How Often Should You Clean Your Air Ducts in San Antonio?

There is no law that says when air ducts must be cleaned, so most homeowners go by two things: how long it has been, and what they can see and feel in the house. Here is how we advise customers across San Antonio.

The general rule: every 3 to 5 years

Industry guidance commonly cited for residential ductwork is a cleaning every three to five years. That assumes a typical home with a working filter and no big dust sources. Many San Antonio homes fall on the shorter end of that range for a few reasons:

• The AC runs most of the year. More air moving through the ducts means more dust settling in them.
• Cedar and oak pollen. Hill Country pollen seasons are heavy, and some of it ends up inside the return ducts.
• Dust and construction. New subdivisions, nearby road work and home renovations all push fine dust into the system.

When to clean sooner

Move the cleaning up if any of these apply:

• You just bought the home and do not know when the ducts were last cleaned.
• You finished a renovation, especially drywall or flooring work.
• Someone in the house has allergies or asthma that gets worse indoors.
• You have pets that shed.
• You see dust puffing from vents when the AC kicks on, or dark buildup around the vent covers.
• There has been water damage, or you notice a musty smell when the system runs.

What a proper cleaning includes

A cleaning is only worth doing if it is done under negative air pressure, which means a vacuum pulls the dust out of the ductwork and out of the house instead of blowing it into your rooms. At Texas Heritage Air Duct every cleaning includes a camera inspection, so you see the inside of the ducts before and after, and unlimited vents, so nothing gets skipped because of the size of the home.

Dryer vents and chimneys are on a different clock

Dryer vents collect lint every load and should be cleaned about once a year, sooner if the dryer runs hot or takes two cycles. Chimneys and fireplaces should be inspected every year before the first fire. Our current special covers air duct cleaning plus your choice of dryer vent or chimney cleaning, so it makes sense to handle them in the same visit.