Air duct cleaning is an important part of home maintenance.  A dirty air duct can lower the quality of the air in your house by promoting the circulation of allergens and bacteria in the air.  One way to keep the air inside your home clean is to have your air ducts cleaned.

Costs can range in costs depending on the services offered, the size of the system to be cleaned, system accessibility, and level of contamination.

You should consider having the air ducts in your home cleaned if:

• There is substantial visible mold growth inside the ducts. You may not always be able to see the mold in sections of the ducts that are not accessible. You will need a professional to inspect the ducts for this.
• Ducts are infested with vermin such as rodents or insects.
• Ducts are clogged with excessive amounts of dust and debris and/or particles are actually released into the home from your supply registers.
• You notice a strange or offensive odor from your air supply.

If you decide to have your heating and cooling system cleaned, be sure to have the service provider clean all components of the system and is qualified to do so. Duct cleaning generally refers to the cleaning of various heating and cooling system components of forced air systems, including the supply and return air ducts and registers, grilles and diffusers, heat exchangers heating and cooling coils, condensate drain pans (drip pans), fan motor and fan housing, and the air handling unit housing.

To find a qualified HVAC technician near you and to learn more about duct cleaning, visit the   National Association of Duct Cleaners.