How Do Air Ducts Get Dirty?

A common question that homeowners have when they consider air duct cleaning is: how did the air ducts get dirty in the first place? In a typical six-room home, up to 40 pounds of dust is created annually, just through everyday living. Some of the dust settles on your floor, furniture and other possessions, but much of it remains suspended in the air.

These contaminants are pulled into the HVAC system and re-circulated 5 to 7 times per day, on average. Even though this air is filtered, filters cannot remove all the contaminants. Over time, this re-circulation causes a build-up of contaminants in the duct work.

Normal contaminants include:

• Dander
• Dust
• Chemicals
• Smoke
• Pollen
• Mold

All parts of your HVAC system, including your air ducts, get dirty over time and need to be cleaned.

• Supply ducts
• Return ducts
• Cooling coil
• Heat exchanger
• Blower
• Filter