Duct Cleaning in Dothan, AL
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Five months of heating pulls the same air through your ducts again and again
Your furnace runs November through March here. Every hour it runs, it pulls house air through the return ducts and pushes it back out through the supply side, and whatever is in that air settles along the way. Winter nights average 41°F, mild enough that the furnace cycles on and off rather than running steady, and each cycle stirs up what has settled and carries more of it through the system.
Houston County also sees its share of storms, 205 damaging wind events over the past ten years. Wind-driven rain can push dust and moisture into ducts through gaps around vents and returns, and that buildup makes the furnace work harder to move air through the house while giving dust somewhere to collect that a filter never reaches.
- 5 months
- November through March, your furnace pushes air through your ducts
- 6 months
- May through October, your air conditioner does the same
NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
- How often should air ducts be cleaned?
- There is no fixed schedule that fits every home. Ducts that stay dry and sealed collect only ordinary household dust, so many homes go years between cleanings without any problem. Have them looked at sooner if you have had a rodent problem, water get into the ductwork, or a renovation that filled the house with drywall dust. A licensed contractor can check a return or two before recommending a full cleaning.
- Is air duct cleaning worth it?
- It is worth it when there is a real reason for it, not on a fixed schedule. Dust blowing out of the vents, a musty smell when the furnace or air conditioner kicks on, or ductwork that was left open during construction work are all reasons to have it done. Cleaning ducts that are already in decent shape will not lower your energy bills or stop allergies on its own, whatever else you may have read. If you are not sure, ask a contractor to inspect the ducts before you pay to have them cleaned.
- What does air duct cleaning involve?
- A contractor connects a vacuum system to the ductwork to pull air through it at high pressure, then works through each duct run with brushes or air whips to knock dust and debris loose so the vacuum can carry it out. The supply and return vents and the main trunk lines are all part of the job. On a forced-air furnace or air conditioner, the blower and coil usually get cleaned along with the ducts, since dust builds up there too. A contractor licensed by the Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Contractors can walk you through what your system needs.