The easiest way to check is to inspect the air return vent for visual signs of dirt and soil. It is usually the biggest vent in your house, located in the hallway or at the base of the wall near the furnace. Shine a light down the vent to take a look inside and check for any dust buildup. Another area to inspect is your furnace filters. If the filters are visibly dirty, then this dust likely has made it past the filter and into your vents, circulating in your home.

Whether it’s for heating or cooling, every time air flows through your air vent system, dust particles travel as well. The furnace filters are designed to keep most of these out of your vents, but very fine dust particles can manage to pass through and circulate in your home. Over time, this can cause further accumulation.

The ventilation system should be cleaned as soon as you see excessive dust, as it can travel through your vent line, clog up your filters, and prevent efficient ventilation and circulation. The typical service interval is every two to three years.

Typically, the service will take less than two hours for a 3-bedroom house with 8 vents, a furnace, and an air return vent.

In order to achieve a spotless air vent line from start to finish, you need professional techniques and the help of special equipment. We use a Rotobrush and a dual motor vacuum to ensure that we clean all out-of-reach areas and suck up all the debris. A simple shop vac or a house vacuum cannot accomplish this task.