Duct Cleaning in Joliet, IL
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Step 1 of 3: Equipment
Eight months of heat pushes a lot of air through your ducts
Your furnace runs October through May here, eight months of the year. That's most of the year pulling air through the same ductwork, and every pass carries dust and pet hair along with it. Some of that settles in the duct runs instead of blowing back out through the vents.
Power doesn't always stay on through that stretch. In 2024, 16% of Illinois households went at least a day without it. When the furnace shuts off and restarts, it kicks up whatever has settled in the ducts and pushes it through the house on the next cycle.
- 8 months
- October through May, your furnace pushes air through your ducts
- 3 months
- June through August, your air conditioner does the same
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NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
- How often should air ducts be cleaned?
- There is no fixed number of years that works for every house. Homes with pets, a recent renovation, or someone with allergies tend to need it sooner since more gets pulled into the return air. If you cannot remember the last time it was done, or you notice dust building back up fast, that is a sign it is due.
- Is air duct cleaning worth it?
- It is worth it when there is a real reason behind it, like dust that keeps coming back after you clean, a musty smell when the furnace or AC kicks on, or work done recently that left debris in the ducts. Heat runs here from October through May, so air is moving through those ducts most of the year. It is not something to do on a fixed schedule just to be safe, but if you have a reason to suspect the ducts, it is a fair fix.
- What does air duct cleaning involve?
- A contractor connects a vacuum system to the ductwork and uses brushes or air tools to loosen dust and debris from inside, then pulls it out through the vacuum before it can settle back into the vents. The supply and return vents, the main trunk lines, and often the coil and blower compartment get covered. Afterward, the vents get put back and the system is checked to make sure air is moving through the ducts the way it should.