Several clear signs indicate your Penn Valley home’s air ducts need professional attention. Visible dust or debris around vent covers, musty odors when your HVAC system runs, or family members experiencing increased allergy symptoms all signal problems. You can perform a simple check by removing a vent cover and looking inside with a flashlight. If you see significant dust buildup or debris, professional cleaning is overdue. Another quick test involves wiping the inside of a vent with tissue—if it comes away dirty, your ducts need immediate attention. In Penn Valley, we recommend cleaning every 3-5 years under normal circumstances, but homes with pets, smokers, or recent construction may need more frequent service. After wildfire events, cleaning becomes critically important to remove smoke particles from your entire ventilation system.