A metal HVAC air handler with attached flexible and rigid ductwork installed in an unfinished attic with exposed wooden rafters and fiberglass insulation.

Duct Cleaning in Florissant, MO

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A flexible silver HVAC duct connects to a metal air handler unit mounted in an insulated attic with exposed wooden rafters and a circular gable vent.

Seven months of heating pushes a lot of air through your ducts

Your furnace runs October through April here, seven months of the year. Every one of those months, air moves through the same ductwork, and the dust it carries settles in the bends and joints along the way.

St. Louis County also sees its share of winter storms and wind, nine winter storms and 108 damaging wind events over the last ten years. Storms like these knock out power, and in Missouri, 19% of households went at least 24 hours without it in 2024. When the furnace shuts down and then comes back on, the air it pushes out first is whatever settled in the ducts while it sat still.

7 months: October through April, your furnace pushes air through your ducts
5 months: May through September, your air conditioner does the same

Isometric illustration of a cutaway house showing gray ductwork running through rooms with furniture, appliances and ceiling vents, under a dark shingled roof.

Your ducts carry heat October through April and cooled air May through September.

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NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals

How often should air ducts be cleaned?: There's no fixed schedule that fits every home, so the better approach is to watch for signs rather than count years. Dust visibly blowing out of the vents when the system starts, a musty smell when the air kicks on, or not knowing the ductwork's history after moving in are all reasons to have them checked. Pets, a smoker in the house, or someone with allergies can make cleaning necessary sooner than it would be otherwise. A contractor can look inside with a camera and tell you whether cleaning is actually needed.
Is air duct cleaning worth it?: It's worth it when there's a real reason behind it, like visible mold, a pest problem, or dust buildup heavy enough to see or smell. Ducts that look clean and cause no symptoms don't need to be cleaned just on a schedule. A contractor can look inside the ducts with a camera and tell you what's actually in there before you pay for anything.
What does air duct cleaning involve?: A contractor connects a vacuum to the duct system to pull it under negative pressure, then uses brushes or air tools to knock dust and debris loose from inside the ducts so it gets pulled into the vacuum instead of blown into your rooms. Every supply and return line gets cleaned this way, along with the grilles and registers. The furnace or air handler, including the blower and coil, usually gets cleaned in the same visit since air moves through it constantly.

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