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What
is Duct Cleaning?
Most people are now aware that indoor air pollution
is an issue 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 offering to clean your air
ducts as a means of improving your home's indoor air
quality. These services typically -- but not always
-- range in cost from $450 to $1,000 per heating and
cooling system, depending on the services offered,
the size of the system to be cleaned, system
accessibility, climatic region, and level of
contamination.
Duct cleaning generally refers to the cleaning of
various 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 housing (See diagram).
If not properly installed, maintained, and operated,
these components may become contaminated with
particles of dust, pollen or other debris. If
moisture is present, the potential for
microbiological growth (e.g., 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 decide to have
your heating and cooling system 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 system can result in re-contamination
of the entire system, thus negating any potential
benefits. Methods of duct cleaning vary, although
standards have been established by industry
associations concerned with air duct cleaning.
Typically, a service provider will use specialized
tools to dislodge dirt and other debris in ducts,
then vacuum them out with a high-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 seal
or cover the inside surfaces of the air ducts and
equipment housings because they believe the sealant
will control mold growth or prevent the release of
dirt particles or fibers from ducts. These practices
have yet to be fully researched and you should be
fully informed before deciding to permit the use of
biocides or sealants in your air ducts. They should
only be applied, if at all, after the system has
been properly cleaned of all visible dust or debris.
Indoor Environments Division (6609J)
Office of Air and Radiation (OAR)
EPA-402-K-97-002, October 1997 |
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