Know when it may be time to get your ducts cleaned or kiss them goodbye
The EPA says regular ductwork cleanings are typically unnecessary.
You’ll want to get your ductwork cleaned if you have mold or pests.
Replace your ductwork if you have major damage or an extreme mold infestation.
An air duct is the last stop before the cold or hot air created by an HVAC system hits your home. In other words, it is the last chance to filter out dust, allergens, and other airborne impurities before they’re breathed in by friends and loved ones. But when issues arise, is air duct cleaning or replacement the better solution?
There are a number of factors that determine whether you can clean an air duct or if you will have to hire a local HVAC repair pro to repair or replace the ducts. Here’s everything you need to understand about when to clean an air duct, when to replace it, and when to get rid of it and start over.
It’s worth it to clean your air ducts if you notice reduced air quality or significant dust buildup. This is particularly true if anyone in your home has respiratory issues because duct cleaning may alleviate symptoms by removing allergens, dust, and other particles. Cleaning may help if you have odd odors in the air, too, such as from numerous pets in the home.
If the ducts aren’t performing as well and you’re seeing higher energy costs, a cleaning may not be worth it. In this case, you may want to consider duct replacement. Cleaning isn’t going to help if the seams in the ducts have gaps, causing you to lose climate-controlled air. If the ducts have too little air capacity to handle a new furnace or AC unit you purchased, you should replace them.
| When to Clean Air Ducts | When to Replace Air Ducts |
|---|---|
| To remove allergens | To remove damage |
| To eliminate mold | To accommodate a new HVAC |
| To remove pests | To match a new furnace |
| To eliminate odors | To eliminate seam gaps |
| To improve airflow | To reduce high energy costs |
A properly installed set of air ducts should last 10 to 15 years before you need to consider replacement. When your ducts begin to break down, you may notice reduced comfort in the home, loud or odd noises coming from them, or increased heating and cooling costs.
Because of regular changes in air pressure and exposure to pollutants in the air moving through the ducts, they will eventually wear out. If the ducts experience significant vibration as the HVAC system operates, they could start to pull apart at the seams, or framing brackets may come loose, requiring the need for repair or replacement from a professional.
A pro can do an inspection to determine whether a replacement is necessary. Once your ducts are 10 to 15 years old, annual inspections can help you spot issues quickly.
Understanding the projected costs for air duct cleaning or replacement can help when considering this type of work. Cleaning is significantly less expensive than replacement.
Cleaning: Cleaning air ducts costs about $270 to $500, but you could pay as much as $800 for a large home or a ductwork system with a significant number of vents.
Replacement: Replacing air ducts costs about $450 to $2,200, but you could pay as much as $5,000 for a large home or when it’s difficult to access the ducts.
Knowing how often you should clean your air ducts isn’t so cut and dry. The National Air Duct Cleaners Association recommends hiring a pro to clean your ducts every three to five years, while the Environmental Protection Agency says you can skip cleanings unless you notice signs of visible mold or excessive dust. However, this decision will depend on how often you use your HVAC system, what type of ductwork you have, and if you are experiencing an influx of allergens in the home.
Here are scenarios in which you should clean your ducts rather than repair or replace them.
If your ductwork is metal and features no interior liner, a thorough and professional cleaning is often the answer. Metal ducts are the standard for newly built homes, so your ductwork is likely eligible for a good cleaning. Flimsier ducts, such as those made from fiberboard or plastic, may not stand up to an intense cleaning.
If your ducts are in good shape but you still notice air quality issues, cleaning is an option. You may have people in your household who have sensitivity to air pollutants. If cleaning clears up the air quality issue, you may want to schedule regular visits from duct cleaning professionals every few years.
If someone didn’t install your HVAC system properly, it might lack a good seal. In other words, air will leak throughout the system and, then, into the home. This allows an accumulation of dust and other debris into the atmosphere.
This solution could require cleaning as well as a repair of sorts. Hire a local energy consultant to conduct a blower door test to help you determine exactly where any leaks could be occurring. If a bad air seal is the culprit behind dirty ducts, clean the ducts and hire a pro to reseal the HVAC system.
If you’re a handy DIYer, you may consider cleaning their air ducts yourself and potentially saving between $200 and $500, assuming you have the right tools.
However, it can be difficult to save this full amount when you clean the ducts yourself. You need some equipment, like a scrub brush, ladder, mask, and powerful vacuum. An HVAC pro already has this equipment. Because you only need to clean air ducts every three to five years, it’s not worth it for you to invest in the equipment for such rare usage.
It can also be difficult to clean ductwork, as you must work over your head and in tight spaces. If you have long runs of ductwork that you have to reach deeply inside, cleaning them is challenging for homeowners.
The best person to clean air ducts is a local air duct cleaning professional. An HVAC repair or duct installation company may also do this work and inspect your ducts for damage.
Sometimes, the problem is so severe that you should scrap the ducts entirely, buy some new ones, and have them professionally replaced. Your local HVAC installation pro will have specific answers regarding duct replacement, but here are some scenarios in which that might be your best option.
Ah, the dreaded “M” word. Mold is the worst, and if your ducts have become heavily contaminated with the nasty fungi, it could be time to replace and move on. Though the EPA says cleaning the ducts is sufficient for mild bouts of mold, severe outgrowths typically require replacement, especially if the ducts have rusted. Of course, don’t replace them until you have removed the mold at the source, or it will just pop up again. Call in a professional mold removal expert before replacing the ducts.
Flexible plastic air ducts, otherwise known as flex ducts, are common in homes and are often found in the attic. Flex ductwork is typically a wire coil covered by a thin, flexible plastic wall and wrapped in insulation and foil backing. They are easy to install and generally come pre-insulated, making for happy homeowners. The problem? Flex ducts can easily twist, tear, or break. A twisted duct will need a replacement.
Even if your ductwork is in good shape, it may not be meeting your home’s heating and cooling needs. If you purchased a new furnace or air conditioner recently, these appliances may deliver more airflow than your ducts can handle.
Perhaps your home’s builder tried to save some money by using as little ductwork as possible, which affected the system's ability to control the home’s climate. Inefficient ductwork could stress the HVAC system, shortening its lifespan. Installing new ducts that are the proper size will fix these problems.
Because the air duct replacement cost can be as high as $5,000 for larger homes, you may want to consider replacing the ducts yourself.
However, replacing your own ductwork is not a DIY task for most homeowners, even those who have similar experience. You must be able to properly seal the sections of ductwork, or you risk ending up with the same problems—like loose gaps and broken seals—that you’re trying to fix. If you do the work incorrectly, you could damage your HVAC system. You may also have to cut into walls and ceilings, which is a risky project without a professional’s help.
Instead, it’s best to hire a local ductwork installer—they’re the best pro to handle ductwork replacement. Many HVAC installers will also replace ductwork.
