1,105 posts, read 3,634,012 times 181 posts, read 884,678 times 20,793 posts, read 43,207,769 times 1,501 posts, read 9,225,440 times 3 posts, read 17,766 times 45 posts, read 363,081 times There is actually much more hype than facts regarding duct cleaning; and most of the misinformation comes from duct cleaning companies. See the following discussion: Continuing Discussions on Indoor Mould- Duct Cleaning Duct cleaning can actually result in air that is DIRTIER after cleaning. While although there are legitimate reasons to clean one’s ducts, in general, the more you clean your duct work, the dirtier your indoor air will be. 11,962 posts, read 10,081,643 times The studies referred to in the above "discussion" were done many years ago in uncontrolled environments and with what would now be considered outdated methods and equipment. The results of a more recent and far more scientific study were done and published by the EPA in their 1997 Spring/Summer edition of "Inside IAQ" and can be found at:

This field study was limited to non-porous bare metal ducts and demonstrated that mechanical air duct cleaning can be an effective source-management tool reducing particulates, odors and VOC emissions thru the removal of contaminants within the system. It also demonstrated an increase in system efficiency and suggested that air duct cleaning has a positive impact on system performance. For those who have no desire to read the entire article, the Field Study on Residential Air Duct Cleaning begins on page 6 and describes the methods used and work performed along with a summary of the results.It wasn’t until we moved into our new home that we learned that you could have your home’s air ducts professionally cleaned! I seriously thought you could just use your vacuum cleaner to do this type of job. I have much to learn about homeownership – and life, in general. But anytime there’s a chance to pay someone to do house work, I’m in! This was actually recommended by our real estate agent and the home inspector, because our home is a flipped home that was recently completely renovated.

So, there were LOTS of dust and debris in the HVAC system and ducts. But, before you pick up the phone to schedule a professional visit, make sure you do a bit of research. You may not have to clean your home’s air ducts at all, or at least you may find that it’s not as urgent as you thought it was. Some people are under the impression that they MUST get their home’s air ducts professionally cleaned to help reduce allergies and improve their HVAC system’s efficacy. While doing this type of cleaning may help, there really isn’t scientific evidence to prove it. According, to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), duct cleaning has never been shown to actually prevent health problems. Studies also fail to conclusively demonstrate that dust levels in homes increase because of dirty air ducts. In fact, dirt and other pollutants can enter your home from outdoor cooking, cleaning, smoking, etc. So, in other words, you’ll always have at least some dust/dirt in your home’s ducts.

So does this mean I don’t have to do this? You could pay someone to get your home’s air ducts cleaned if it gives you peace of mind. However, you should definitely do it if you’re in one of the following situations: There’s visible mold growth inside ducts or other HVAC components. There are excessive amounts of dust or dirt. This could happen after having remodeling work done, like in our situation, for example. There are insects or other small animals calling your air ducts their home. air purifier closetIf this is the case, you may have to call an exterminator as well.air cleaner allergy relief “What about cleaning air ducts to increase the HVAC efficacy? best smoke odor air purifier Well, according to some homeowners’ anecdotal experiences and the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA), air duct cleaning does help.

Some people have seen a “significant improvement in air flow and air quality” after having their air ducts and HVAC components cleaned, reducing their energy bills. The NADCA recommends cleaning them every three to five years to maximize your HVAC system’s life. Things to Consider When Choosing an Air Duct Cleaning Service Provider According to the EPA website, here are the things your service provider should do when cleaning your home’s ducts: Inspect the system before cleaning to be sure that there are no asbestos-containing materials in the HVAC system. If asbestos is present, a special cleaning must be done. Use HEPA (high-efficiency particle air) vacuuming equipment if the vacuum exhausts inside the home. Otherwise, use equipment that exhausts outside of the home. Protect carpet and furnishing during cleaning. Use well-controlled brushing of duct surfaces in conjunction with contact vacuum cleaning. Use only soft-bristled brushes for fiberglass duct board and sheet metal ducts internally lined with fiberglass.

Take care to protect ductwork, including sealing and re-insulating any access holes so they’re airtight. Follow NADCA’s standards for air duct cleaning and NAIMA’s recommended practice for ducts containing fiberglass or constructed of fiberglass duct board. Have you had air duct cleaning done to your home? Let us know if you recommend it! New Construction or Remodeling Duct Cleaning Services Dirty Ducts Cleaning does several brand new and remodel construction projects, retrieving gallons and gallons of drywall dust, construction demo dust, lead paint debris, dust mites, etc. It is very important to clean the ductwork as many times clients will move into a brand new or newly constructed building and discover that they are dusting all of the time and “can’t get ahead of it” or they turn on their HVAC system and literally see particles and debris flying out. If a client is spending millions of dollars on a construction project, they will find the money well invested to average less than .2% of the construction cost to clean the HVAC system.