How Long Does Air Duct Cleaning Take? 4 Factors That Impact the Time Frame

If you’ve got a central HVAC system, then air ducts are one of the most important parts of your home. They are the channels through which air flows to cool or heat your home. For your space to remain comfortable and temperate in any season, air ducts must be clean and free of blockages. But how long does air duct cleaning take, and will it be a huge burden on your time? 

It takes between three and five hours to clean the air ducts in a home. But as with all home repairs and maintenance work, the actual time it will take to clean out the ductwork in your home depends on a number of factors. 

Factors that Affect How Long Air Duct Cleaning Takes

Air duct cleaning is not a project you want rushed—unless you like receiving repeat service calls by contractors to fix or redo the work that wasn’t done properly the first time. Let’s take a look at some of the factors that might shorten or lengthen the time your certified HVAC technician is in your home.

Home Size

The larger your home, the larger the systems needed to run it. This is very true for your HVAC system. There are ducts running to and from each and every room and level in your home, so if you have more of each, it makes sense that you will also have more extensive ductwork. 

For very large homes, expect the work to take upwards of five hours—possibly a full work day— if something needs to be fixed, replaced, or simply requires more work to clean.

Number of HVAC Components

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Air ducts have various components attached to them that also must be thoroughly cleaned. These include vents—yes, that’s the V in HVAC—return registers, filters, and duct covers, for starters. Additionally, the air conditioner coils and furnace will also have to be checked out.

Provided you get your air ducts cleaned out routinely, the HVAC pros should just be able to clean any dust and household debris from these components, as well as replace any necessary filters. However, the task will take longer if any of these components are particularly dusty and dirty or if you have more of them, as you would in a larger home. 

Accessibility

There’s one thing you can feel good about: It will take much less time to clean the air ducts even in a large home than it will in a commercial building because it’s much easier to access the ductwork in your home. 

However, you can do your part by clearing the way for the contractors so that they have easy access to all of your vents and ducts. This includes moving away any items from around the furnace—it’s a good idea to keep that area free of clutter anyway—and the air conditioners. If you have rooms that are crowded with furniture or have decor blocking the vents, remove these to clear the way for your technician to do their work. Also, if you’ve got pets at home, secure them so that they don’t cause any distractions, however cute they might be.

Condition of the Air Ducts

If you’ve been diligent and have gotten your air ducts cleaned every three to five years as the experts suggest, then the work this time should be rather routine. But if your air ducts are in need of some extra TLC, the work will take longer.

What Does Cleaning the Air Ducts Involve?

You might be able to swap out the filters on your HVAC system easily on your own, but in general, cleaning out the air ducts is not a DIY job. The pros not only have all the right tools, but they’ve done the job many times and know how to overcome any hiccups along the way.

Here’s what generally happens when you get your air ducts cleaned:

1. A thorough inspection of the ductwork to see if and where any damage or blockage might be

2. Removal of any dust, dirt, and debris that has collected inside the ducts by using rotating brushes, air jets, and other industrial-strength tools and techniques, such as creating a negative-pressure environment to clean the ducts

3. Cleaning and disinfecting the ductwork to remove any household allergens and contaminants, such as bacteria, mold and mildew, and virus spores

4. Confirmation that the ducts are connected well and in proper working order so that your HVAC system can work at optimal levels

How Often Should You Have Your Air Ducts Cleaned?

Unlike AC filters that should be replaced multiple times a season, air ducts need only be cleaned out once every three to five years. 

Here are some telltale signs that you’re overdue for ductwork cleaning:

• Your vents are covered in dust. That means the air circulating in your home is also dusty. 

• Your walls, furniture, or flooring seems dustier than usual.

• You can see particles of dust or dirt floating in the air.

Angi Tip

If you have smokers or pets with lots of hair in your home, or if your community is known for having poor air quality, you should have your air ducts inspected and cleaned more often.

Kassidy Barber

Content Editor, Angi

If you have allergies that are acting up, or you notice that your home isn’t getting as cool or warm as it should be, it’s probably time to schedule a visit from your local air duct cleaner. Plan to have them stay anywhere between two and five hours—and don’t rush them. The comfort and health of your household are at stake when you have dusty, dirty air ducts.