Air duct cleaning means cleaning the entire duct system, including supply, inlet and return grilles, with a professional air duct cleaning team. They can also propose the application of a sealant to prevent dust and dirt particles from being released into the air or to seal air leaks. You can also contact professional duct cleaning service providers and ask them about the services they provide. To combat these negative experiences, the National Air Duct Cleaning Association (NADCA) created a standardized method for cleaning air ducts.
If you decide to have your air ducts cleaned, take the same consumer precautions you would normally take when evaluating the competence and reliability of the service provider. Negative pressure air duct cleaning is a methodical and straightforward procedure that produces consistent results, but shady and overnight companies have given the industry a bad reputation in recent years. However, many modern residential air duct systems are constructed of fiberglass panels or sheet metal ducts that are lined on the inside with a fiberglass duct liner. To combat these negative experiences, legitimate duct cleaning contractors are eager to inform homeowners about the National Air Duct Cleaning Association's (NADCA) standardized methods for cleaning services.
First of all, it is a step that you can take yourself to assess the level of accumulation in the ducts beforehand and confirm the difference after cleaning them. However, there is little evidence that simply cleaning the duct system will increase the efficiency of your system. 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. The EPA does not recommend that air ducts be cleaned except as necessary due to ongoing uncertainty about the benefits of duct cleaning in most circumstances.
If sufficient dirt and moisture are allowed to enter the duct system, there may be no significant difference in the rate or degree of microbial growth in the internally lined or bare sheet metal ducts. This is because much of the dirt from the air ducts adheres to the surfaces of the ducts and does not necessarily enter the living space. If you suspect that there is a mold problem due to visible growth or a musty smell constantly coming from the supply grilles, the cleaning ducts won't do much good if they don't remove the mold. You should have your air ducts cleaned every three to five years, but this service may be done more often, especially if you have noticed mold and mildew growth in your home, have excessive allergy symptoms, or have had recent construction done on your home.
In addition, there is no evidence that a small amount of household dust or other particles in the air ducts poses any health hazard.
