 5 or 6 years would last you. I mean, you shouldn't be having that much dirt get into your duct system where you need a duct cleaning. Every single year. Now if that is happening, obviously we have a hole or something, or dirt is getting in somehow. In some occasions I have seen that on like when the grill's at the back door or the front door, people like to put their shoes near it or step on it, or you know, all that dirt then falls down in that grill and then falls in a duct system, and there's no way for it to get out unless you clean it and get it out. So it was something I'd recommend doing, but it's something you shouldn't need like routinely, like a maintenance.