There are several important components within your HVAC system, and one that’s worth attention throughout the year is your duct setup. Your air ducts are responsible for transporting air to various rooms in the home as the HVAC system works, and these ducts need to be clean and clear — and having them cleaned periodically is an important task here.

At Lee’s Heating and Air, we’re happy to offer the best duct cleaning services in Utah, ensuring that your ducts stay in great shape and remain efficient at all times. One common question we get from clients in this area: How often should my ducts be cleaned professionally? The answer here will vary between clients — here are the factors that help determine it in your case.

Do You Have Pets?

One of the first and most important factors to think about is whether or not you have pets in the home. Pets are great companions, but they also come with dander and fur that can end up in your ducts. This will contribute to a faster buildup of debris and dirt, so if you have pets, you’ll want to get your ducts cleaned more frequently — we generally recommend at least once a year in this case.

Now, the type and number of pets you have will also be a factor here. If you only have one or two small dogs or cats, for example, you might be able to get away with getting your ducts cleaned every other year. On the other hand, if you have multiple large animals or pets that shed frequently, you’ll want to get them cleaned even more often than once a year.

Do You Have Allergies?

Another important factor is whether or not you suffer from allergies — and this goes for everyone in the household, not just the person responsible for making the HVAC appointments. If anyone in your family suffers from allergies, it’s worth getting your ducts cleaned on a more frequent basis. Allergens can easily build up in your ductwork and be transported throughout the home, exacerbating allergy symptoms.

In general, we recommend getting your ducts cleaned at least once a year if anyone in the household suffers from allergies. However, if those allergies are particularly severe or if you notice them starting to act up more frequently, you might want to consider getting them cleaned even more often — every six months or so.

Smokers in the Home

A decidedly negative factor when it comes to the frequency of duct cleaning is whether or not anyone in the household smokes tobacco products. Cigarette smoke contains a lot of particles and debris that can quickly clog up your ductwork, and it’s one of the most common causes of dirty and inefficient ducts.

If you have smokers in the home, we generally recommend getting your ducts cleaned two or three times a year — and more often if possible. This will help to remove the buildup of smoke and debris before it has a chance to really take hold in your system.

Renovations or New Construction

If you’ve recently had any sort of renovation work done or if you’ve had any new construction completed, that’s another factor that will influence the frequency with which you need to get your ducts cleaned. Anytime there’s construction work done, there’s going to be a lot of debris and particles in the air — and some of those are going to end up in your ductwork.

If you’ve had any sort of construction work done recently, we recommend getting your ducts cleaned as soon as possible after the work is completed. This will help to remove any debris that’s gotten into the system so that it doesn’t have a chance to build up and cause problems.

Water Contamination or Damage

In some cases, moisture can enter your ductwork and cause problems. This can happen if there’s a leak in the system or if the ducts themselves become damaged. If this happens, it’s important to get the ducts cleaned as soon as possible to prevent the growth of mold or other contaminants.

Moving into a New Home

If you’ve recently purchased a home or moved into a new rental property, you’ll want to get the ducts cleaned before you start using the HVAC system. You don’t know what’s been going on in the ductwork prior to your arrival, and it’s best to err on the side of caution when it comes to these kinds of things.

A good rule of thumb is to get the ducts cleaned within the first few months of moving into a new home. This will help to ensure that they’re clean and clear before you start using the system on a regular basis.

Known Duct Contamination

Finally, if any other form of contamination is present in the ductwork, it’s important to get them cleaned as soon as possible. This can include things like pests, mold, or other contaminants that can cause problems for your HVAC system.

If there’s any reason to believe that your ducts are contaminated, we recommend getting them cleaned right away. This will help to prevent any further contamination and will also allow you to get your HVAC system back up and running as soon as possible.

For more on how often you should be calling our team for air duct cleaning services, or to learn about any of our air conditioning or furnace services, speak to the team at Lee’s Heating and Air today.