Congratulations on your new home!
Moving into a brand-new home is an exciting milestone. Everything is fresh, untouched, and exactly how you envisioned it. But while your countertops, floors, and walls may be pristine, your air ducts could be filled with construction dust, debris, and even mold spores.
Most homeowners assume that because their home is new, their HVAC system is clean. Unfortunately, new builds often have some of the dirtiest air ducts - and if you haven’t had them professionally cleaned, you could be circulating unhealthy air through your home.
Why Are Air Ducts in New Homes So Dirty?
During construction, your home undergoes months of work, from framing and drywalling to flooring and painting. All that dust and debris has to go somewhere, and often, it ends up in your air ducts. Here’s what could be hiding inside your HVAC system:
- Drywall & Construction Dust – Cutting drywall and sanding floors creates fine dust that settles deep in ductwork.
- Sawdust & Wood Particles – Leftover from cabinetry, flooring, and trim work, these can reduce air quality and clog filters.
- Mold Spores – New homes experience high humidity levels, and trapped moisture can lead to mold growth inside your ductwork.
- Insulation & Fiberglass Particles – During insulation installation, tiny particles can enter vents, causing respiratory irritation.
- Random Debris & Trash – Believe it or not, we’ve found food wrappers, nails, and construction scraps inside new home ductwork.
“My Builder Said the Ducts Were Cleaned” - Why That’s Not Enough
Some builders claim they clean air ducts before homeowners move in. But in most cases, this is a quick vacuum or air blowout, not a deep, professional cleaning. Here’s what that means:
- They only clean the vents—not deep into the ductwork where dust accumulates.
- They use shop vacs or air blowers—which loosen debris but don’t remove it completely.
- They skip key HVAC components—like coils and blower motors, which still circulate dust and allergens.
The only way to truly remove construction debris is with professional negative air cleaning, which removes contaminants from deep inside the system.
How Dirty Air Ducts Affect Your New Home
No one wants to breathe in dirty air at their new home. No one wants a new HVAC system that is running at much less than peak efficiency. Dirty air ducts in your new build has the following negative impacts:
- Poor Indoor Air Quality – Dust and allergens recirculate, triggering allergies, asthma, and respiratory issues.
- Increased Dust & Cleaning – If you’re constantly wiping down surfaces, your ducts could be the culprit.
- HVAC Efficiency Problems – Dust buildup forces your system to work harder, increasing energy bills.
- Musty Odors & Mold Risk – Stale, musty smells when your HVAC runs could indicate mold growth.
When Should You Schedule Air Duct Cleaning?
If your home is brand new, we recommend getting your ducts cleaned before moving in. You should schedule a cleaning ASAP if you notice excessive dust on surfaces, musty or stale odors when your HVAC runs, or increased allergies or respiratory issues.