Duct Cleaning
By Steve Vacha
Duct cleaning typically involves the use of specialized tools to dislodge dirt and other debris in ducts and then having them vacuumed out. The EPA suggests that you should consider having the air ducts in your home cleaned if:
– Ducts are infested with vermin, e.g. (rodents or insects).
– Ducts are clogged with excessive amounts of dust and debris and/or particles are actually released into the home from supply registers.
– There is mold in your ductwork or other components of your heating and cooling system. The only way to know if there is mold present is to have it tested with laboratory analysis of a sample. If the conditions that first caused the mold to grow are not corrected, then the mold will recur after cleaning. If insulated duct work has insulation that gets wet and then moldy it should be removed or replaced.
Studies do not conclusively demonstrate that in home air particle levels increase because of dirty air ducts. This is because so much of the particles in the ducts adhere to duct surfaces and don’t necessarily enter the living space. The EPA recommends that ducts be cleaned on an as-needed basis.
