Pros and Cons of Furnace Duct Cleaning

Is furnace cleaning worth it? This has been a great debate for a long time now. Is it really worth it? Are there any risks attached? All these questions are yet to be given satisfactory answers. Well here’s a guide on furnace duct cleaning pros and cons.

We still don’t have enough information about furnace duct cleaning and whether it should be done or not. But we do have a lot of information about how it is done and what is bound to happen afterward. We have both benefits and drawbacks inside the process of furnace duct cleaning.

So we end up asking ourselves, should we really do it or not? I think once We get to know the benefits and drawbacks of this process, we can then get to a judgment of whether we need to do it or avoid it. So with that in mind, what are the furnace duct cleaning pros and cons? Let’s find out.

Related: Average Cost of Duct Cleaning – Factors to Consider

Furnace Duct Cleaning, When do you Need it?

Furnace duct cleaning is not the thing that should be done so often. It takes a lot of time to decide whether it should or should not be done. To know that you need your furnace duct cleaned, there are some signs you need to look out for.

They include molds on the duct, rodents, and insects emanating from the supply vents as well as excessive dirt or dust blowing out of the vent. These would be sure signs to make you say you need duct cleaning.

In case you see any of those signs, you can comfortably call in an expert to check on the furnace duct and have it cleaned. Sometimes, however, you might just feel like you need it cleaned. This is where we should have to consider the pros and cons first before we get the decision made. The process should be done by an expert for the safety of the furnace duct.

How Often it Should be Cleaned

We basically don’t have a specific time when it should be cleaned or the interval of cleaning. Whenever you see the kind of signs we have highlighted above, you need to have them cleaned by an expert.

Otherwise, it can stay for the longest time without being disrupted and still work very well.  For as long as there is not anything that is making it not work effectively, there is no need of having it cleaned. So it is rare and not necessary for as long as it is functioning well.

Furnace Duct Cleaning Pros

When the furnace duct is not functioning properly or is showing some of the signs we mentioned earlier, it would need to be cleaned. But, let’s find out what other benefits we have from cleaning the furnace duct. Here is why it is important.

It greatly improves the AC efficiency

Having a clean furnace duct, with less dust, dirt, and molds would make the flow of air very easy. It is usually very difficult to blow hot or cold air onto the house when the furnace ducts have a blockage or minimal flow of air.

The AC units are bound to do a lot of work, which would mean a lot of power is consumed in supplying the house with clean air. However, after cleaning, if that was the problem, the monthly cleaning bills are bound to go low from the efficiency in cleaning the air. This makes it important to clean the furnace duct whenever any of the mentioned signs are observed.

Duct cleaning helps in cleaning indoor air

When you have clean ducts, it means that you are going to have clean air flowing in the house. You are therefore bound to escape the risk of having breathing difficulties and generally having proper respiratory health. It is important to make sure that the air that gets into the house is clean air to minimize the risk attached to having contaminated air indoors.

Furnace Duct Cleaning Cons

Now, apart from the benefits of cleaning the furnace duct, there are these drawbacks that come with the process. Here is the main reason why you might have to reconsider cleaning the furnace duct if there are no visible signs that it is dirty and it needs cleaning. Find out whether it is very necessary. Otherwise, you can reconsider it because of the reasons below;

Cleaning the furnace duct might damage the duct itself

The ductwork usually needs a lot of care when handling. So when hiring a contractor, make sure you hire the right contractor who would work around the ducts in the right way to avoid destroying the ductwork.

Some of them usually use long vacuum cleaners that are bound to damage the interior of the ductwork. When the ductwork is destroyed, it basically means that you risk having holes in them which might bring leakages here and there. However, when you have the right hands for the job, it is usually done very well within a short time and with minimal risks.

The process might not be necessary if you change the filters regularly

The air filters are the ones that basically clean out the dust from the air. So, when you have the filters changed regularly, there is no need to worry about the ducts. The air filters are the main thing and they are so easy to clean. When you have them cleaned, it is best to have the ducts out of question. However, if the filters are changed and you still see those visible signs, it is better to have it cleaned.

Furnace Duct Cleaning Pros and Cons – Final Word

When you have to decide whether it should or should not be done, all the factors are very necessary to consider. The process is a tedious one and it puts the heating system at risk of destruction. The best thing to do is to gauge the necessity of the process first before you think of having it done.

On the other end, it can also be of benefit as we have seen. That is why it is important to have the furnace duct cleaning pros and cons in mind before getting to the process. If you are unsure about whether you should or should not clean your furnace duct, you can have an expert advise you accordingly.