Does the ductwork in your home require professional duct cleaning? Only a qualified professional can tell you for sure. If you have any doubts, consult a trusted local HVAC contractor for a formal inspection and an objective opinion.
The average residence incorporates 250 linear feet of ducts that typically convey about 1,400 cubic feet per minute of cooled or heated air. The overwhelming majority of your ductwork isn’t visually accessible to the average homeowner. The fact is, most of it looks fine from the outside, anyway. Only an internal examination by a NADCA-certified duct cleaning expert can reliably determine the status of your ductwork and establish the need (or not) for professional cleaning.
Some of the criteria you may consider when deciding to seek a professional opinion include:
Confirmed Mold Growth
Any microscopic organic material, moisture and dormant spores deposited inside your ducts can turn into active mold growth. However, suspected mold growth can’t be determined at a glance. Samples should be taken and tested to confirm the presence of mold and determine the type, then a duct cleaning plan, including disinfection with proper EPA-approved substances, can be carried out.
Evidence of Infestation
The dark, undisturbed recesses of your ductwork may provide a refuge for a variety of vermin, including rodents, or insects like bugs, bees and others. If signs of infestation are noted by a qualified inspector, extermination, elimination of access points and, finally, a professional duct cleaning should be undertaken.
Visual Indicators
If ductwork contamination is advanced, you may notice certain signs, such as dust clouds, dirt or spider webs blowing out of supply registers, especially when the system blower first cycles “on.” If efficient air filtration doesn’t not remediate this situation, professional duct cleaning may be required.
Contact Paitson Bros. Heating & Air Conditioning for a qualified inspection before deciding on whether to get a professional duct cleaning. We’ve been the Wabash Valley’s trusted source for HVAC excellence since 1922.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Terre Haute, Indiana about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about duct cleaning and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Credit/Copyright Attribution: “Bernard Zajac/Shutterstock”
Jeff Paitson is a third generation business owner who continues to run the business with the same values that have been passed down from previous generations since 1922.
Jeff’s belief is that the business belongs to Jesus Christ; therefore 10 percent of the company’s profits go toward the Maryland Community Church.
Jeff is a Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce member and in his spare time, he enjoys 
Ethan Rayburn is a lifelong resident of Terre Haute and a 2005 graduate of Purdue University.
An Eagle Scout, Ethan spent four years as a non-profit executive with the Boy Scouts of America before joining Paitson Bros. as a comfort advisor and later General Manager. In that role, Ethan has brought a renewed enthusiasm for customer care, integrity, value, and service to Paitson Bros. Heating & Air Conditioning.
Ethan enjoys singing and was a member of the Purdue Varsity Glee Club. He also enjoys playing and coaching soccer, spending time with his family and two young boys, and volunteering his time and resources with his church, Terre Haute First Baptist Church, which he has attended from a very young age.
Paitson Bros
1 (812) 232-2347
Serving the Wabash Valley, IN Area Since 1922