Duct Cleaning Has Never Been Proven To Actually Prevent Health Problems. Indoor Air Pollution · Guide to Indoor Air Quality · Printable Version Duct Cleaning Has Never Been Proven to Actually Prevent Health Problems. Nor do studies conclusively show that the particle (for example,. 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.
It is important to note that dirty air ducts are just one of many possible sources of particulate matter that are present in homes. 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. In addition, there is no evidence that a small amount of household dust or other particles in the air ducts poses any risk to your health. 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.
In addition, there is no evidence that a small amount of household dust or other particulates in the air ducts poses any health hazard. 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. But even if you do not have special health problems, cleaning the ducts may appeal to you on an intuitive level. After all, if your ducts are clean, all the air coming out of the vents should also come out clean, right? 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 lower 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 any measurable benefit.
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. Although it intuitively makes sense to clean the ducts, after all, you dust and clean the rest of the house, the fact is that the dust that settles on your ventilation system usually stays where it is, it is unlikely to be dispersed into the air unless you are disturbed. In most circumstances, dust is inert and harmless, and removing it with cleaning equipment actually creates bigger problems. Little research has been done on the effects of duct cleaning.
Government studies in the United States and Canada and health professionals who have investigated duct cleaning fail to recommend against it, but they do not support it as a routine measure. EPA and CMHC researchers used different methodologies. CMHC study called for several duct cleaning services. Companies were not informed that they were part of a study and researchers did not monitor the time spent or the methods used.
The EPA study prescribed and controlled the methods used in a smaller number of households. While the duct cleaning industry argues that both studies are flawed, no other research has questioned the findings. And although the equipment and methods used by duct cleaning companies have changed since these studies were conducted, household air ducts have not. Changing air filters frequently is the best way to keep dust, allergens and other particulates out of your home.
With a newly installed system or a system in a house you just moved into, check the filter monthly to determine how quickly it gets dirty at different times of the year. Most need to be replaced every two to three months. Although not always part of their basic cleaning services, many duct cleaning companies often also clean heating and cooling equipment (heat exchangers, cooling coils, condensate drain trays, fan motors, fan blades and fan housings). While much of the energy used to power heating and cooling equipment is wasted, that waste is due to inefficient equipment, poor insulation, leaks around doors and windows, and unsealed ducts.
While there is some benefit to cleaning and maintaining HVAC equipment, that benefit is relatively small and the little energy waste can be attributed to dirty ducts or equipment. The CMHC researchers found that when duct cleaners also cleaned the fan blades, there was a small reduction in airborne particles. Cleaning the blower fan could also slightly improve the energy efficiency of your system. The same applies to the evaporator coils inside your home's refrigeration system.
Evaporator coils cause condensation, dehumidifying air before it circulates through your home. Condensed moisture can cause dust and other particles to stick and accumulate on the coils. In addition, cleaning the collector tray (and the tray drain nozzle) under the coils ensures that dirt does not accumulate or enter the system. It also prevents water from accumulating in and under the coils, which can cause mold problems.
Also consider inspecting your duct system for leaks, as leaky ducts reduce efficiency and introduce air quality issues. If someone in your household has specific health problems, such as allergies or asthma, see your doctor first. It is important to identify the problem so that the doctor can suggest alternatives to cleaning the ducts. Start by identifying if your ducts are part of the problem (they probably aren't) and if cleaning them will help (probably isn't).
If you suspect that there is a mold problem, either due to visible growth or a musty smell constantly coming from the supply grids, the cleaning ducts won't do much good if they don't remove the mold. Mold starts with a moisture problem, and the ducts themselves are unlikely to be the source. The most likely culprits are refrigeration system evaporator coils, which your heating and air conditioning contractor and most duct cleaning companies can inspect and maintain. Leaky return ducts can also introduce moisture.
Again, if you suspect a mold problem, consider asking a utility company to inspect the duct system for leaks. Mess up only helps a lot if you keep buying too much in the first place. Air ducts may be contaminated with mold, bacteria, pollen, dust mites, chemical waste and other household contaminants. A malfunctioning HVAC system, ineffective air filters, poorly installed ducts, and moisture buildup can cause contamination in the air ducts.
Indoor air quality is a concern homeowners have when they decide to investigate air duct cleaning. 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. When service providers arrive at your home, ask them to show you the contamination that would justify cleaning the ducts. Every home's ducts come with their own set of challenges, which need to be discussed with the air duct cleaning company.
However, there is little evidence that cleaning just the ducts will improve system efficiency. Cleaning the ducts prevents contaminants from entering your home over and over again, creating an overall cleaner environment. Duct cleaning is one of the easiest ways to improve your home's indoor air quality, but its benefits don't end there. Keep in mind that duct cleaning uses specialized tools to stir and dislodge dirt in ducts and cause dirt and other contaminants to become increasingly loose and airborne before vacuuming them.
We often say that air ducts work like the lungs in your home, meaning that what you breathe, you will eventually exhale. In fact, since the only time the ducts are required to be cleaned is when they are contaminated, it follows that if you need to clean the ducts, then you need to clean the entire HVAC system that comes into contact with the air circulating through the ducts. That dust and dirt are full of pollutants and air pollutants that can not only damage indoor air quality, but can also make your system work harder. You have probably seen an ad, received a coupon in the mail, or have been contacted directly by a company that offers to clean your air ducts to improve the quality of the indoor air in your home.
. .
Leave Reply