Is It Worthwhile To Clean Air Ducts
EPA 402-1000-97-002, October 1997
On this page:
- Summary
- What Is Air Duct Cleaning?
- Deciding Whether or Not to Take Your Air Ducts Cleaned
- Suggestions for Choosing a Duct Cleaning Service Provider
- What to Expect of an Air Duct Cleaning Service Provider
- How to Determine if the Duct Cleaner Did a Thorough Chore
- How to Prevent Duct Contagion
- To Preclude Dirt from Entering the Organization
- To Prevent Ducts from Becoming Wet
- Unresolved Bug of Duct Cleaning
- Does duct cleaning forestall wellness bug?
- Are duct materials other than bare canvass metal ducts more likely to be contaminated with mold and other biological contaminants?
- Should chemical biocides be practical to the inside of air ducts?
- Do sealants prevent the release of dust and dirt particles into the air?
- To Larn More About Indoor Air Quality
- To Learn More About Air Duct Cleaning
- Other Useful Resources
- Consumer Checklist
Summary
Knowledge nearly air duct cleaning is in its early stages, and so a coating recommendation cannot be offered as to whether you should have your air ducts in your domicile cleaned. The U.Southward. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) urges yous to read this document in it entirety as it provides important information on the bailiwick.
Duct cleaning has never been shown to really prevent wellness problems. Neither do studies conclusively demonstrate that particle (east.g., dust) levels in homes increment because of dirty air ducts. This is considering much of the dirt in air ducts adheres to duct surfaces and does not necessarily enter the living space. Information technology is important to keep in mind that muddied air ducts are merely i of many possible sources of particles that are present in homes. Pollutants that enter the home both from outdoors and indoor activities such as cooking, cleaning, smoking, or merely moving around tin cause greater exposure to contaminants than dirty air ducts. Moreover, there is no evidence that a lite amount of household dust or other particulate matter in air ducts poses any take a chance to your health.
You lot should consider having the air ducts in your home cleaned if:
There is substantial visible mold growth within hard surface (east.1000., sheet metal) ducts or on other components of your heating and cooling system. There are several important points to understand concerning mold detection in heating and cooling systems:
- Many sections of your heating and cooling organization may not be attainable for a visible inspection, and then ask the service provider to show you whatever mold they say exists.
- Y'all should be aware that although a substance may await like mold, a positive determination of whether it is mold or non can be made only past an expert and may require laboratory analysis for last confirmation. For about $fifty, some microbiology laboratories can tell you whether a sample sent to them on a clear strip of gummy household tape is mold or but a substance that resembles it.
- If y'all accept insulated air ducts and the insulation gets wet or moldy information technology cannot be finer cleaned and should exist removed and replaced.
- If the weather causing the mold growth in the first identify are non corrected, mold growth will recur.
Ducts are infested with vermin, e.chiliad. (rodents or insects).
Ducts are clogged with excessive amounts of dust and debris and/or particles are really released into the abode from your supply registers.
If any of the conditions identified above exists, it usually suggests one or more underlying causes. Prior to whatever cleaning, retrofitting, or replacing of your ducts, the cause or causes must be corrected or else the problem will likely recur.
Some research suggests that cleaning heating and cooling system components (eastward.g., cooling coils, fans and heat exchangers) may improve the efficiency of your arrangement, resulting in a longer operating life, likewise as some free energy and maintenance cost savings. Still, little evidence exists that cleaning but the ducts will amend the efficiency of the system.
You lot may consider having your air ducts cleaned only because information technology seems logical that air ducts volition get dirty over time and should be occasionally cleaned. Provided that the cleaning is done properly, no testify suggests that such cleaning would be detrimental. EPA does not recommend that the air ducts exist cleaned routinely, simply simply as needed. EPA does, however, recommend that if yous have a fuel burning furnace, stove or fireplace, they be inspected for proper functioning and serviced before each heating season to protect confronting carbon monoxide poisoning.
If yous practise determine to have your air ducts cleaned, accept the same consumer precautions you normally would in assessing the service provider'south competence and reliability.
Air duct cleaning service providers may tell you lot that they demand to apply chemic biocide to the inside of your ducts as a ways to kill bacteria (germs) and fungi (mold) and prevent future biological growth. They may also advise the application of a "sealant" to forbid dust and dirt particles from being released into the air or to seal air leaks. You should fully sympathise the pros and cons of permitting application of chemic biocides or sealants. While the targeted use of chemical biocides and sealants may be appropriate nether specific circumstances, research has non demonstrated their effectiveness in duct cleaning or their potential adverse health effects. No chemical biocides are currently registered by EPA for use in internally-insulated air duct systems (meet Should chemic biocides be applied to the inside of air ducts?).
Whether or non you decide to have the air ducts in your home cleaned, preventing water and dirt from inbound the arrangement is the most effective way to prevent contamination (run across How to Foreclose Duct Contamination).
What is Air Duct Cleaning?
Well-nigh people are now aware that indoor air pollution is an issue of growing concern and increased visibility. Many companies are marketing products and services intended to ameliorate the quality of your indoor air. You lot have probably seen an advertizing, received a coupon in the mail, or been approached directly by a visitor offering to make clean your air ducts as a ways of improving your abode's indoor air quality. These services typically — but not always — range in cost from $450 to $1,000 per heating and cooling system, depending on:
the services offered
- the size of the organisation to be cleaned
- organization accessibility
- climatic region
- level of contagion
If you decide to take your heating and cooling arrangement cleaned, it important to make certain the service provider agrees to clean all components of the system and is qualified to do then.
Duct cleaning generally refers to the cleaning of various heating and cooling organisation components of forced air systems, including the supply and return air ducts and registers, grilles and diffusers, heat exchangers heating and cooling coils, condensate drain pans (drip pans), fan motor and fan housing, and the air handling unit housing (See diagram).
If not properly installed, maintained and operated, these components may get contaminated with particles of dust, pollen or other droppings. If moisture is present, the potential for microbiological growth (e.g., mold) is increased and spores from such growth may be released into the abode's living space. Some of these contaminants may cause allergic reactions or other symptoms in people if they are exposed to them. If yous decide to accept your heating and cooling system cleaned, it is important to make sure the service provider agrees to make clean all components of the organisation and is qualified to do so. Failure to clean a component of a contaminated system can result in re-contamination of the unabridged system, thus negating any potential benefits. Methods of duct cleaning vary, although standards take been established past industry associations concerned with air duct cleaning. Typically, a service provider will use specialized tools to dislodge clay and other debris in ducts, and then vacuum them out with a loftier-powered vacuum cleaner.
In addition, the service provider may propose applying chemical biocides, designed to impale microbiological contaminants, to the inside of the duct piece of work and to other system components. Some service providers may also suggest applying chemic treatments (sealants or other encapsulants) to encapsulate or embrace the inside surfaces of the air ducts and equipment housings because they believe it will control mold growth or prevent the release of clay particles or fibers from ducts. These practices have however to be fully researched and you should be fully informed before deciding to permit the utilize of biocides or chemical treatments in your air ducts. They should simply be applied, if at all, after the arrangement has been properly cleaned of all visible dust or debris.
Notation: Use of sealants to encapsulate the inside surfaces of ducts is a unlike exercise than sealing duct air leaks. Sealing duct air leaks can aid salve energy on heating and cooling bills. For more information, see EPA'south Free energy Star website.
Deciding Whether or Not to Have Your Air Ducts Cleaned
Knowledge nigh the potential benefits and possible problems of air duct cleaning is limited. Since conditions in every home are different, it is impossible to generalize well-nigh whether or not air duct cleaning in your domicile would be beneficial.
If no 1 in your household suffers from allergies or unexplained symptoms or illnesses and if, subsequently a visual inspection of the within of the ducts, you lot see no indication that your air ducts are contaminated with large deposits of dust or mold (no musty odor or visible mold growth), having your air ducts cleaned is probably unnecessary. It is normal for the return registers to become dusty equally dust-laden air is pulled through the grate. This does not betoken that your air ducts are contaminated with heavy deposits of grit or debris; the registers can be easily vacuumed or removed and cleaned.
On the other hand, if family members are experiencing unusual or unexplained symptoms or illnesses that yous think might exist related to your home environment, you should hash out the situation with your md. EPA has published the following publications for guidance on identifying possible indoor air quality problems and ways to prevent or gear up them.
- Indoor Air Quality: An Introduction for Health Professionals
- The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality
You may consider having your air ducts cleaned simply because it seems logical that air ducts will get dirty over fourth dimension and should occasionally exist cleaned. While the debate about the value of periodic duct cleaning continues, no evidence suggests that such cleaning would be detrimental, provided that 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 you had left the ducts alone. A careless or inadequately trained service provider can damage your ducts or heating and cooling system, perhaps increasing your heating and ac costs or forcing y'all to undertake hard and costly repairs or replacements.
You should consider having the air ducts in your domicile cleaned if:
In that location is substantial visible mold growth inside difficult surface (e.g., sheet metal) ducts or on other components of your heating and cooling system. There are several important points to understand concerning mold detection in heating and cooling systems:
- Many sections of your heating and cooling system may not be accessible for a visible inspection, so ask the service provider to bear witness you whatever mold they say exists.
- You should be aware that although a substance may wait like mold, a positive determination of whether information technology is mold or not can exist made merely by an expert and may require laboratory analysis for terminal confirmation. For almost $fifty, some microbiology laboratories can tell you whether a sample sent to them on a articulate strip of mucilaginous household tape is mold or but a substance that resembles it.
- If you have insulated air ducts and the insulation gets wet or moldy information technology cannot exist effectively cleaned and should be removed and replaced.
- If the conditions causing the mold growth in the kickoff identify are non corrected, mold growth volition recur.
Ducts are infested with vermin, e.g. (rodents or insects)
Ducts are clogged with excessive amounts of dust and debris and/or particles are actually released into the abode from your supply registers.
Other Important Considerations
Duct cleaning has never been shown to actually preclude health problems. Neither do studies conclusively demonstrate that particle (east.g., dust) levels in homes increase because of muddied air ducts or become down afterwards cleaning. This is because much of the dirt that may accrue inside air ducts adheres to duct surfaces and does not necessarily enter the living space. It is important to keep in listen that muddy air ducts are only ane of many possible sources of particles that are present in homes. Pollutants that enter the home both from outdoors and indoor activities such as cooking, cleaning, smoking, or just moving around can cause greater exposure to contaminants than dirty air ducts. Moreover, there is no evidence that a calorie-free amount of household dust or other particulate matter in air ducts poses any risk to wellness.
EPA does non recommend that air ducts be cleaned except on an as-needed ground because of the continuing doubtfulness about the benefits of duct cleaning under most circumstances. EPA does, however, recommend that if you lot take a fuel burning furnace, stove, or fireplace, they exist inspected for proper functioning and serviced before each heating season to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning. Some research as well suggests that cleaning dingy cooling coils, fans and estrus exchangers can ameliorate the efficiency of heating and cooling systems. Even so, little show exists to indicate that simply cleaning the duct organization will increment your arrangement's efficiency.
If you think duct cleaning might be a skilful idea for your home, simply you are not certain, talk to a professional person. The company that services your heating and cooling arrangement may be a good source of communication. You may also want to contact professional person duct cleaning service providers and ask them about the services they provide. Think, they are trying to sell yous a service, and so ask questions and insist on complete and knowledgeable answers.
Suggestions for Choosing a Duct Cleaning Service Provider
To find companies that provide duct cleaning services, bank check your Yellow Pages nether "duct cleaning" or contact the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) at the address and phone number in the information section located at the end of this guidance. Do non presume that all duct cleaning service providers are equally knowledgeable and responsible. Talk to at to the lowest degree three dissimilar service providers and become written estimates earlier deciding whether to have your ducts cleaned. When the service providers come to your home, inquire them to prove you lot the contamination that would justify having your ducts cleaned.
Exercise not rent duct cleaners who brand sweeping claims nearly the wellness benefits of duct cleaning — such claims are unsubstantiated. Do not hire duct cleaners who recommend duct cleaning equally a routine part of your heating and cooling system maintenance. You should also be wary of duct cleaners who claim to be certified by EPA. Notation: EPA neither establishes duct cleaning standards nor certifies, endorses, or approves duct cleaning companies.
Do not permit the utilize of chemical biocides or chemic treatments unless y'all fully understand the pros and the cons (Come across "Unresolved Problems of Duct Cleaning).
Check references to exist certain other customers were satisfied and did not experience any issues with their heating and cooling arrangement subsequently cleaning.
Contact your county or metropolis part of consumer affairs or local Better Business organisation Bureau to make up one's mind if complaints take been lodged against any of the companies you are considering.
Interview potential service providers to ensure:
- they are experienced in duct cleaning and have worked on systems like yours;
- they will employ procedures to protect you, your pets and your home from contamination; and
- they comply with NADCA's air duct cleaning standards and, if your ducts are constructed of fiber glass duct board or insulated internally with cobweb drinking glass duct liner, with the Northward American Insulation Manufacturers Association's (NAIMA) recommendations.
Inquire the service provider whether they hold any relevant state licenses. As of 1996, the following states require air duct cleaners to concur special licenses: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan and Texas. Other states may require them likewise.
If the service provider charges by the hour, request an estimate of the number of hours or days the job volition have, and find out whether there will be interruptions in the work. Make certain the duct cleaner you choose will provide a written understanding outlining the total cost and scope of the job before piece of work begins.
What to Await From an Air Duct Cleaning Service Provider
If you choose to take your ducts cleaned, the service provider should:
Open up access ports or doors to allow the entire system to be cleaned and inspected.
Inspect the organisation before cleaning to be sure that in that location are no asbestos-containing materials (east.g., insulation, annals boots, etc.) in the heating and cooling organization. Asbestos-containing materials crave specialized procedures and should non be disturbed or removed except by specially trained and equipped contractors.
Apply vacuum equipment that exhausts particles outside of the domicile or use simply high-efficiency particle air (HEPA) vacuuming equipment if the vacuum exhausts within the home.
Protect carpet and household furnishings during cleaning.
Use well-controlled brushing of duct surfaces in conjunction with contact vacuum cleaning to dislodge dust and other particles.
Use only soft-bristled brushes for fiberglass duct board and sheet metallic ducts internally lined with fiberglass. (Although flex duct tin can likewise exist cleaned using soft-bristled brushes, it tin can be more economical to simply replace accessible flex duct.)
Take care to protect the duct work, including sealing and re-insulating any access holes the service provider may have fabricated or used so they are airtight.
Follow NADCA's standards for air duct cleaning and NAIMA's recommended practice for ducts containing fiber glass lining or constructed of fiber glass duct board.
How to Determine if the Duct Cleaner Did A Thorough Chore
A thorough visual inspection is the best way to verify the cleanliness of your heating and cooling system. Some service providers apply remote photography to document atmospheric condition within ducts. All portions of the system should be visibly make clean; yous should non exist able to find any droppings with the naked centre. Testify the Post-Cleaning Consumer Checklist to the service provider before the work begins. Subsequently completing the job, enquire the service provider to show you each component of your system to verify that the job was performed satisfactorily.
If y'all answer "No" to any of the questions on the checklist, this may bespeak a problem with the job. Ask your service provider to correct any deficiencies until you can answer "yep" to all the questions on the checklist.
| Mail Cleaning Consumer Checklist | Aye | No | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | Did the service provider obtain admission to and clean the entire heating and cooling system, including ductwork and all components (drain pans, humidifiers, coils and fans)? | ||
| Has the service provider adequately demonstrated that duct work and plenums are make clean? (Plenum is a space in which supply or return air is mixed or moves; can exist duct, joist space, attic and clamber spaces, or wall cavity.) | |||
| Heating | Is the estrus exchanger surface visibly clean? | ||
| Cooling Components | Are both sides of the cooling coil visibly clean? | ||
| If you point a flashlight into the cooling coil, does lite shine through the other side? It should if the coil is clean. | |||
| Are the roll fins direct and evenly spaced (every bit opposed to being aptitude over and smashed together)? | |||
| Is the coil drain pan completely clean and draining properly? | |||
| Blower | Are the blower blades make clean and free of oil and debris? | ||
| Is the blower compartment free of visible dust or debris? | |||
| Plenums | Is the return air plenum free of visible dust or droppings? | ||
| Exercise filters fit properly and are they the proper efficiency every bit recommended by HVAC system manufacturer? | |||
| Is the supply air plenum (directly downstream of the air handling unit) free of moisture stains and contaminants? | |||
| Metal Ducts | Are interior ductwork surfaces free of visible debris? (Select several sites at random in both the return and supply sides of the organisation.) | ||
| Fiber Glass | Is all cobweb drinking glass textile in good condition (i.due east., free of tears and abrasions; well adhered to underlying materials)? | ||
| Access Doors | Are newly installed admission doors in canvass metal ducts attached with more than than just duct tape (due east.chiliad., screws, rivets, mastic, etc.)? | ||
| With the arrangement running, is air leakage through access doors or covers very slight or non-existent? | |||
| Air Vents | Accept all registers, grilles and diffusers been firmly reattached to the walls, floors and/or ceilings? | ||
| Are the registers, grilles and diffusers visibly clean? | |||
| Organization Operation | Does the system function properly in both the heating and cooling modes after cleaning? | ||
How to Prevent Duct Contamination
Whether or non you lot decide to have the air ducts in your home cleaned, committing to a skillful preventive maintenance program is essential to minimize duct contamination.
To prevent dirt from entering the system:
Use the highest efficiency air filter recommended by the manufacturer of your heating and cooling system.
Change filters regularly.
If your filters become chock-full, change them more than frequently.
Exist certain you lot do not accept whatever missing filters and that air cannot bypass filters through gaps around the filter holder.
When having your heating and cooling system maintained or checked for other reasons, be certain to enquire the service provider to clean cooling coils and drain pans.
During structure or renovation work that produces dust in your abode, seal off supply and return registers and do not operate the heating and cooling organisation until after cleaning up the dust.
Remove grit and vacuum your habitation regularly. (Employ a high efficiency vacuum (HEPA) cleaner or the highest efficiency filter bags your vacuum cleaner can take. Vacuuming can increase the amount of grit in the air during and after vacuuming too as in your ducts).
If your heating organisation includes in-duct humidification equipment, be sure to operate and maintain the humidifier strictly every bit recommended by the manufacturer.
Whether of not y'all decide to have the air ducts in your home cleaned, committing to a good preventive maintenance program is essential to minimize duct contagion.
To prevent ducts from becoming moisture:
Moisture should not exist present in ducts. Controlling moisture is the near effective fashion to forestall biological growth in air ducts.
Moisture tin can enter the duct system through leaks or if the system has been improperly installed or serviced. Inquiry suggests that condensation (which occurs when a surface temperature is lower than the dew betoken temperature of the surrounding air) on or almost cooling coils of ac units is a major factor in moisture contagion of the system. The presence of condensation or high relative humidity is an of import indicator of the potential for mold growth on any type of duct. Controlling moisture can often be difficult, but here are some steps you lot can take:
Promptly and properly repair any leaks or h2o impairment.
Pay particular attention to cooling coils, which are designed to remove water from the air and can be a major source of moisture contagion of the organisation that tin can lead to mold growth. Make sure the condensate pan drains properly. The presence of substantial continuing water and/or droppings indicates a problem requiring immediate attention. Check any insulation near cooling coils for wet spots.
Make sure ducts are properly sealed and insulated in all non-air-conditioned spaces (eastward.g., attics and crawl spaces). This will help to prevent moisture due to condensation from inbound the system and is important to make the arrangement work as intended. To prevent h2o condensation, the heating and cooling organisation must be properly insulated.
If you are replacing your air conditioning system, make sure that the unit is the proper size for your needs and that all ducts are sealed at the joints. A unit that is as well big will cycle on and off oft, resulting in poor moisture removal, particularly in areas with high humidity. Besides brand sure that your new organization is designed to manage condensation effectively.
Unresolved Problems of Duct Cleaning
Does duct cleaning forbid wellness issues?
The lesser line is: no ane knows. There are examples of ducts that have become badly contaminated with a variety of materials that may pose risks to your health. The duct system can serve equally a means to distribute these contaminants throughout a home. In these cases, duct cleaning may make sense. However, a light amount of household dust in your air ducts is normal. Duct cleaning is non considered to be a necessary part of yearly maintenance of your heating and cooling system, which consists of regular cleaning of drain pans and heating and cooling coils, regular filter changes and yearly inspections of heating equipment. Inquiry continues in an effort to evaluate the potential benefits of air duct cleaning.
In the meantime
Educate yourself about duct cleaning by contacting some or all of the sources of information listed at the end of this publication and request questions of potential service providers.
Are duct materials other than bare sheet metal ducts more than likely to exist contaminated with mold and other biological contaminants?
Y'all may be familiar with air ducts that are synthetic of canvass metallic. Yet, many modern residential air duct systems are constructed of fiber drinking glass duct board or sheet metal ducts that are lined on the inside with fiber glass duct liner. Since the early 1970'southward, a significant increase in the apply of flexible duct, which by and large is internally lined with plastic or some other type of material, has occurred.
The apply of insulated duct material has increased due:
- to improved temperature command
- energy conservation
- reduced condensation
Internal insulation provides better acoustical (noise) control. Flexible duct is very low cost. These products are engineered specifically for employ in ducts or as ducts themselves, and are tested in accord with standards established by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), the American Order for Testing and Materials (ASTM), and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Many insulated duct systems accept operated for years without supporting significant mold growth. Keeping them reasonably clean and dry out is generally adequate. However, there is substantial debate about whether porous insulation materials (e.yard., fiber glass) are more than prone to microbial contamination than blank sail metallic ducts. If enough clay and moisture are permitted to enter the duct system, in that location may exist no significant departure in the rate or extent of microbial growth in internally lined or bare sheet metal ducts. However, treatment of mold contamination on bare sheet metal is much easier. Cleaning and treatment with an EPA-registered biocide are possible. In one case fiberglass duct liner is contaminated with mold, cleaning is not sufficient to prevent re-growth and there are no EPA-registered biocides for the treatment of porous duct materials. EPA, NADCA and NAIMA all recommend the replacement of moisture or moldy fiber drinking glass duct cloth.
In the meantime
Experts practise hold that wet should non exist present in ducts and if moisture and clay are present, the potential exists for biological contaminants to grow and be distributed throughout the home. Controlling moisture is the nigh constructive way to prevent biological growth in all types of air ducts.
Correct any water leaks or standing water.
Remove standing water under cooling coils of air handling units past making sure that drain pans slope toward the drain.
If humidifiers are used, they must be properly maintained.
Air handling units should exist synthetic and then that maintenance personnel have piece of cake, directly access to heat exchange components and drain pans for proper cleaning and maintenance.
Cobweb drinking glass, or whatever other insulation material that is moisture or visibly moldy (or if an unacceptable odor is present) should be removed and replaced by a qualified heating and cooling organisation contractor.
Steam cleaning and other methods involving moisture should not be used on whatsoever kind of duct work.
Should chemic biocides be applied to the within of air ducts?
Air duct cleaning service providers may tell you that they need to apply a chemical biocide to the within of your ducts to kill bacteria (germs) and fungi (mold), and prevent future biological growth. Some duct cleaning service providers may propose to innovate ozone to kill biological contaminants. Ozone is a highly reactive gas that is regulated in the exterior air as a lung irritant. However, there remains considerable controversy over the necessity and wisdom of introducing chemic biocides or ozone into the duct work.
Among the possible problems with biocide and ozone application in air ducts:
- Little inquiry has been conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of about biocides and ozone when used inside ducts. Simply spraying or otherwise introducing these materials into the operating duct organisation may cause much of the material to be transported through the system and released into other areas of your dwelling house.
- Some people may react negatively to the biocide or ozone, causing adverse health reactions.
Chemical biocides are regulated by EPA nether Federal pesticide law. A production must be registered by EPA for a specific use earlier information technology can be legally used for that purpose. The specific use(due south) must appear on the pesticide (e.chiliad., biocide) label, forth with other important data. It is a violation of federal police force to utilize a pesticide product in any manner inconsistent with the characterization directions.
A small-scale number of products are currently registered by EPA specifically for employ on the within of bare sheet metal air ducts. A number of products are also registered for use as sanitizers on difficult surfaces, which could include the interior of bare sail metal ducts. While many such products may be used legally inside of unlined ducts if all label directions are followed, some of the directions on the label may be inappropriate for apply in ducts. For example, if the directions signal "rinse with water", the added moisture could stimulate mold growth.
All of the products discussed higher up are registered solely for the purpose of sanitizing the shine surfaces of unlined (bare) sail metal ducts. No products are currently registered as biocides for use on fiber glass duct board or fiber glass lined ducts, so it is important to make up one's mind if sections of your system contain these materials before permitting the application of whatsoever biocide.
In the meantime
Before assuasive a service provider to utilise a chemical biocide in your duct work, the service provider should:
Demonstrate visible testify of microbial growth in your duct work. Some service providers may attempt to convince yous that your air ducts are contaminated by demonstrating that the microorganisms found in your dwelling abound on a settling plate (i.e., petri dish). This is inappropriate. Some microorganisms are always present in the air, and some growth on a settling plate is normal. As noted earlier, only an expert tin positively identify a substance every bit biological growth and lab assay may be required for last confirmation. Other testing methods are not reliable.
Explain why biological growth cannot be removed past physical means, such equally brushing, and farther growth prevented past controlling moisture.
If you decide to permit the use of a biocide, the service provider should:
Show you the biocide label, which will describe its range of approved uses.
Apply the biocide only to un-insulated areas of the duct arrangement later on proper cleaning, if necessary to reduce the chances for re-growth of mold.
Ever use the product strictly according to its characterization instructions.
While some low toxicity products may exist legally practical while occupants of the home are nowadays, you may wish to consider leaving the bounds while the biocide is beingness applied as an added precaution.
Practice sealants prevent the release of dust and dirt particles into the air?
Manufacturers of products marketed to coat and encapsulate duct surfaces claim that these sealants prevent dust and dirt particles inside air ducts from beingness released into the air. As with biocides, a sealant is ofttimes applied past spraying it into the operating duct organization. Laboratory tests signal that materials introduced in this style tend not to completely coat the duct surface. Application of sealants may besides bear on the acoustical (noise) and burn down retarding characteristics of fiber glass lined or constructed ducts and may invalidate the manufacturer's warranty.
Questions virtually the safe, effectiveness and overall desirability of sealants remain. For example, little is known almost the potential toxicity of these products under typical use weather or in the event they take hold of fire.
In add-on, sealants take yet to be evaluated for their resistance to deterioration over time which could add together particles to the duct air.
In the meantime
Most organizations concerned with duct cleaning, including EPA, NADCA, NAIMA and the Sail Metallic and Air conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA) do not currently recommend the routine utilise of sealants to encapsulate contaminants in any type of duct. Instances when the use of sealants to encapsulate the duct surfaces may exist advisable include the repair of damaged fiber glass insulation or when combating fire damage within ducts. Sealants should never be used on wet duct liner, to cover actively growing mold, or to cover debris in the ducts, and should simply be practical after cleaning according to NADCA or other appropriate guidelines or standards.
To Learn More About Indoor Air Quality
U.S. Environmental Protection Bureau
Office of Radiation and Indoor Air
Indoor Environments Division (6609J)
1200 Pennsylvania Artery, Due north.West.
Washington, DC 20460
The following EPA publications are available on this web site, some can be ordered from NSCEP. (see also: Publications and Resources)
- The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality
- Indoor Air Pollution: An Introduction for Health Professionals
- Air Cleaners and Air Filters in the Dwelling
- Ozone Generators that are Sold as Air Cleaners
To Learn More About Air Duct Cleaning
National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA)
1120 Road 73, Suite 200
Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054
Phone: (855) Get-NADCA • (856) 380-6810
Email: info@nadca.com
Website: NADCA
Find a NADCA professional duct cleaner near you.
North American Insulation Manufacturers Clan (NAIMA)
44 Canal Eye Plaza, Suite 310, Alexandria, VA 22314
Telephone: (703) 684-0084
Website: NAIMA
Website: NAIMA Member Company Listing
"Cleaning Fibrous Glass Insulated Air Duct Systems; Recommended Do", NAIMA Pub. No. AH122, xl pages (Cost is $7.50 for a printed version, no free copies available.)
Other Useful Resources
For a costless list of state consumer protection offices:
State Consumer Protection Offices
For more information on biocides:
Antimicrobial Information Hotline
Telephone: (703) 308-0127 / Fax: (703) 308-6467
Monday-Fri eight:00 AM - five:00 PM EST
Due east-post: Info_Antimicrobial@epa.gov
Website: Regulating Antimicrobial Pesticides
The Antimicrobials Information Hotline provides answers to questions apropos current antimicrobial issues (disinfectants, fungicides, others) regulated by the pesticide law, rules and regulations. These cover interpretation laws, rules and regulations, and registration and re-registration of antimicrobial chemicals and products. The Hotline too provide information health & safety issues on registered antimicrobial products, product label and the proper and safe employ of these antimicrobial products.
Consumer Checklist
Learn as much as possible about air duct cleaning before you decide to accept your ducts cleaned by reading this guidance and contacting the sources of information provided.
Consider other possible sources of indoor air pollution commencement if y'all suspect an indoor air quality problem exists in your dwelling house.
Have your air ducts cleaned if they are visibly contaminated with substantial mold growth, pests or vermin, or are clogged with substantial deposits of dust or debris.
Ask the service provider to show you whatsoever mold or other biological contagion they say exists. Become laboratory confirmation of mold growth or decide to rely on your own judgment and common sense in evaluating apparent mold growth.
Get estimates from at least three service providers.
Bank check references.
Ask the service provider whether he/she holds whatsoever relevant state licenses. As of 1996, the following states require air duct cleaners to concur special licenses: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan and Texas. Other states may also require licenses.
Insist that the service provider requite you lot knowledgeable and complete answers to your questions.
Find out whether your ducts are made of canvass metal, flex duct, or constructed of fiber drinking glass duct board or lined with cobweb glass since the methods of cleaning vary depending on duct type. Remember, a combination of these elements may exist nowadays.
Permit the application of biocides in your ducts just if necessary to control mold growth and only after assuring yourself that the product will be applied strictly co-ordinate to characterization directions. As a precaution, yous and your pets should exit the premises during application.
Do not permit the use of sealants except nether unusual circumstances where other alternatives are not feasible.
Commit to a preventive maintenance programme of yearly inspections of your heating and cooling arrangement, regular filter changes, and steps to forbid wet contamination.
Source: https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/should-you-have-air-ducts-your-home-cleaned
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