HoosierDaddy

Didn't want to hijack the "A/C Service" thread, so thought I'd start a new one. I've owned my home from new since 2003 and I have yet to get my air ducts cleaned.

1) I assume this service is worth doing
2) What price should be 'normal' for this?

I've seen a few promotions locally which have ranged from $80 to $250 for about 10 ducts/registers.

I already put filters on the registers and they seem to do a job. Well, they certainly come up grimey enough after a few months.

Cheers.

Bill_S

New house with modern HVAC plant? Filters changed regularly? That's good.

1. Anyone in the house have severe allergies?

2. Do you live in an unusually dusty environment?

3. Do you have mold problems in areas that are visible or easily inspected?

If the answers are all "no", don't bother with duct cleaning. Go out for a nice dinner instead.

IMHO duct cleaning is 90% scam. My house was built in 1925, and duct-cleaning isn't anywhere on my home-maintenance radar.

Ray

Ask again after its 20 years old

Sally Redux

Also, not all types of ducts are suitable for cleaning.

Ray

Quite correct
These ducts never need cleaning

Sally Redux

Awww

restopi

Just asked the same question to a HVAC technician. He told me if you dont have pets, or allergies dont bohter with the air duct cleaning. Best to spend the time and money changing the furnace/Ac filter every 30-60 days.

Ray

Or 180 days ..with a tap out evey 90 days

HoosierDaddy

Aye - unless there's an oil spill

Back to the subject...
Nope, no major allergies and no dust or mold to my knowledge. I change the furnace filter regularly as well as those wee register filters but I was wondering what dust or particles were in the ducts that I can't see. On occassion I have broken out the vacuum hose attachment and shoved it as far down the ducts as I can. Right after we moved in I could see little pieces of drywall remnants but nothing since.

Thanks for the money saving advice!

Sally Redux

I think it's one of those things where they play on your fears.

jumping doris

Ok ...Idiot question of the day.

We have a new furnace linked to an air cleaner and a humidifier (it's called an Aprilair).

The air cleaner and humidifier are old but the furnace is new.
Four times a year the man comes and cleans the filters in the air cleaner and sets it and switches on the humidifier if it's the right time of year.

Should we be cleaning any filters in the furnace as well? I can't find anywhere for them in the furnace.
I think I have asked the aircleaner man this question several times and haven't listened to the answer or it's gone in one ear and out the other.

I can't get to grips with this whole furnace thing. When we were looking at houses we actually asked the realtor what the big metal thing in the basement was
A gas boiler on the wall seems so much easier.

OH only has a vague idea where the furnace is and just looks completely blank when I mention the aircleaner!

Sally Redux

Sorry I'm also clueless. We had a new furnace put in but still have the old air conditioner unit. I think the filter is just for that.

Bluegrass Lass

I suppose there could be different set-ups in homes, but here is my generic understanding of HVAC. For ACs, there is the outdoor unit and the indoor unit. The air is sucked in from the outside, goes through some cooling panels (or whatever they are called) then travels through the duct to the indoor unit (which is also your furnace), then travels on through to your ducts. Thus the 'furnace filter' you use is used for heating and cooling.

It is a good idea, depending on indoor air quality, to replace and/or clean your filter every 30-60 days. This will keep your furnace/AC running more efficiently, since airflow improves with cleaner filters. We have 2 cats and a dog so we actually use a permanent electrostatic air filter that filters out allergens, pet hair/dander, molds, etc. The filter uses disposable pads that we check and replace every 30 days. We check the filter that frequently due to my allergies.

It may not be a bad idea to do an initial duct cleaning to remove any dust, mold, debris,etc then use very good filters to keep them clean.

Bill_S

Is it an electronic/electrostatic air cleaner? If so, then it is there in lieu of a paper or fiber filter. In other words, there isn't anything else for you change or clean. BTW Aprilaire is a high-quality unit.

Sally Redux

Ah thank you.