Clearing the air in your home could help your family breathe better and save you some cash.

That’s the advice from experts who say the accumulation of everyday dust and dirt — along with pet dander, smoke residue and other contaminants — in a home’s ductwork can cause a number of health problems and boost your utility bills.

The National Air Duct Cleaners Association says air-handler units should be inspected once a year and cleaned as needed.

When employing an HVAC inspection, maintenance and restoration contractor, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends only the use of service providers that comply with NADCA air-duct cleaning standards.