Duct Cleaning in Rockford, IL
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Eight months of heat running through the same ducts
Your furnace runs October through May here, eight months out of the year. That is a long stretch of air moving through the same ductwork, carrying dust, pet hair and whatever else settles in a house over that many months. On nights that average 16°F, the furnace is cycling often to keep up, and every cycle pushes more of that buildup through the system.
Winnebago County has also seen its share of wind, 131 damaging wind events and 19 winter storms over the past ten years. Wind that strong can drive dust and debris into vents and returns from outside, adding to what is already collecting in the ducts. Built-up dust and debris in the ductwork restricts airflow, which makes the furnace work harder to heat the house.
- 8 months
- October through May, your furnace pushes air through your ducts
- 3 months
- June through August, your air conditioner does the same
NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020 normals
- How often should air ducts be cleaned?
- There's no fixed schedule that fits every home. Pets, allergies in the house, or a remodel that kicked up drywall dust all mean the ducts need attention sooner than a quiet, dust-free house would. A contractor can look inside and tell you what's actually built up in there instead of guessing by the calendar.
- Is air duct cleaning worth it?
- It's worth it when there's a reason behind it, like dust blowing out of the vents, a musty smell when the furnace kicks on, or duct work that was recently opened up. It won't lower your heating bills or fix a furnace that's struggling, so don't expect that from it. What it does is clear out what's collected inside the ducts themselves, and that matters more in a house sealed up tight from October through May.
- What does air duct cleaning involve?
- A contractor connects a vacuum system to your ductwork and uses brushes or air tools to knock loose the dust and debris inside, then pulls it all out through the vacuum. Every supply and return vent gets opened up and cleaned, and the vent covers usually get wiped down or washed separately. On a full job the furnace or air handler gets checked too, since that's where the air moving through those ducts starts out.