Residential air duct cleaningAir duct cleaning for Wisconsin homes.

What does an air duct cleaning include?

We work on the parts of the system that move your air. For a typical house that means:

• Supply ducts and registers, the ones that blow warm or cool air into each room
• Return ducts and grilles, the ones that pull air back to the furnace
• The furnace area and main trunk lines, where most of the dust gathers
• A walk-through before and after, so you know what we looked at

Scope varies with the house, so the details go in writing in your estimate.

When does duct cleaning make sense?

The EPA suggests cleaning when there is a visible reason rather than on a fixed schedule. Good reasons include:

• Visible dust or debris blowing out of the registers
• A recent remodel or construction, which can leave drywall dust and sawdust in the ducts
• Signs that mice, squirrels or insects have gotten into the ductwork
• Moving into a home when you do not know how the system was kept
• Heavy pet hair, smoking in the house, or a very long gap since the last cleaning

Not sure? A camera inspection shows what is inside before you decide. Our guide on how often to clean air ducts goes deeper.

What does duct cleaning not do?

We clean. We do not repair or replace furnaces and ductwork, and we will not tell you that a cleaning will cure allergies or cut your heating bill. Studies have not shown either, and our guides on allergies and energy bills explain why. For furnace or duct repair, call a licensed heating and cooling contractor.

One more careful note: some older insulation wrap and tape on ducts can contain asbestos. If your ducts are wrapped in old material, do not disturb it, and have it tested by a licensed asbestos professional before any cleaning is done near it.

What is different about Wisconsin homes?

Wisconsin heats for a long season, so the furnace runs for months with the windows shut and dust has plenty of time to circulate. Older city homes have ductwork that was added and rerouted over decades, farmhouses have additions and field dust, and cabins sit closed for months. We write about each in our guides for older Milwaukee homes, farmhouses and Northwoods cabins.