However, the EPA recommends it if fuel is burned. Printable Version · Indoor Air Pollution · A Guide to Indoor Air Quality You may consider cleaning your air ducts simply because it seems logical that the 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. 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. Most states require air duct cleaners to have a contractor's license. To obtain such a license, applicants must have a relevant education (usually a bachelor's degree) or industry experience. This will qualify them to take the Mechanical Contractor License Exam, which they must pass.
Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting the SBA reference to state licenses and permits. Contaminants that enter the home from both outdoor and indoor activities, such as cooking, cleaning, smoking, or simply moving around, can cause greater exposure to pollutants than dirty air ducts. Some companies apply antimicrobial chemicals to the interior surface of air ducts to treat microbial contamination, such as fungi (mold), viruses or bacteria. You have probably seen an ad, received a coupon in the mail, or have been contacted directly by a company that offers you to clean your air ducts as a means of improving the quality of the indoor air in your home.
It is important to note that dirty air ducts are just one of many possible sources of particulate matter that are present in homes. An air duct cleaning company can increase its revenue by offering additional HVAC services or by partnering with a local company that does. 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. To find companies that offer duct cleaning services, check the Yellow Pages in the Duct Cleaning section or contact the National Association of Air Duct Cleaners (NADCA) at the address and phone number in the information section at the end of this guide.
Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) technicians are uniquely qualified to start an air duct cleaning business because they have the technical knowledge required to clean air ducts. A typical cleaning of air ducts takes about three hours, so business owners can often perform two cleanings a day. If you see evidence of significant visible mold growth on ducts or mechanical components of the HVAC system that come into contact with air. If you decide to have your air ducts cleaned, take the same consumer precautions that you would normally take when evaluating the competence and reliability of the service provider.
In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency states that “EPA does not recommend that air ducts be cleaned except when necessary due to ongoing uncertainty about the benefits of duct cleaning in most circumstances. 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). Air Duct Cleaning Company Makes Money Charging Customers to Clean Air Ducts in Their HVAC Systems. .
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