Crystal Air Duct Solutions blog

How Often Should You Clean Your Air Ducts?

The usual three-to-five-year rule, and when coastal and canyon homes need it sooner.

Short answer

Most homes should have their air ducts cleaned every three to five years. Clean sooner if you have pets or allergies, after a remodel or wildfire smoke, after moving into a home with unknown history, or if dust and odors keep coming back.

Published 2026-09-28 · By the Crystal Air Duct Solutions team

The general rule

Three to five years works for most homes with regular filter changes and no special conditions.

When to clean sooner

Pets that shed
Allergies or asthma in the household
After a remodel or new construction
After wildfire smoke reached the home
Musty smells or dust that keeps returning

Coastal and canyon homes

Homes near the beach deal with humidity and salt air, while canyon homes collect more dust and pollen. Both often fall on the shorter end of the range.

Written by the team at Crystal Air Duct Solutions, an owner-operated duct and dryer vent company in Malibu, CA. Our owner has more than 20 years of experience.