Nor do studies conclusively demonstrate that the particle (e.g., printable version · Indoor Air Pollution · Guide to Indoor Air Quality) An official website of the United States government Official websites use. gov A. gov The website belongs to an official United States government organization. Knowledge about cleaning air ducts is in its early stages, so a general recommendation cannot be offered as to whether you should clean your home's air ducts.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) urges you to read this document in its entirety, as it provides important information on the subject.
Duct cleaning
has never been proven to actually prevent health problems. This is because much of the dirt in the air ducts adheres to duct surfaces and does not necessarily enter the living space. It's important to note that dirty air ducts are just one of many possible sources of particulate matter in homes.Contaminants that enter the home from both outdoor and indoor activities, such as cooking, cleaning, smoking, or simply moving around, can cause greater exposure to contaminants than dirty air ducts. In addition, there is no evidence that a small amount of household dust or other particles in air ducts poses a health risk. If any of the conditions identified above exist, it usually suggests one or more underlying causes. Before ducting is cleaned, modernized, or replaced, the cause or causes must be corrected, or else the problem is likely to recur.
Some research suggests that cleaning the components of the heating and cooling system (e.g., however, there is little evidence that cleaning only the ducts) improves system efficiency. You may consider cleaning air ducts simply because it seems logical that air ducts 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, the EPA recommends that if you have an oven, stove, or chimney that burns fuel, they be inspected to make sure they are working properly and serviced before each heating season to protect them against carbon monoxide poisoning. If you decide to clean your air ducts, take the same consumer precautions you would normally take when evaluating the competence and reliability of the service provider.
Whether or not you decide to clean your home's air ducts, preventing water and dirt from entering the system is the most effective way to prevent pollution (see How to Prevent Duct Contamination). If you decide to clean your heating and cooling system, it's important to ensure that the service provider is committed to cleaning all components of the system and is qualified to do so. In addition, the service provider can propose the application of chemical biocides, designed to eliminate microbiological contaminants, inside the ducts and in other components of the system. Some service providers may also suggest the application of chemical treatments (sealants or other encapsulants) to encapsulate or cover the interior surfaces of air ducts and equipment housings, as they believe that this will control mold growth or prevent the release of dirt particles or fibers by ducts. These practices have not yet been thoroughly researched and you should be fully informed before deciding to allow the use of biocides or chemical treatments in your air ducts.
They should only be applied, if at all, after the system has been properly cleaned to remove all visible dust or dirt. Knowledge about the potential benefits and potential problems of cleaning air ducts is limited. Since every home's conditions 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 may be related to your home environment, you should discuss the situation with your doctor.
The EPA's Guidance on Indoor Air Quality
The EPA has published the following publications as guidance on identifying potential indoor air quality problems and ways to prevent or solve them.Should You Clean Your Air Ducts?
You may consider cleaning the air ducts simply because it seems logical that the air ducts get dirty over time and that they should be cleaned from time to time.While the debate over the utility of regular duct cleaning continues, there is no evidence to suggest that such cleaning is harmful, as long as it is done properly. On the other hand, if a service provider doesn't follow proper duct cleaning procedures, duct cleaning can cause problems with indoor air. For example, an inadequate vacuum collection system can release more dust, dirt, and other contaminants than if the ducts had been left without problems. A careless or inadequately trained service provider can damage the ductwork or the heating and cooling system, which could increase heating and air conditioning costs or force you to perform difficult and expensive repairs or replacements.
