Is Air Duct Cleaning Worth It? | Angies List

Linda Wetzel of Shaker Heights, Ohio, says she was skeptical about air duct cleaning until a friend told her it had improved her allergies. I figured common sense said, if theres dust on the table, there has to be dust in the vents, Wetzel says.

After hiring a highly rated cleaner she found on Angie's List, Wetzel was very pleased with the results. She says she noticed an immediate improvement in air quality everyone in the house suffered fewer allergies afterward and the entire HVAC system worked more efficiently.

"We used our air conditioner less in the summer because it had so much more airflow," she says. "And we used the heater less during an incredibly cold winter."

Despite such anecdotal experiences, there's no scientific evidence that regular duct cleaning improves air quality, according to a 1997 brochure published by the Environmental Protection Agency. Laureen Burton, senior scientist in the EPA Indoor Environments Division, says that while the document is more than a decade old, the science hasn't changed and the agency stands by its recommendations.

"Checking and changing filters, keeping systems maintained, having regular inspections, and ensuring moisture doesn't get in are more important," she says.

However, both EPA and the National Air Duct Cleaners Association which represents more than 1,000 cleaning companies nationwide agree that there's some value in the work.

Buck Sheppard, NADCA president and duct cleaner in Portland, Ore., says the association consulted on the EPA pamphlet and agrees with all but one of its findings. "Where we differ is on how often it should be done," he says.

The EPA does not recommend that air ducts be cleaned routinely, but only as needed such as when mold, pests or excessive debris clutter the system. According to a recent online poll, 13 percent of Angie's List members have their ducts cleaned routinely, but 60 percent do so only if serious problems develop.

NADCA experts argue the need for cleaning depends on a variety of factors, including pets, smoking, recent renovations, local weather conditions and overall home cleanliness. Sheppard recommends cleaning them every three to five years. He says a good contractor will offer to do an inspection beforehand for a nominal charge, if any, to see if a cleaning is necessary.

NADCA executive director John Schulte says the organization's standards dictate that a cleaning doesn't just sweep the ducts, but addresses every component air passes over, including coils and the central system. The task involves at least a couple of workers, several hours and costly equipment, which is why it generally costs $400 or more, according to EPA and NADCA.

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Is Air Duct Cleaning Worth It? | Angies List