When it comes to air duct cleaning, safety should always be your top priority. Before you start the process, it is essential to turn off your home thermostat. This will help protect your heating and cooling system from any potential damage. It is normal to worry about the dust, pollen, and other allergens that may be present in the air ducts.
Fortunately, cleaning the air ducts is a relatively simple process. You can stay at home while the cleaning is taking place, but you should be aware that the equipment may cause some noise. To find companies that offer air duct cleaning services, you can look in the Yellow Pages or contact the National Association of Air Duct Cleaners (NADCA). Cleaning and maintaining your HVAC system can offer some benefits, but these are usually quite small.
If you don't clean your air ducts, most of the dirt will remain in circulation throughout your home, which can be especially harmful for people with allergies. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends cleaning the air ducts if there is visible mold, pests, or excess dust and dirt on the ventilation grilles. A professional air duct cleaning service will know how to use negative air pressure and seal problem areas and grilles. They may also suggest applying a sealant to prevent dust and dirt particles from being released into the air or to seal air leaks. If a service provider doesn't follow proper duct cleaning procedures, it can cause problems with indoor air quality. It is important to note that there is little evidence that cleaning only the ducts improves system efficiency.
If you decide to have your air ducts cleaned, make sure you take all necessary precautions when evaluating the competence and reliability of the service provider. If no one in your home has allergies or unexplained symptoms or illnesses, and if there is no musty smell or visible mold growth after a visual inspection of the inside of the ducts, then you probably don't need to clean them. CMHC researchers discovered that when duct cleaners also cleaned fan blades, there was a small reduction in airborne particles. However, many modern residential air duct systems are manufactured with fiberglass plates or sheet metal ducts lined on the inside with a fiberglass duct coating. EPA researchers measured the dust levels and efficiency of HVAC systems in test homes over a one-week period during the cooling season and found that cleaning the ducts did not significantly improve dust levels or system performance.
