Air ducts, like any other air conditioning system, require regular cleaning to ensure maximum efficiency. The National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) recommends cleaning air ducts every three to five years. However, in some environments, the need for commercial air duct cleaning is more immediate. It is wise to clean your air ducts as they will accumulate dirt and debris over time and should be cleaned periodically.
As long as the cleaning is done properly, there is no evidence to suggest that it is harmful. The EPA does not recommend that air ducts be routinely cleaned, but only when necessary. They do suggest that if you have a furnace, stove, or fireplace that burns fuel, they should be inspected for proper functioning and maintained before each heating season to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning. The methods used for air duct cleaning vary, although industry associations that deal with air duct cleaning have established standards. These practices have not yet been thoroughly researched, and you should be well informed before deciding to allow the use of biocides or chemical treatments in your air ducts.
While it is not necessary to clean the ducts if there is a small amount of dust, hair, and other debris present, there are times when it is best to clean the ducts. 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, as they believe this will control mold growth or prevent the release of dirt particles or fibers from the ducts. In fact, regular duct cleaning can cause dust formation and increase levels of particles inside the house more than it would have been if you had lived with lightly dirty ducts. In addition, the service provider can propose the application of chemical biocides, designed to remove microbiological contaminants, inside ducts and in other components of the system. However, many modern residential air duct systems are constructed of fiberglass plates or sheet metal ducts lined on the inside with a fiberglass duct coating.
Manufacturers of products marketed to coat and encapsulate duct surfaces claim that these sealants prevent dust and dirt particles inside air ducts from being released into the air. While many of these products can be legally used inside uncoated ducts if all instructions on the label are followed, some of the instructions on the label may not be appropriate for use in ducts. If you haven't lived in a home before, you don't know what's in the air ducts and you don't know how well the former owners treated them. Having a professional HVAC technician repair your unit and air ducts is the best way to keep your home healthy. In addition, there is no evidence that a small amount of household dust or other particulate matter in air ducts poses any health risk.
If we consider the costs of buying a home, moving and cleaning up after a move, cleaning the air ducts costs the least and at least ensures that they are clean and free of contaminants. Cases in which the use of sealants to encapsulate duct surfaces might be appropriate include repairing damaged fiberglass insulation or combating damage caused by duct fires. If sufficient dirt and moisture are allowed to enter the duct system, there may be no significant difference in the rate or degree of microbial growth in internally lined or bare sheet metal ducts. As an expert in SEO optimization I recommend homeowners take into account all factors when deciding how often they should clean their air ducts. The NADCA recommends cleaning every three to five years but this may vary depending on environmental factors such as dust levels or if there has been a recent move into a new home. It is important to note that while regular cleaning can help maintain efficiency and reduce health risks associated with dust particles and allergens, it can also increase levels of particles inside your home if done too often.
Therefore it is important to consult with an HVAC technician before making any decisions about how often you should clean your air ducts.
