When it comes to the environment, there are many questions surrounding the advantages of having air ducts cleaned in Broward County, FL. While studies have yet to conclusively demonstrate that particle removal from air ducts can improve health, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does urge people to read up on the subject. Duct cleaning has never been proven to actually prevent health problems, as much of the dirt in the air ducts adheres to the duct surfaces and does not necessarily enter the living space. Contaminants that enter the home through both outdoor and indoor activities, such as cooking, cleaning, smoking, or simply moving around, can cause greater exposure to contaminants than dirty air ducts.
In addition, there is no evidence that a small amount of household dust or other particles in air ducts poses a health risk. Before ducting is cleaned, modernized, or replaced, any underlying causes must be corrected or else the problem is likely to recur. There is little evidence that cleaning only the ducts improves system efficiency. However, you can consider cleaning the air ducts simply because it seems logical that they will become dirty over time and need to be cleaned from time to time. As long as the cleaning is done correctly, there is no evidence to suggest that such cleaning is harmful. The EPA does not recommend that air ducts be cleaned routinely, but only when necessary.
If you decide to clean your air ducts, take the same consumer precautions you would normally take when evaluating the competence and reliability of the service provider. Whether or not you decide to clean your home's air ducts, preventing water and dirt from entering the system is the most effective way to prevent contamination. If you decide to clean your heating and cooling system, it's important to ensure that the service provider is committed to cleaning all components of the system and is qualified to do so. In addition, they can propose the application of chemical biocides designed to remove microbiological contaminants from inside of the ducts and other components of the system. Some service providers may also suggest applying chemical treatments (sealants or other encapsulants) to encapsulate or cover the inner surfaces of air ducts and equipment housings.
These practices have not yet been thoroughly researched and you must be fully informed before deciding to allow them in your air ducts. They should only be applied after the system has been properly cleaned of all visible dust or dirt. Knowledge about potential benefits and potential problems of cleaning air ducts is limited. Since conditions in every home are different, it's impossible to generalize about whether cleaning the air ducts in your home would be beneficial or not. On the other hand, if family members have unusual or unexplained symptoms or illnesses that you think could be related to your home environment, you should discuss it with your doctor. The EPA has published guidance on identifying potential indoor air quality problems and ways to prevent or solve them.
You can consider cleaning the air ducts simply because it seems logical that they will become dirty over time and need to be cleaned from time to time. While there is still debate over regular duct cleaning, there is no evidence to suggest that such cleaning is harmful if done correctly. On the other hand, if a service provider doesn't follow proper procedures, it can cause problems with indoor air. For example, an inadequate vacuum collection system can release more dust, dirt and other contaminants than if it had left them alone. A careless or inadequately trained service provider can damage your ducts or your heating and cooling system which could increase your heating and air conditioning costs or force you to make difficult and costly repairs or replacements. The EPA does not recommend that air ducts be cleaned except when necessary because of continuing uncertainty about their benefits in most cases.
However, they do recommend that if you have a furnace, stove, or fireplace that burns fuel, it should be inspected for proper functioning and maintained before each heating season to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning. Some research also suggests that cleaning dirty cooling coils, fans and heat exchangers can improve efficiency of heating and cooling systems. However, there is little evidence that simply cleaning the duct system will increase efficiency. If you think that cleaning your air ducts might be a good idea for your home but you're not sure what to do next, talk to a professional. The company that services your heating and cooling system can be a good source of advice. You can also contact professional duct cleaning services for more information.
