I'm just a fellow homeowner, not an HVAC professional, but I've heard it's unnecessary.

The first line of defense against having dirt in the ducts is having a good filter that gets changed regularly. With floor vents, the boots can be easily removed to allow for vacuuming dirt sitting at the bottom. Beyond that, I'm not sure anything more is needed since the air pressure with the fan blowing should be strong enough to blow most things out an open register.

I'd be interested to hear other comments. I've lived in my house >20 years, never had any duct cleaning done, and my floor boots when I look at them periodically) always seem rather clean.

If proper filters are always used, ISTM the supply ducts should be reasonably clean. That said, I've also seen where a good deal of plaster dust, etc, was allowed to fall into floor registers during construction or renovation. There could be a significant build-up of dust over a number of years, though, in the return ducts, especially the horizontal sections. That could be a simple DIY job by removing the return grills.

JM$.02W

Elmer and randy,you both make valid points. I rarly reccomend duct cleaning and that is always in unusual circumstances. One good reason for supply cleaning is when moisture collect's in ducts creating mold. Stir-fry,I reccomend you,your dad or a pro (A) make certain filter fit's the frame preventing air bi-passing filter. (B) use Merv 8 or higher filters (C) make certain evap coil is reasonably clean. As Elmer suggested,loose particals are blown from ducts and eventually captured by "GOOD" filters. Particals can remain attached for years with no negative results.

Duct cleaning is generally recognized as a solution looking for a problem. There is some other problem with the condo if it has been dusty from the get-go. There may be other problems with the duct system. Leaks in the return tend to suck in air from the surrounding areas. Leaks in supplies tend to depressurize the house sucking air in from random leaks in the building envelope. I am not saying that is the problem.

agree with Ionized.

a good mastic seal of ducts, plenums, supply boxes

will eliminate most of the dust issues.

what type ducts OP?

not a good idea to clean flex, it usually tears something

up.

I'm no fan of duct cleaning, but a huge fan of

sealing ducts.

best of luck

Excessive dust? dust doesn't come from the HVAC system, it's due to outside influences that cause the dust. Dust is in the air we breathe indoors or out, pet dander, smokers ash, skin dander etc.

You remember the commercials Intel made many years ago where they showed the funny little different colored suits? The people in them covered from head to toe?

Humans create dust. To eliminate dust entirely you have to go to extremes you can not imagine. The best way for homeowner's to cut down on dust is eliminate the house from being under a negative pressure. Realize I said "cut down" on dust.

If the house is under positive air pressure 'most of the time' there is a pressure that is preventing infiltration, this will in turn cut down on the amount of dust.

Cleaning your duct system is merely treating the symptom of a dirty home, it will just get dirty again.