Does a home warranty cover air duct cleaning?
Check air duct cleaning coverage to avoid costly surprises later.
According to the World Health Organization, in 2020, household air pollution killed 3.2 million people. If your home has mold or vermin or the ducts are particularly clogged with dust, then cleaning them may be a good idea to freshen up your home’s air. Maintaining clean air ducts is also important for increasing your unit's life span and health.
Unfortunately, you probably won’t be able to get your home warranty to pay for air duct cleaning.
Home warranties don’t usually cover air duct cleaning.
Jump to insightCheck with your home insurance company to see what kind of coverage you have for air duct cleaning.
Jump to insightHomeowner’s or builder's insurance may cover air duct cleaning.
Jump to insightWhat air duct cleaning services does a home warranty cover?
Typical home warranties cover ductwork repairs and replacements, but they don’t cover air duct cleaning services. However, many home insurance companies do provide air duct cleaning.
Some things that home warranties do cover are:
- Washer and dryers
- Plumbing
- Electrical
- Built-in microwaves
- Built-in ranges, cooktops and ovens
- Trash compactors
- Kitchen refrigerators
- Water heaters and boilers
- Interior sump pumps
- Dishwashers
- Garbage disposals
- Central air conditioning and heating systems
- HVAC repair and replacement
What to do if your home warranty doesn’t cover air duct cleaning
If your home warranty doesn’t cover air duct cleaning, you have some other options. Your homeowner's insurance or builders' insurance may cover air duct cleaning in certain situations, and you can also clean your air ducts yourself. You can also check to see if your home warranty has add-on coverage for air duct cleaning. It will cost a little more, but it may be worth it.
FAQ
Are air ducts supposed to be cleaned?
You should clean your air ducts, but the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says there’s no need for a cleaning schedule. The EPA recommends only cleaning your air ducts when needed.
Does duct cleaning help with dust in the house?
It may help, but your best bet is to change your air filters.
Does air duct cleaning affect indoor air quality?
According to a 2010 study published in Indoor Air, there is inadequate proof that air duct cleaning improves air quality.
Bottom line
While your home warranty may not cover air duct cleaning, you could probably do it yourself. Also, check your builder's warranty, insurance policy or manufacturer's warranty to determine if it covers air duct cleaning.
Article sources
ConsumerAffairs writers primarily rely on government data, industry experts and original research from other reputable publications to inform their work. Specific sources for this article include:
- World Health Organization, “Household air pollution.” Accessed March 25, 2024.
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, “Should You Have the Air Ducts In Your Home Cleaned?” Accessed March 25, 2024.
- National Library of Medicine, “Is ventilation duct cleaning useful? A review of the scientific evidence.” Accessed March 25, 2024.
