Does a home warranty cover air duct cleaning?
Check air duct cleaning coverage to avoid costly surprises later.
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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 lifespan 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 insightHome warranty air duct cleaning coverage
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.
Here are some things that home warranties cover:
- 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
Air duct cleaning vs. ductwork repairs
Understanding the difference between air duct cleaning, ductwork repair and ductwork replacement is important when looking at home warranty coverage.
- Air duct cleaning: This means removing dust, debris and other things inside your home's heating and cooling ducts. Professionals usually clean the supply and return ducts, as well as vents and grilles, to improve air quality and system efficiency.
- Ductwork repair: This is fixing problems like leaks, holes or disconnected parts in the duct system. Repairs improve airflow but do not include cleaning.
- Ductwork replacement: This is when old or damaged ducts are taken out and new ones are put in. This is a bigger project than a cleaning or repair.
Home warranties often cover repairs or replacement for certain ductwork issues, but not cleaning.
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.
Although most home warranties do not include routine air duct cleaning, there are rare situations where it could be covered, usually tied to certain events:
- Mold or contamination: If mold or contamination happens because of a covered HVAC failure, your plan may help pay for duct cleaning as part of the repair.
- Fire or smoke damage: If your home has a fire and the air ducts need cleaning to remove smoke or soot as part of fixing the system, some plans may help with cleaning costs.
- Pest infestations: If pests damage the ducts and it’s linked to a covered mechanical failure, limited cleaning might be included in the repair.
- Water damage: If water or a covered plumbing issue causes contamination in the ducts, cleaning may be part of restoration.
Coverage in these cases depends on your contract and usually needs proof of the event. Always check with your provider.
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.
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 Sept. 17, 2025.
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, “Should You Have the Air Ducts In Your Home Cleaned?” Accessed Sept. 17, 2025.
- National Library of Medicine, “Is ventilation duct cleaning useful? A review of the scientific evidence.” Accessed Sept. 17, 2025.
