An official website of the United States Government Use of official websites. Government A. The gov website belongs to an official United States government organization. Knowledge about cleaning air ducts is in its early stages, so no general recommendation can 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. Nor do studies conclusively prove that the particle (p. e.g., g.
This is because much of the dirt in the air ducts adheres to the surfaces of the ducts 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 that are present in homes. Pollutants that enter the home from both outdoor and indoor activities, such as cooking, cleaning, smoking, or just moving, can cause greater exposure to pollutants than dirty air ducts. In addition, there is no evidence that a small amount of household dust or other particles in air ducts poses any health risk.
If any of the conditions identified above exist, it usually suggests one or more underlying causes. 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, the EPA recommends that if you have a furnace, stove, or fireplace that burns fuel, they be inspected for proper functioning and maintained before each heating season to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning. If you decide to have your air ducts cleaned, take the same consumer precautions you would normally take when evaluating the competence and reliability of the service provider. 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, the service provider may propose the application of chemical biocides, designed to remove microbiological contaminants, inside ducts and in 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 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 of all visible dust or debris.
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 the following publications for guidance on how to identify potential indoor air quality problems and ways to prevent or fix them.
You might 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. While the debate over the value of regular duct cleaning continues, there is no evidence to suggest that such cleaning is harmful, provided it is done properly. On the other hand, if a service provider fails to follow proper duct cleaning procedures, duct cleaning can cause indoor air problems. For example, an inadequate vacuum collection system can release more dust, dirt, and other contaminants than if the ducts had been left alone.
A careless or inadequately trained service provider can damage your ducts or your heating and cooling system, which could increase your heating and air conditioning costs or force you to make difficult and expensive repairs or replacements. This is because much of the dirt that can accumulate inside the air ducts adheres to the surfaces of the ducts and does not necessarily enter the living space. The EPA does not recommend that air ducts be cleaned except when necessary because of continuing uncertainty about the benefits of duct cleaning under most circumstances. However, the EPA recommends that if you have a furnace, stove, or fireplace that burns fuel, they be inspected for proper functioning and maintained before each heating season to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning. Some research also suggests that cleaning dirty cooling coils, fans, and heat exchangers can improve the efficiency of heating and cooling systems. However, there is little evidence to indicate that simply cleaning the duct system will increase its efficiency. If you're wondering what special considerations need to be taken into account for older homes when it comes to air duct sealing, then this article is for you! When it comes down to it there are a few key points you need to keep in mind when considering sealing your home's air ducts. First off it's important for homeowners with older homes especially those built before 1980 -to understand how their HVAC systems work before attempting any kind of sealing process. The next step would be for homeowners with older homes specifically those built before 1980 -to inspect their HVAC systems for any signs of damage such as cracks in their air duct.
If any damage is found then it's important for homeowners with older homes specifically those built before 1980 -to repair any damage before attempting any kind of sealing process. Once any damage has been repaired then homeowners with older homes specifically those built before 1980 -can begin looking into sealing their HVAC systems. When it comes down to sealing an HVAC system there are a few different methods available depending on what type of material was used when constructing your HVAC system. For example if your HVAC system was constructed using metal then homeowners with older homes specifically those built before 1980 -can use metal tape as a way of sealing their HVAC systems. On top of metal tape homeowners with older homes specifically those built before 1980 -can also use mastic sealant which is a type of adhesive sealant used for sealing joints between two surfaces. Finally homeowners with older homes specifically those built before 1980 -can also use aerosol foam sealant which is a type of foam sealant used for sealing joints between two surfaces. No matter which method homeowners with older homes specifically those built before 1980 -choose when it comes down sealing their HVAC systems it's important for them understand how their HVAC systems work before attempting any kind sealing process. By understanding how their HVAC systems work homeowners with older homes specifically those built before 1980 -will be able ensure their HVAC systems are sealed properly thus preventing any further damage from occurring. In conclusion when it comes down air duct sealing, homeowners with older homes specifically those built before 1980 -need understand how their HVAC systems work before attempting any kind sealing process.
Once they understand how their HVAC systems work they can then begin looking into sealing their HVAC systems using methods such as metal tape mastic sealant aerosol foam sealant etc.
By understanding how their HVAC systems work and using appropriate methods when sealing their HVAC systems homeowners with older homes specifically those built before 1980 -will be able ensure their HVAC systems are sealed properly thus preventing any further damage from occurring.
