When you first hear the phrase “air duct cleaning”, it’s probably not the first thing that comes to mind. But maybe it should be. Duct cleaning is a procedure that can help improve air quality within your home and also reduce the risk of dangerous bacteria growing inside your air ducts. The benefits of hiring an air duct cleaning company rather than doing it yourself are numerous — and if you’re reading this, we’ll assume you’ve already decided against DIYing it. There are some pretty obvious reasons why you shouldn’t attempt to clean your own air ducts. If you need more convincing, here are some pros of hiring an expert versus doing it yourself.
It’s Dangerous
This one is perhaps the most obvious reason to hire an air duct cleaning company. But it’s also the most important. The air ducts in your home are not only difficult to reach but also filled with dust and debris. An air duct brush can easily get clogged with debris and cause the brush to overheat, posing a serious risk of fire. If you’re using a chemical cleaning solution, there’s also a risk of splashback that could cause health issues such as respiratory problems. If you insist on cleaning your air ducts yourself, make sure you take great care to avoid these dangers. Hiring an air duct cleaning company is the safest way to ensure the job is done right. Professionals will use specialized equipment designed to handle the job safely and effectively.
It’s Time-Consuming
Ventilation ducts are often hard to reach, especially in older homes. And even if you can reach them, you’ll still need to clean a large surface area. Plus, you’ll need to do so without clogging your air ducts with debris or damaging them in any way. An air duct cleaning company only has to clean one duct at a time. They’ll have the equipment necessary to get to all the nooks and crannies in your ducts. Cleaning your own ducts, on the other hand, is largely an inefficient process. Not only will you have to spend hours reaching all the ducts in your home — some might be hard to reach — but you’ll also have to spend a lot of time cleaning each duct. It’s a time-consuming project that’s best left to the experts.
You Risk Causing More Damage
As we’ve already mentioned, cleaning your own air ducts is a dangerous undertaking. But that isn’t the only way you could damage your ducts. If your ducts are very old, you could risk tearing them apart as you try to clean them. If your ducts are older than 15 years, there’s a risk they could be infested with dangerous bacteria like black mold. Cleaning these ducts yourself can potentially spread the bacteria around. The likelihood of this occurring is lower if you hire a professional but it’s still a risk that isn’t worth taking.
It’s Not Guaranteed to Work
As we’ve discussed, there’s no real proof that DIY air duct cleaning actually works. You might be able to clean the ducts themselves, but that doesn’t guarantee they’re being properly cleaned by the system. If the ducts aren’t sufficiently cleaned, they could pose a serious health risk to the people living in the home. The system’s filters might be blocked by debris and require replacement, or they might need to be washed. Cleaning your ducts yourself won’t guarantee that happens. And if you’re not thorough, you won’t be cleaning them as effectively as you should be.
There are no Proven Benefits of DIY Air Duct Cleaning
As we mentioned, there’s no real proof that cleaning your air ducts yourself is beneficial. In fact, one study found that some people’s allergies were worsened by cleaning the ducts. The study concluded that this was most likely because the ducts were being cleaned with a strong chemical solution. If you insist on cleaning your air ducts yourself, make sure you use a chemical-free brush to avoid this. But even then, there’s no guarantee you’ll be able to thoroughly clean the ducts without causing more damage.
Hiring an Expert is the Only Way to be Certain of a Job Well Done
If you really want your ducts to be cleaned properly, you can’t take any risks. There are no benefits to cleaning your own ducts versus hiring an expert. The only way to be certain you’re getting a thorough cleaning is to hire a professional. A professional air duct cleaning company will use specialized equipment to thoroughly clean your ducts. They’ll be able to access all the nooks and crannies of your ductwork and thoroughly clean each one. They’ll also be able to properly clean your system to ensure your duct cleaning has the maximum effect.