Cleaning air ducts can improve indoor air quality by reducing the amount of airborne pollutants in your home. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends reading this document in its entirety, as it provides important information on the subject. Although duct cleaning has never been proven to prevent health problems, studies have not conclusively disproved it either. Much of the dirt in the air ducts adheres to the surfaces of the ducts and does not necessarily enter the living space.
Pollutants from both outdoor and indoor activities, such as cooking, cleaning, smoking, or just moving, can cause greater exposure to pollutants than dirty air ducts. There is no evidence that a small amount of household dust or other particles in air ducts poses any health risk. Before cleaning, reconditioning, or replacing the ducts, the cause or causes must be corrected, or else the problem is likely to reappear. Some research suggests that cleaning the components of the heating and cooling system (p.
Ex. However, there is little evidence that cleaning only the ducts improves system efficiency. You may want to consider cleaning your air ducts simply because it seems logical that the air ducts will get dirty over time and should be cleaned from time to time. As long as cleaning is done properly, there is no evidence to suggest that such cleaning is harmful.
The EPA does not recommend that air ducts be cleaned routinely, but only when necessary. However, they do recommend inspecting fuel-burning appliances before each heating season for proper functioning and maintenance in order to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning. Knowledge about the potential benefits and potential problems of air duct cleaning is limited. Since the conditions in every home are different, it's impossible to generalize about whether cleaning your home's air ducts would be beneficial or not.
On the other hand, if family members have unusual or unexplained symptoms or illnesses that you think might be related to your home environment, you should discuss the situation with your doctor. The EPA has published several publications for guidance on how to identify potential indoor air quality problems and ways to prevent or fix them. Whether you decide to clean your home's air ducts or not, preventing water and dirt from entering the system is the most effective way to avoid contamination (see How to Prevent Duct Contamination). If you decide to clean your heating and cooling system, it's important to make sure that the service provider agrees to clean all components of the system and is qualified to do so.
In addition, they may propose applying chemical biocides designed to remove microbiological contaminants inside ducts and other components of the system. Some service providers may also suggest applying chemical treatments (sealants or other encapsulants) to encapsulate or cover the inner surfaces of air ducts and equipment housings because they believe they will control mold growth or prevent the release of dirt particles or fibers from the ducts. These practices have not yet been thoroughly investigated and you should be fully informed before deciding to allow them in your air ducts. They should only be applied after the system has been properly cleaned of all visible dust or debris.
Cleaning your air ducts can improve indoor air quality by reducing airborne pollutants circulating in your home. It's important to note that dirty air ducts are just one of many possible sources of particulate matter present in homes. If any of these conditions exist, it usually suggests one or more underlying causes which must be corrected before cleaning, reconditioning, or replacing the ducts. You might consider cleaning your air ducts simply because it seems logical that they will get dirty over time and should be cleaned from time to time.
While there is still debate over regular duct cleaning benefits, there is no evidence to suggest that such cleaning is harmful when done properly.
