Duct cleaning improves false air flow. If you currently have problems with airflow, hot or cold spots, or lack of heating or cooling in your home, duct cleaning is not a permanent solution. Duct cleaning only removes small particles that have settled throughout the duct system over time. While duct cleaning operations may insist that duct cleaning is essential to your health, the evidence does not support their claims.
Companies that perform duct cleaning often advertise health benefits or suggest that duct cleaning will reduce your energy bills by improving the efficiency of your system. Some ads even use language such as: “Studies have shown, but there is no data to support these claims. Even if your ducts are dirty, cleaning them probably won't provide measurable benefits. In fact, the little independent research done on duct cleaning indicates that the process removes so much dust that it creates a bigger problem than it solves.
Over time, these contaminants can build up and prevent air flow through the ducts. Fortunately, this is nothing that duct cleaning can't fix. If you suspect that clogged ducts may be slowing airflow, call our team for a closer look. Researchers at the Environmental Protection Agency measured dust levels and efficiency of the HVAC system in test homes over a week period during the cooling season and found that cleaning the ducts did not significantly improve dust levels or performance.
air ducting is a maintenance service provided by some HVAC companies, with the promise of cleaner air and better HVAC system efficiency. Whether or not you decide to clean the air ducts in your home, preventing water and dirt from entering the system is the most effective way to prevent contamination (see How to Avoid Duct Contamination). The EPA takes a similar stance on the issue, recommending cleaning only if the ducts and the HVAC unit are contaminated. The ducts come out of the oven and through basements, access spaces and walls to reach all rooms, and cleaning them involves vacuuming dust and debris, as well as removing mold (if present).
There are legitimate and reputable duct cleaning services in most communities, frequently offered by professional HVAC contractors, but unfortunately, this service also attracts a lot of scammers. 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. But to get a better, deeper answer, we'll need to look at why a duct cleaning can help you in the first place. The CMHC researchers found that when duct cleaners also cleaned the fan blades, there was a small reduction in airborne particles.
But even if you do not have special health problems, cleaning the ducts can be attractive to you on an intuitive level. This process involves inspecting the ducts to assess the amount of debris to be disposed of, accessing the entire duct system, loosening debris with brushes and compressed air, and vacuuming it. While there are some benefits to cleaning and maintaining HVAC equipment, that benefit is relatively small and the little energy waste can be attributed to dirty ducts or equipment. If you or someone in your family has asthma or allergies, you may be considering cleaning the heating and air conditioning ducts in your home.
If you notice dust and debris near the vents, you may be tempted to call a professional to clean the air ducts. .
