How Long Does It Take To Clean Air Ducts
EPA 402-Thousand-97-002, October 1997
On this page:
- Summary
- What Is Air Duct Cleaning?
- Deciding Whether or Non to Have 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 Contamination
- To Forbid Dirt from Entering the System
- To Preclude Ducts from Becoming Wet
- Unresolved Problems of Duct Cleaning
- Does duct cleaning forestall wellness problems?
- Are duct materials other than bare sheet metal ducts more likely to be contaminated with mold and other biological contaminants?
- Should chemical biocides be applied to the within of air ducts?
- Do sealants foreclose the release of grit and dirt particles into the air?
- To Acquire More Near 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 blanket recommendation cannot be offered every bit to whether you lot should have your air ducts in your home cleaned. The U.Due south. Environmental Protection Bureau (EPA) urges you to read this document in it entirety as information technology provides important information on the subject field.
Duct cleaning has never been shown to actually forbid health issues. Neither do studies conclusively demonstrate that particle (due east.g., dust) levels in homes increase because of muddy air ducts. This is because much of the dirt in air ducts adheres to duct surfaces and does non necessarily enter the living space. It is important to keep in mind that dingy 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 merely moving effectually can cause greater exposure to contaminants than dingy air ducts. Moreover, there is no bear witness that a low-cal amount of household dust or other particulate matter in air ducts poses any chance to your health.
You should consider having the air ducts in your home cleaned if:
There is substantial visible mold growth inside hard surface (eastward.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 organization may not be accessible for a visible inspection, and so ask the service provider to bear witness you any mold they say exists.
- You should be aware that although a substance may look like mold, a positive determination of whether it is mold or not tin be made simply by an expert and may require laboratory analysis for concluding confirmation. For about $50, some microbiology laboratories can tell you lot whether a sample sent to them on a clear strip of glutinous household tape is mold or only a substance that resembles information technology.
- If you have insulated air ducts and the insulation gets wet or moldy it cannot be effectively cleaned and should be removed and replaced.
- If the conditions causing the mold growth in the offset place are non corrected, mold growth will recur.
Ducts are infested with vermin, e.yard. (rodents or insects).
Ducts are clogged with excessive amounts of dust and debris and/or particles are actually released into the dwelling house from your supply registers.
If whatever of the weather identified above exists, it usually suggests one or more underlying causes. Prior to any cleaning, retrofitting, or replacing of your ducts, the crusade or causes must exist corrected or else the problem will likely recur.
Some enquiry suggests that cleaning heating and cooling system components (e.grand., cooling coils, fans and rut exchangers) may improve the efficiency of your organisation, resulting in a longer operating life, as well as some energy and maintenance cost savings. Withal, little testify exists that cleaning only the ducts will better the efficiency of the organization.
You may consider having your air ducts cleaned simply because it seems logical that air ducts will go dirty over time and should be occasionally cleaned. Provided that the cleaning is washed properly, no testify suggests that such cleaning would be detrimental. EPA does not recommend that the air ducts be cleaned routinely, merely merely as needed. EPA does, notwithstanding, recommend that if you lot take a fuel called-for furnace, stove or fireplace, they be inspected for proper functioning and serviced before each heating flavour to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning.
If you do decide to have your air ducts cleaned, take the same consumer precautions you ordinarily would in assessing the service provider'south competence and reliability.
Air duct cleaning service providers may tell you lot that they need to apply chemical biocide to the within of your ducts equally a means to kill bacteria (germs) and fungi (mold) and forestall future biological growth. They may also propose the application of a "sealant" to prevent dust and dirt particles from existence released into the air or to seal air leaks. You should fully understand the pros and cons of permitting awarding of chemical biocides or sealants. While the targeted use of chemical biocides and sealants may be appropriate nether specific circumstances, research has not demonstrated their effectiveness in duct cleaning or their potential agin health effects. No chemic biocides are currently registered past EPA for use in internally-insulated air duct systems (see Should chemical 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 clay from entering the arrangement is the most constructive way to preclude contamination (run into How to Forbid Duct Contamination).
What is Air Duct Cleaning?
Nigh people are now enlightened that indoor air pollution is an upshot of growing concern and increased visibility. Many companies are marketing products and services intended to improve the quality of your indoor air. You have probably seen an advertisement, received a coupon in the mail, or been approached directly by a company offer to clean your air ducts as a ways of improving your home'south indoor air quality. These services typically — but not always — range in price from $450 to $ane,000 per heating and cooling arrangement, depending on:
the services offered
- the size of the arrangement to be cleaned
- system accessibility
- climatic region
- level of contamination
If you decide to take your heating and cooling organization cleaned, it important to brand sure the service provider agrees to clean all components of the system and is qualified to do and so.
Duct cleaning more often than not refers to the cleaning of diverse heating and cooling system 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 of measurement housing (See diagram).
If not properly installed, maintained and operated, these components may get contaminated with particles of dust, pollen or other debris. If moisture is nowadays, the potential for microbiological growth (e.grand., mold) is increased and spores from such growth may be released into the home's living space. Some of these contaminants may cause allergic reactions or other symptoms in people if they are exposed to them. If you make up one's mind to have your heating and cooling organisation cleaned, it is important to make sure the service provider agrees to clean all components of the system and is qualified to do so. Failure to clean a component of a contaminated organisation tin event in re-contamination of the entire system, thus negating any potential benefits. Methods of duct cleaning vary, although standards accept been established by manufacture associations concerned with air duct cleaning. Typically, a service provider will use specialized tools to dislodge dirt and other debris in ducts, so vacuum them out with a loftier-powered vacuum cleaner.
In addition, the service provider may propose applying chemical biocides, designed to kill microbiological contaminants, to the inside of the duct work and to other system components. Some service providers may also suggest applying chemical treatments (sealants or other encapsulants) to encapsulate or cover the inside surfaces of the air ducts and equipment housings considering they believe it will control mold growth or preclude the release of clay particles or fibers from ducts. These practices have yet to be fully researched and yous should be fully informed before deciding to let the utilise of biocides or chemic treatments in your air ducts. They should only be practical, if at all, after the system has been properly cleaned of all visible dust or debris.
Notation: Use of sealants to encapsulate the within surfaces of ducts is a unlike practice than sealing duct air leaks. Sealing duct air leaks can help save free energy on heating and cooling bills. For more than data, see EPA's Energy Star website.
Deciding Whether or Non to Have Your Air Ducts Cleaned
Knowledge nearly the potential benefits and possible problems of air duct cleaning is limited. Since weather in every home are different, it is incommunicable to generalize about whether or not air duct cleaning in your home would exist beneficial.
If no one in your household suffers from allergies or unexplained symptoms or illnesses and if, after a visual inspection of the inside of the ducts, y'all run across no indication that your air ducts are contaminated with big deposits of dust or mold (no musty olfactory property or visible mold growth), having your air ducts cleaned is probably unnecessary. Information technology is normal for the return registers to go dusty as dust-laden air is pulled through the grate. This does not bespeak that your air ducts are contaminated with heavy deposits of dust or debris; the registers tin be hands vacuumed or removed and cleaned.
On the other hand, if family members are experiencing unusual or unexplained symptoms or illnesses that y'all think might be related to your home environment, you should discuss the situation with your doctor. EPA has published the following publications for guidance on identifying possible indoor air quality problems and means to forestall or fix 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 volition get dirty over time and should occasionally be cleaned. While the debate well-nigh the value of periodic duct cleaning continues, no evidence suggests that such cleaning would be detrimental, provided that it is washed properly.
On the other mitt, 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, clay and other contaminants than if y'all had left the ducts lonely. A careless or inadequately trained service provider can damage your ducts or heating and cooling system, possibly increasing your heating and ac costs or forcing yous to undertake difficult and costly repairs or replacements.
Y'all should consider having the air ducts in your home cleaned if:
There is substantial visible mold growth inside hard surface (e.1000., canvas metal) ducts or on other components of your heating and cooling arrangement. There are several important points to understand apropos mold detection in heating and cooling systems:
- Many sections of your heating and cooling arrangement may non exist accessible for a visible inspection, so ask the service provider to show you any mold they say exists.
- You should exist aware that although a substance may look like mold, a positive determination of whether it is mold or not tin can be made just past an practiced and may require laboratory analysis for concluding confirmation. For about $50, some microbiology laboratories can tell yous whether a sample sent to them on a clear strip of sticky household tape is mold or simply a substance that resembles it.
- If you lot take insulated air ducts and the insulation gets moisture or moldy information technology cannot be effectively cleaned and should be removed and replaced.
- If the conditions causing the mold growth in the first identify are not corrected, mold growth volition 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 actually released into the home from your supply registers.
Other Important Considerations
Duct cleaning has never been shown to actually forbid health problems. Neither exercise studies conclusively demonstrate that particle (e.g., dust) levels in homes increase because of dirty air ducts or go down afterwards cleaning. This is because much of the dirt that may accumulate inside air ducts adheres to duct surfaces and does not necessarily enter the living infinite. It is important to go on in mind that dingy air ducts are only i of many possible sources of particles that are present in homes. Pollutants that enter the dwelling house both from outdoors and indoor activities such as cooking, cleaning, smoking, or merely moving effectually can cause greater exposure to contaminants than dirty air ducts. Moreover, there is no show that a light corporeality of household dust or other particulate matter in air ducts poses any risk to health.
EPA does non recommend that air ducts be cleaned except on an every bit-needed footing because of the continuing uncertainty about the benefits of duct cleaning under near circumstances. EPA does, still, recommend that if you accept a fuel burning furnace, stove, or fireplace, they exist inspected for proper operation and serviced before each heating season to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning. Some research also suggests that cleaning muddy cooling coils, fans and oestrus exchangers can improve the efficiency of heating and cooling systems. Nonetheless, lilliputian evidence exists to indicate that simply cleaning the duct system will increase your organization'southward efficiency.
If you call up duct cleaning might exist a adept thought for your home, but you are non sure, talk to a professional. The company that services your heating and cooling organization may exist a good source of communication. You may also desire to contact professional person duct cleaning service providers and ask them nigh the services they provide. Recollect, they are trying to sell you a service, and then ask questions and insist on complete and knowledgeable answers.
Suggestions for Choosing a Duct Cleaning Service Provider
To notice companies that provide duct cleaning services, check your Yellow Pages under "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 not assume that all duct cleaning service providers are as knowledgeable and responsible. Talk to at least 3 different service providers and get written estimates before deciding whether to have your ducts cleaned. When the service providers come up to your home, ask them to show y'all the contamination that would justify having your ducts cleaned.
Do not hire duct cleaners who make sweeping claims well-nigh the health benefits of duct cleaning — such claims are unsubstantiated. Do not hire duct cleaners who recommend duct cleaning as a routine part of your heating and cooling system maintenance. Yous 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 allow the use of chemical biocides or chemical treatments unless you fully understand the pros and the cons (Run across "Unresolved Issues of Duct Cleaning).
Check references to be sure other customers were satisfied and did non feel any bug with their heating and cooling system afterwards cleaning.
Contact your county or city role of consumer affairs or local Better Business organization Bureau to decide if complaints have 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 use procedures to protect y'all, your pets and your home from contamination; and
- they comply with NADCA's air duct cleaning standards and, if your ducts are synthetic of fiber glass duct board or insulated internally with cobweb glass duct liner, with the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association's (NAIMA) recommendations.
Ask the service provider whether they hold whatsoever relevant state licenses. As of 1996, the post-obit states require air duct cleaners to concord special licenses: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan and Texas. Other states may require them too.
If the service provider charges by the 60 minutes, request an estimate of the number of hours or days the job will take, and detect out whether there will be interruptions in the work. Brand certain the duct cleaner you choose volition provide a written understanding outlining the total price and scope of the job before work begins.
What to Wait From an Air Duct Cleaning Service Provider
If yous choose to accept your ducts cleaned, the service provider should:
Open up admission ports or doors to allow the entire arrangement to be cleaned and inspected.
Inspect the system before cleaning to exist sure that in that location are no asbestos-containing materials (e.g., insulation, register boots, etc.) in the heating and cooling system. Asbestos-containing materials require specialized procedures and should not be disturbed or removed except by specially trained and equipped contractors.
Use vacuum equipment that exhausts particles exterior of the domicile or use just loftier-efficiency particle air (HEPA) vacuuming equipment if the vacuum exhausts inside the habitation.
Protect carpet and household effects during cleaning.
Use well-controlled brushing of duct surfaces in conjunction with contact vacuum cleaning to dislodge dust and other particles.
Use just soft-bristled brushes for fiberglass duct board and sail metal ducts internally lined with fiberglass. (Although flex duct can also be cleaned using soft-bristled brushes, it tin can be more economical to only replace accessible flex duct.)
Accept care to protect the duct work, including sealing and re-insulating any access holes the service provider may have made or used then they are airtight.
Follow NADCA'southward standards for air duct cleaning and NAIMA'south recommended exercise 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 style to verify the cleanliness of your heating and cooling organization. Some service providers use remote photography to document conditions inside ducts. All portions of the system should be visibly make clean; yous should not exist able to detect whatsoever debris with the naked eye. Testify the Post-Cleaning Consumer Checklist to the service provider earlier the work begins. Subsequently completing the job, ask the service provider to show y'all each component of your system to verify that the chore was performed satisfactorily.
If yous reply "No" to any of the questions on the checklist, this may bespeak a trouble with the job. Ask your service provider to correct whatever deficiencies until you can answer "yes" to all the questions on the checklist.
| Post Cleaning Consumer Checklist | Aye | No | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | Did the service provider obtain access to and make clean the entire heating and cooling organisation, including ductwork and all components (bleed pans, humidifiers, coils and fans)? | ||
| Has the service provider adequately demonstrated that duct work and plenums are clean? (Plenum is a infinite in which supply or return air is mixed or moves; tin be duct, joist infinite, cranium and crawl spaces, or wall cavity.) | |||
| Heating | Is the heat exchanger surface visibly clean? | ||
| Cooling Components | Are both sides of the cooling roll visibly clean? | ||
| If you signal a flashlight into the cooling coil, does light polish through the other side? It should if the whorl is clean. | |||
| Are the coil fins direct and evenly spaced (as opposed to being aptitude over and smashed together)? | |||
| Is the curlicue bleed pan completely clean and draining properly? | |||
| Blower | Are the blower blades make clean and free of oil and droppings? | ||
| Is the blower compartment free of visible dust or droppings? | |||
| Plenums | Is the return air plenum free of visible dust or debris? | ||
| Practise filters fit properly and are they the proper efficiency as recommended by HVAC system manufacturer? | |||
| Is the supply air plenum (directly downstream of the air handling unit of measurement) 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 system.) | ||
| Cobweb Glass | Is all fiber drinking glass material in good condition (i.e., gratis of tears and abrasions; well adhered to underlying materials)? | ||
| Admission Doors | Are newly installed access doors in sheet metallic ducts attached with more than just duct tape (east.thousand., screws, rivets, mastic, etc.)? | ||
| With the organisation 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? | |||
| System Operation | Does the system function properly in both the heating and cooling modes after cleaning? | ||
How to Forbid Duct Contamination
Whether or non you decide to have the air ducts in your dwelling cleaned, committing to a practiced preventive maintenance program is essential to minimize duct contamination.
To prevent dirt from entering the system:
Utilise the highest efficiency air filter recommended past the manufacturer of your heating and cooling system.
Change filters regularly.
If your filters go clogged, alter them more frequently.
Be sure you practice non accept whatever missing filters and that air cannot featherbed filters through gaps around the filter holder.
When having your heating and cooling system maintained or checked for other reasons, be sure to ask the service provider to clean cooling coils and drain pans.
During construction or renovation work that produces dust in your home, seal off supply and return registers and exercise not operate the heating and cooling arrangement until afterward cleaning up the dust.
Remove dust and vacuum your home regularly. (Employ a high efficiency vacuum (HEPA) cleaner or the highest efficiency filter bags your vacuum cleaner tin can take. Vacuuming tin can increase the corporeality of dust in the air during and after vacuuming likewise as in your ducts).
If your heating arrangement includes in-duct humidification equipment, exist sure to operate and maintain the humidifier strictly as recommended past the manufacturer.
Whether of non you determine to have the air ducts in your home cleaned, committing to a good preventive maintenance program is essential to minimize duct contagion.
To forestall ducts from becoming wet:
Wet should not be present in ducts. Controlling moisture is the well-nigh effective way to prevent biological growth in air ducts.
Moisture tin enter the duct organization through leaks or if the arrangement has been improperly installed or serviced. Research suggests that condensation (which occurs when a surface temperature is lower than the dew indicate temperature of the surrounding air) on or near cooling coils of air-conditioning units is a major gene in wet contamination of the system. The presence of condensation or high relative humidity is an important indicator of the potential for mold growth on any type of duct. Controlling moisture can often be difficult, simply here are some steps you can take:
Promptly and properly repair any leaks or water impairment.
Pay detail attention to cooling coils, which are designed to remove water from the air and can be a major source of moisture contamination of the system that tin lead to mold growth. Make sure the condensate pan drains properly. The presence of substantial standing water and/or debris indicates a problem requiring immediate attention. Cheque whatsoever insulation almost cooling coils for moisture spots.
Brand sure ducts are properly sealed and insulated in all non-air-conditioned spaces (eastward.g., attics and clamber spaces). This will assistance to prevent moisture due to condensation from entering the system and is important to brand the system work equally intended. To foreclose water condensation, the heating and cooling system must be properly insulated.
If you are replacing your air conditioning organization, 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 too big will bike on and off frequently, resulting in poor moisture removal, particularly in areas with high humidity. As well make sure that your new organization is designed to manage condensation finer.
Unresolved Issues of Duct Cleaning
Does duct cleaning prevent health problems?
The bottom line is: no one knows. There are examples of ducts that have get badly contaminated with a variety of materials that may pose risks to your wellness. The duct organization can serve as a ways to distribute these contaminants throughout a dwelling. In these cases, duct cleaning may brand sense. However, a low-cal amount of household dust in your air ducts is normal. Duct cleaning is not considered to be a necessary role of yearly maintenance of your heating and cooling organization, 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 virtually duct cleaning by contacting some or all of the sources of data listed at the end of this publication and asking questions of potential service providers.
Are duct materials other than bare sail metal ducts more than likely to be contaminated with mold and other biological contaminants?
Y'all may exist familiar with air ducts that are constructed of sheet metallic. Nevertheless, many modernistic residential air duct systems are constructed of fiber glass duct board or sheet metallic ducts that are lined on the inside with fiber drinking glass duct liner. Since the early 1970'south, a significant increase in the use of flexible duct, which more often than not is internally lined with plastic or another type of material, has occurred.
The utilise of insulated duct textile has increased due:
- to improved temperature control
- energy conservation
- reduced condensation
Internal insulation provides better acoustical (dissonance) control. Flexible duct is very low cost. These products are engineered specifically for use in ducts or equally ducts themselves, and are tested in accordance with standards established by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), the American Guild for Testing and Materials (ASTM), and the National Burn Protection Association (NFPA). Many insulated duct systems take operated for years without supporting significant mold growth. Keeping them reasonably make clean and dry is mostly adequate. However, there is substantial argue about whether porous insulation materials (eastward.yard., fiber drinking glass) are more prone to microbial contamination than bare sheet metallic ducts. If enough dirt and moisture are permitted to enter the duct arrangement, there may be no significant difference in the charge per unit or extent of microbial growth in internally lined or bare sail metal ducts. Nevertheless, treatment of mold contagion on blank canvas metal is much easier. Cleaning and treatment with an EPA-registered biocide are possible. One time 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 wet or moldy fiber drinking glass duct material.
In the meantime
Experts do concord that wet should not exist present in ducts and if moisture and dirt are present, the potential exists for biological contaminants to grow and be distributed throughout the domicile. Controlling moisture is the about effective way to forbid biological growth in all types of air ducts.
Right any h2o leaks or continuing water.
Remove standing h2o under cooling coils of air handling units by making sure that drain pans gradient toward the drain.
If humidifiers are used, they must be properly maintained.
Air handling units should be constructed so that maintenance personnel take easy, direct access to estrus exchange components and drain pans for proper cleaning and maintenance.
Fiber drinking glass, or whatsoever other insulation material that is wet or visibly moldy (or if an unacceptable scent is nowadays) should be removed and replaced past a qualified heating and cooling system contractor.
Steam cleaning and other methods involving moisture should not be used on whatever kind of duct work.
Should chemical biocides exist practical to the inside of air ducts?
Air duct cleaning service providers may tell yous 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 introduce ozone to kill biological contaminants. Ozone is a highly reactive gas that is regulated in the outside air as a lung irritant. However, there remains considerable controversy over the necessity and wisdom of introducing chemical biocides or ozone into the duct work.
Among the possible problems with biocide and ozone awarding in air ducts:
- Little research has been conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of most biocides and ozone when used within ducts. Simply spraying or otherwise introducing these materials into the operating duct system may cause much of the material to be transported through the system and released into other areas of your home.
- Some people may react negatively to the biocide or ozone, causing agin health reactions.
Chemical biocides are regulated past EPA nether Federal pesticide law. A product must be registered by EPA for a specific use before information technology can exist legally used for that purpose. The specific use(south) must appear on the pesticide (eastward.one thousand., biocide) label, along with other of import data. It is a violation of federal law to use a pesticide production in any manner inconsistent with the label directions.
A small number of products are currently registered by EPA specifically for employ on the inside of blank sheet metal air ducts. A number of products are also registered for utilise as sanitizers on difficult surfaces, which could include the interior of bare sheet metal ducts. While many such products may be used legally within of unlined ducts if all characterization directions are followed, some of the directions on the label may be inappropriate for use in ducts. For case, if the directions betoken "rinse with water", the added moisture could stimulate mold growth.
All of the products discussed to a higher place are registered solely for the purpose of sanitizing the smooth surfaces of unlined (bare) sheet metal ducts. No products are currently registered as biocides for use on fiber glass duct board or fiber glass lined ducts, and then it is important to determine if sections of your system contain these materials before permitting the application of any biocide.
In the meantime
Before allowing a service provider to use a chemical biocide in your duct piece of work, the service provider should:
Demonstrate visible evidence of microbial growth in your duct work. Some service providers may attempt to convince you lot that your air ducts are contaminated by demonstrating that the microorganisms found in your home grow on a settling plate (i.east., petri dish). This is inappropriate. Some microorganisms are e'er present in the air, and some growth on a settling plate is normal. Equally noted earlier, only an skilful tin can positively identify a substance every bit biological growth and lab analysis may be required for final confirmation. Other testing methods are not reliable.
Explain why biological growth cannot be removed by physical means, such as brushing, and further growth prevented past controlling moisture.
If you decide to permit the use of a biocide, the service provider should:
Show you the biocide characterization, which will describe its range of approved uses.
Apply the biocide only to united nations-insulated areas of the duct organization subsequently proper cleaning, if necessary to reduce the chances for re-growth of mold.
Always use the product strictly according to its label instructions.
While some low toxicity products may be legally applied while occupants of the home are present, you may wish to consider leaving the premises while the biocide is beingness applied every bit an added precaution.
Exercise sealants preclude the release of dust and clay particles into the air?
Manufacturers of products marketed to coat and encapsulate duct surfaces claim that these sealants forbid dust and dirt particles inside air ducts from being released into the air. As with biocides, a sealant is often practical past spraying it into the operating duct system. Laboratory tests indicate that materials introduced in this mode tend not to completely glaze the duct surface. Application of sealants may too affect the acoustical (dissonance) and fire retarding characteristics of fiber glass lined or constructed ducts and may invalidate the manufacturer'due south warranty.
Questions about the safe, effectiveness and overall desirability of sealants remain. For example, little is known nearly the potential toxicity of these products under typical utilize conditions or in the event they catch fire.
In improver, sealants have still to exist 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 Sheet Metal and Air conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA) practice 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 be appropriate include the repair of damaged fiber drinking glass insulation or when combating fire impairment within ducts. Sealants should never be used on wet duct liner, to encompass actively growing mold, or to cover debris in the ducts, and should only be applied after cleaning according to NADCA or other appropriate guidelines or standards.
To Learn More than About Indoor Air Quality
U.South. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Radiation and Indoor Air
Indoor Environments Division (6609J)
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.Due west.
Washington, DC 20460
The following EPA publications are available on this spider 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 Wellness Professionals
- Guide to Air Cleaners in the Home
- Ozone Generators that are Sold every bit Air Cleaners
To Acquire More About Air Duct Cleaning
National Air Duct Cleaners Clan (NADCA)
1120 Route 73, Suite 200
Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054
Phone: (855) Get-NADCA • (856) 380-6810
E-mail: info@nadca.com
Website: NADCA
Find a NADCA professional duct cleaner near you.
North American Insulation Manufacturers Clan (NAIMA)
44 Culvert Center Plaza, Suite 310, Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: (703) 684-0084
Website: NAIMA
Website: NAIMA Member Company Listing
"Cleaning Fibrous Drinking glass Insulated Air Duct Systems; Recommended Exercise", NAIMA Pub. No. AH122, 40 pages (Cost is $vii.50 for a printed version, no free copies bachelor.)
Other Useful Resource
For a gratis list of state consumer protection offices:
State Consumer Protection Offices
For more than information on biocides:
Antimicrobial Information Hotline
Phone: (703) 308-0127 / Fax: (703) 308-6467
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM EST
E-mail: 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 also provide data health & safety issues on registered antimicrobial products, product label and the proper and safe use of these antimicrobial products.
Consumer Checklist
Larn as much every bit possible nearly air duct cleaning before yous make up one's mind to have your ducts cleaned by reading this guidance and contacting the sources of information provided.
Consider other possible sources of indoor air pollution first if y'all suspect an indoor air quality problem exists in your abode.
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 yous whatever mold or other biological contagion they say exists. Go laboratory confirmation of mold growth or decide to rely on your ain judgment and common sense in evaluating apparent mold growth.
Get estimates from at least iii service providers.
Check references.
Ask the service provider whether he/she holds any relevant land licenses. Every bit of 1996, the following states require air duct cleaners to hold special licenses: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan and Texas. Other states may too require licenses.
Insist that the service provider give you knowledgeable and complete answers to your questions.
Find out whether your ducts are made of sheet metal, flex duct, or constructed of fiber glass duct lath or lined with fiber glass since the methods of cleaning vary depending on duct type. Call back, a combination of these elements may be present.
Permit the awarding of biocides in your ducts only if necessary to control mold growth and but after assuring yourself that the product volition be applied strictly according to label directions. Equally a precaution, you and your pets should leave the bounds during application.
Exercise not permit the apply of sealants except under unusual circumstances where other alternatives are not feasible.
Commit to a preventive maintenance programme of yearly inspections of your heating and cooling system, regular filter changes, and steps to prevent moisture contamination.
Source: https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/should-you-have-air-ducts-your-home-cleaned
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