Guides / Updated 2026-09-28
Signs your home needs air duct cleaning
Duct cleaning is worth it when the ducts are actually dirty. It is a waste when the real problem is a wet coil. Here is how to tell the difference.
Signs the runs are carrying junk
Supply boots coated in gray film. A puff of dust when the fan starts. Renovation drywall dust that never left. A musty smell that is dry, not the sweet wet smell of a clogged drain. Those point at the ductwork.
Signs it is not the ducts
Water at the air handler, a float switch that keeps tripping, or ice on the copper line are maintenance and repair problems. Cleaning the ducts first would be cleaning around the leak.
Pair it with the right visit
If it has been more than six months since anyone opened the panel, book maintenance and ask them to look at the registers. Dryer vent cleaning is a separate line and should be on its own schedule.