I'm thinking about having this done in my house. My house is about 5 years old and I use the environmentally friendly filters that don't catch any dust really. What say you guys? I'll rep.

probably not... only if you are having allergy issues.

Thanks, repped.

probably not... only if you are having allergy issues.

I used to work for one of these companies...and generally they are a huge ripoff.

Like the previous poster stated, if you are having allergy problems it might help, it might not.

The main money maker for the company I worked for was the mold/mildew spray. The technician will almost always try to sell you on this and can cost upwards of $100 or more, depending on how much money the tech thought you would spend. I wish I could remember the name of the chemical we used...but when I looked it up at the time of my employment it was like $10-$20 a bottle retail.

If your house is only 5 years old, even with the weak filters, I would think you can go another 5 years before needing a cleaning. Just my two cents.

When Wifey and I moved in to our home 3 years ago, we bought it from a slob who had pets and never cleaned the house. We had the ducts cleaned and I feel that it was worth it (although I don't have a basis for comparison). We also use 3M Filtrete filters. We have one indoor cat, and it keeps things pretty clean.

Just let the cat run threw the duct work.

I used to work for one of these companies...and generally they are a huge ripoff.

Like the previous poster stated, if you are having allergy problems it might help, it might not.

The main money maker for the company I worked for was the mold/mildew spray. The technician will almost always try to sell you on this and can cost upwards of $100 or more, depending on how much money the tech thought you would spend. I wish I could remember the name of the chemical we used...but when I looked it up at the time of my employment it was like $10-$20 a bottle retail.

If your house is only 5 years old, even with the weak filters, I would think you can go another 5 years before needing a cleaning. Just my two cents.

I really appreciate the advice, you confirmed what I was thinking. Rep!

I hear it is a good thing to do every 3-5 years... We just had a bunch of fires out here in Santa Barbara and that seems to be the thing to do now!! Replacing the filter reguraly will help out alot as well.

I never replace the filter, I just wash out the old one because I'm super cheap. Do you think I'm harming my house more than I'm saving money?

I never replace the filter, I just wash out the old one because I'm super cheap. Do you think I'm harming my house more than I'm saving money?

Haha that's funny. No idea if you're harming your house but you are paying way more than you should to your power company. Unless you really kick ass at washing filters.

My filter doesn't really catch anything, would I still be paying way more than I should?

no. Not worth it. Keep in mind that the cold air returns wouldn't get cleaned anyway (which is half of the ducting).

My filter doesn't really catch anything, would I still be paying way more than I should?

I am not an expert but maybe it catches little micro things that you can't see?

Also, a good compromise for you would be to maybe change it atleast once a year.

I am not an expert but maybe it catches little micro things that you can't see?

Also, a good compromise for you would be to maybe change it atleast once a year.

If you clean them, they're back to new each time. I'll take a picture of them and post them here. I bought the filters at wal mart.

you may want to consider installing an electrostatic filter. They are much more effective and the filter pads last virtually forever- you just rinse them off or wash them in your dishwasher.

I had it done when our house was 8 years old. When the a/c turned on you could smell the mildew. It was worth every penny. They opened every vent and cleaned all the ducts. The spray wasn't an extra $100 - it was part of the service. I have bad allergies so I'm glad I did it.

i used to clean industrial HVAC systems and we did it monthly, but for standard houses, I wouldn't go more that 5 years. But I also have allergies, so it is necessary.

you may want to consider installing an electrostatic filter. They are much more effective and the filter pads last virtually forever- you just rinse them off or wash them in your dishwasher.

Where can I get those?

Take a grain of salt of the necessity and result of air duct cleaning.

http://www.galttech.com/research/household-DIY-tools/air-duct-cleaning.php

Where can I get those?

At any home improvement store like HD or Lowes.

Where can I get those?

there are really two choices: First is a passive system. you buy a filter that costs about $100 and lasts a very long time (many years). The air passing over the filter causes the filter to pick up an electrostatic charge, and that charge causes dust to stick to it. You have to clean these about once every 30 days. Rince the filter off with a hose, slop sink, or dishwasher and reinstall it. A quick google search (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&q=electrostatic+air+filter+hvac&btnG=Search) shows this (http://filtera.stores.yahoo.net/ezelairfil.html)as an example of one product in this category.

The other option is an active system where the filter consists of plates that get charged with something like 50,000 volts from a controller. (same principal as how photocopier picks up toner) Here is an example made by Honeywell (http://yourhome.honeywell.com/Consumer/Cultures/en-US/Products/Air+Cleaners/Electronic/Default.htm) (called a "whole house Electronic Air Cleaner"). Like the above option, the filter pad (called a "cell") need to be washed every 30 days and reinstalled. While an active system needs to be installed between the cold air return ad furnace fan, anyone with reasonable home improvement ability can do it. these are highly effective filters, and the Honeywell example costs around $450 USD (http://www.climatedoctors.com/items/item.aspx?itemid=429431).

update:
I have had so many problems with various parts of my Honeywell humidifier I installed in 2003 breaking, that I cannot recommend this particular brand for HVAC, but the example still stands.

We have been in our house for 10 years. There was always a musty smell when the air came on. I got sucked into duct cleaning with one of those newspaper ads for $109 whole house....
First off....It was worth it to have them cleaned and sanitized. I paid extra for the sanitizer spray. Let me warn you though....upselling will cost you. I have a 2100 square foot house and it cost about $700!!! Ouch! Health wise it was worth the expense. My kids were constantly sick with night coughs and snotty noses. It has been 6 months and they have yet to be sick. The musty smell is completely gone.
I would say that you only need to clean your ducts if you are having health problems or musty smell.

I had air duct cleaning from a company truck abt 10 yrs ago and noticed less dust to wipe furniture. Could not remember the name of the company.
I will have it again when we have extra money to spend.
We have electronic filter or 3M Filtrete filters filter to use either filter. Also, we have a portable hepa air room filter in our bedroom to remove outdoor burning. So we can breathe better at bed time from outdoor burning.Ban outdoor burning is over. Only for summer time. Wish it is year round for outdoor burning ban.
Also, use hepa vacuum to vacuum all the carpets and floors.

I have allergy problems - so I'm generally the first type of person to go for this.
However, if you have a solid filter on your air system then you shouldn't need anything done.

When you think about it - the air flow would push most dust particles out of the duct work.

Really you only need to clean them out if you had a lot of rennovations on the house or you had an inkling the previous owner was ... not that clean.

Thanks for all the tips, I think I repped everyone. I'm just worried by using filters that don't really catch much that I'm doing harm to my HVAC system. What would happen if you didn't use filters at all? That's what I'm pretty much doing.

if the previous owner smoked you will want to have it done...i did mine and the insides were covered with a sticky yellow goo as well as dusty, moldy growth. Best to check them out by making a "tampon like" device .

Previous owner did not smoke :D