However, the EPA recommends it if fuel is burned. Printable Version · A Guide to Indoor Air Quality · Indoor Air Pollution You may consider cleaning your air ducts simply because it seems logical that your air ducts become dirty over time and be cleaned from time to time. As long as cleaning is done correctly, 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 a furnace, stove, or fireplace that burns fuel, it be inspected for proper operation and serviced before each heating season to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning. This is because much of the dirt that can accumulate inside the air ducts adheres to the surfaces of the ducts and does not necessarily enter the living space. 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 contamination. If you are currently experiencing problems with airflow, hot or cold spots, or lack of heating or cooling in your home, duct cleaning is not a permanent solution.
Since the conditions in each home are different, it is impossible to generalize whether cleaning the air ducts in your home would be beneficial or not. I reside in the NE and lived at home for 43 years and avoided cleaning ducts due to concern about the amount of dust, etc., which would inevitably fly into the house after being disturbed. Some homeowners might think that they can clean the ducts themselves with a vacuum cleaner and a long brush. The EPA takes a similar stance on the issue, recommending cleaning only if the ducts and the HVAC unit are contaminated.
An electronic air filter also keeps the AC coil clean as new, which means better efficiency and doesn't need cleaning. In addition, cleaning your air ducts can remove visible areas of mold; however, unless you discover and address the root cause of mold, you may find yourself fighting the same battle again in the future. While many of these products can legally be used inside unlined ducts if all directions on the label are followed, some of the instructions on the label may be inappropriate for use in ducts. While air duct cleaning may be necessary to remove accumulated particulates that impair the cost-effective operation of HVAC, this should not be an ongoing problem every few years.
The person who came to my house works for an air duct cleaning company that uses a professional vacuum cleaner. If you think duct cleaning might be a good idea for your home, but you're not sure, talk to a professional. How can I get the right person to come out and clean the ducts and oven? Or is it the only way to eliminate that smell of burning smoke.
