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 to clean commercial air ducts is more immediate. 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. When considering the costs of buying the house, moving or cleaning the house, cleaning the air ducts is the lowest part of your costs and, at the very least, you will ensure that the air ducts are clean and free of contaminants. Whether or not you decide to clean your home's air ducts, it's essential to commit to a good preventive maintenance program to minimize duct pollution.
Duct cleaning methods vary, although industry associations that deal with air duct cleaning have established standards. These products are specifically designed for use in ducts or as ducts themselves, and are tested in accordance with standards established by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). This is because much of the dirt in the air ducts adheres to the duct surfaces and does not necessarily enter. in the living space.
Having a professional HVAC technician repair your unit and air ducts is the best way to keep your home healthy. 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. In general, in office buildings, schools, shopping centers and other commercial properties, it is recommended to clean the air ducts every three to four years, just like in residential homes. In addition, there is no evidence that a small amount of household dust or other particles in air ducts poses a health risk.
Reduce the frequency of cleaning air ducts or eliminate it completely, keeping your home less dusty. In addition, studies on the effects of duct cleaning do not conclusively show that the presence of dust and dirt in ducts increases the levels of particles inside the house. They may also propose the application of a sealant to prevent dust and dirt particles from being released into the air or to seal air leaks. However, according to the NADCA (National Air Duct Cleaners Association), there are several reasons to clean air ducts, which may increase the need to clean them more frequently.
Providers of air duct cleaning services may tell you that they must apply chemical biocides inside the ducts to kill bacteria (germs) and fungi (mold) and prevent their biological growth in the future.
