How Much Does It Cost To Have Hvac Serviced
EPA 402-K-97-002, Oct 1997
On this page:
- Summary
- What Is Air Duct Cleaning?
- Deciding Whether or Not to Have Your Air Ducts Cleaned
- Suggestions for Choosing a Duct Cleaning Service Provider
- What to Look of an Air Duct Cleaning Service Provider
- How to Determine if the Duct Cleaner Did a Thorough Job
- How to Forestall Duct Contagion
- To Forestall Dirt from Entering the System
- To Prevent Ducts from Becoming Wet
- Unresolved Problems of Duct Cleaning
- Does duct cleaning foreclose wellness problems?
- Are duct materials other than bare sail metal ducts more probable to be contaminated with mold and other biological contaminants?
- Should chemical biocides be applied to the within of air ducts?
- Do sealants prevent the release of grit and clay particles into the air?
- To Learn More About Indoor Air Quality
- To Acquire More Virtually Air Duct Cleaning
- Other Useful Resources
- Consumer Checklist
Summary
Cognition about air duct cleaning is in its early stages, then a coating recommendation cannot be offered as to whether you should take your air ducts in your abode cleaned. The U.S. Ecology Protection Agency (EPA) urges you to read this certificate in it entirety equally it provides important data on the subject.
Duct cleaning has never been shown to really prevent health bug. Neither practise studies conclusively demonstrate that particle (due east.g., dust) levels in homes increase considering of dirty air ducts. This is because much of the clay in air ducts adheres to duct surfaces and does not necessarily enter the living space. It is important to continue in mind that dirty air ducts are only one of many possible sources of particles that are present in homes. Pollutants that enter the home both from outdoors and indoor activities such as cooking, cleaning, smoking, or just moving effectually can crusade greater exposure to contaminants than muddy air ducts. Moreover, there is no evidence that a light amount of household dust or other particulate matter in air ducts poses any take a chance to your health.
You should consider having the air ducts in your home cleaned if:
There is substantial visible mold growth inside difficult surface (e.g., canvass metal) ducts or on other components of your heating and cooling system. There are several important points to empathise concerning mold detection in heating and cooling systems:
- Many sections of your heating and cooling system may non be accessible for a visible inspection, then ask the service provider to show yous any mold they say exists.
- You should exist enlightened that although a substance may look like mold, a positive decision of whether information technology is mold or not tin can be made simply by an adept and may require laboratory analysis for terminal confirmation. For about $50, some microbiology laboratories can tell you lot whether a sample sent to them on a clear strip of sticky household tape is mold or only a substance that resembles it.
- If yous take insulated air ducts and the insulation gets wet or moldy information technology cannot be effectively cleaned and should be removed and replaced.
- If the conditions causing the mold growth in the first place are not corrected, mold growth will recur.
Ducts are infested with vermin, east.grand. (rodents or insects).
Ducts are clogged with excessive amounts of dust and debris and/or particles are really released into the habitation from your supply registers.
If whatever of the conditions identified higher up exists, it usually suggests one or more underlying causes. Prior to any cleaning, retrofitting, or replacing of your ducts, the crusade or causes must be corrected or else the problem will likely recur.
Some inquiry suggests that cleaning heating and cooling system components (due east.g., cooling coils, fans and heat exchangers) may improve the efficiency of your system, resulting in a longer operating life, equally well as some energy and maintenance cost savings. However, lilliputian evidence exists that cleaning only the ducts volition better the efficiency of the system.
Yous may consider having your air ducts cleaned only because information technology seems logical that air ducts will become dingy over time and should exist occasionally cleaned. Provided that the cleaning is done properly, no bear witness suggests that such cleaning would be detrimental. EPA does not recommend that the air ducts be cleaned routinely, but only as needed. EPA does, however, recommend that if you lot have a fuel burning furnace, stove or fireplace, they be inspected for proper functioning and serviced before each heating season to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning.
If you do decide to take your air ducts cleaned, take the same consumer precautions y'all normally would in assessing the service provider'southward competence and reliability.
Air duct cleaning service providers may tell you that they need to apply chemical biocide to the inside of your ducts as a ways to impale bacteria (germs) and fungi (mold) and forbid hereafter biological growth. They may also propose the application of a "sealant" to prevent grit and clay particles from being released into the air or to seal air leaks. You should fully empathize the pros and cons of permitting application of chemical biocides or sealants. While the targeted use of chemical biocides and sealants may exist advisable nether specific circumstances, inquiry has not demonstrated their effectiveness in duct cleaning or their potential adverse health effects. No chemical biocides are currently registered by EPA for use in internally-insulated air duct systems (see Should chemical biocides exist practical to the within of air ducts?).
Whether or not yous determine to have the air ducts in your home cleaned, preventing water and clay from entering the organization is the most effective way to prevent contamination (encounter How to Prevent Duct Contamination).
What is Air Duct Cleaning?
Well-nigh people are now enlightened that indoor air pollution is an consequence of growing business organization and increased visibility. Many companies are marketing products and services intended to improve the quality of your indoor air. You accept probably seen an advertisement, received a coupon in the mail, or been approached directly by a company offer to make clean your air ducts equally a means of improving your abode's indoor air quality. These services typically — but non always — range in price from $450 to $one,000 per heating and cooling arrangement, depending on:
the services offered
- the size of the organisation to be cleaned
- arrangement accessibility
- climatic region
- level of contamination
If yous decide to have your heating and cooling organization cleaned, information technology of import to brand sure the service provider agrees to clean all components of the system and is qualified to do and so.
Duct cleaning more often than not 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, rut exchangers heating and cooling coils, condensate drain pans (baste pans), fan motor and fan housing, and the air treatment unit housing (Run across diagram).
If non properly installed, maintained and operated, these components may become contaminated with particles of dust, pollen or other debris. If wet is present, the potential for microbiological growth (e.thou., mold) is increased and spores from such growth may be released into the domicile'south living infinite. Some of these contaminants may crusade allergic reactions or other symptoms in people if they are exposed to them. If you lot decide to have your heating and cooling system cleaned, information technology is important to make sure the service provider agrees to clean all components of the organization and is qualified to do and then. Failure to clean a component of a contaminated system can result in re-contagion of the entire system, thus negating whatsoever potential benefits. Methods of duct cleaning vary, although standards take been established by manufacture associations concerned with air duct cleaning. Typically, a service provider volition 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 chemic biocides, designed to impale microbiological contaminants, to the inside of the duct work and to other system components. Some service providers may too suggest applying chemical treatments (sealants or other encapsulants) to encapsulate or cover the inside surfaces of the air ducts and equipment housings because they believe it will control mold growth or preclude the release of dirt particles or fibers from ducts. These practices have yet to be fully researched and you should be fully informed earlier deciding to allow the use of biocides or chemical treatments in your air ducts. They should only be applied, if at all, afterward the organisation has been properly cleaned of all visible grit or debris.
Note: Use of sealants to encapsulate the inside surfaces of ducts is a different practice than sealing duct air leaks. Sealing duct air leaks can help save energy on heating and cooling bills. For more data, see EPA's Free energy Star website.
Deciding Whether or Not to Take Your Air Ducts Cleaned
Knowledge virtually the potential benefits and possible problems of air duct cleaning is express. Since atmospheric condition in every abode are dissimilar, it is impossible to generalize about whether or not air duct cleaning in your home would be beneficial.
If no i in your household suffers from allergies or unexplained symptoms or illnesses and if, later a visual inspection of the inside of the ducts, you see no indication that your air ducts are contaminated with large deposits of dust or mold (no musty odor or visible mold growth), having your air ducts cleaned is probably unnecessary. It is normal for the return registers to get dusty as dust-laden air is pulled through the grate. This does not signal that your air ducts are contaminated with heavy deposits of dust or debris; the registers can be easily vacuumed or removed and cleaned.
On the other mitt, if family unit members are experiencing unusual or unexplained symptoms or illnesses that yous recollect might be related to your home environment, you should discuss the state of affairs with your doctor. EPA has published the following publications for guidance on identifying possible indoor air quality issues and ways to prevent or set up them.
- Indoor Air Quality: An Introduction for Health Professionals
- The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality
You lot may consider having your air ducts cleaned but because it seems logical that air ducts volition go dirty over time and should occasionally be cleaned. While the debate almost the value of periodic duct cleaning continues, no evidence suggests that such cleaning would be detrimental, provided that it is washed properly.
On the other paw, if a service provider fails to follow proper duct cleaning procedures, duct cleaning can cause indoor air problems. For example, an inadequate vacuum collection system can release more than dust, dirt and other contaminants than if you lot had left the ducts solitary. A careless or inadequately trained service provider tin can damage your ducts or heating and cooling system, perchance increasing your heating and air-conditioning costs or forcing y'all to undertake difficult and costly repairs or replacements.
You should consider having the air ducts in your domicile cleaned if:
There is substantial visible mold growth within hard surface (eastward.g., canvass metal) ducts or on other components of your heating and cooling arrangement. There are several important points to empathize concerning mold detection in heating and cooling systems:
- Many sections of your heating and cooling system may not be accessible for a visible inspection, and so ask the service provider to show y'all whatsoever mold they say exists.
- Yous should be aware that although a substance may look like mold, a positive decision of whether it is mold or not tin be made only past an expert and may require laboratory analysis for final confirmation. For nigh $50, some microbiology laboratories tin tell you whether a sample sent to them on a articulate strip of sticky household tape is mold or only a substance that resembles it.
- If you take insulated air ducts and the insulation gets wet or moldy it cannot be effectively cleaned and should be removed and replaced.
- If the conditions causing the mold growth in the starting time identify are not corrected, mold growth will recur.
Ducts are infested with vermin, due east.m. (rodents or insects)
Ducts are clogged with excessive amounts of dust and debris and/or particles are actually released into the home from your supply registers.
Other Important Considerations
Duct cleaning has never been shown to actually prevent health problems. Neither do studies conclusively demonstrate that particle (east.thousand., dust) levels in homes increase because of dirty air ducts or go down after cleaning. This is because much of the clay that may accrue inside air ducts adheres to duct surfaces and does not necessarily enter the living infinite. It is important to proceed in mind that dirty air ducts are only 1 of many possible sources of particles that are present in homes. Pollutants that enter the home both from outdoors and indoor activities such as cooking, cleaning, smoking, or just moving around can cause greater exposure to contaminants than dirty air ducts. Moreover, at that place is no evidence that a light amount of household dust or other particulate thing in air ducts poses whatever hazard to health.
EPA does not recommend that air ducts exist cleaned except on an as-needed basis because of the continuing uncertainty most the benefits of duct cleaning nether most circumstances. EPA does, however, recommend that if yous have a fuel called-for furnace, stove, or fireplace, they be inspected for proper functioning and serviced before each heating season to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning. Some research also suggests that cleaning dirty cooling coils, fans and estrus exchangers can improve the efficiency of heating and cooling systems. However, lilliputian evidence exists to indicate that simply cleaning the duct organisation volition increase your system's efficiency.
If you think duct cleaning might be a good thought for your home, merely you are not sure, talk to a professional. The company that services your heating and cooling system may exist a good source of advice. Yous may also desire to contact professional duct cleaning service providers and ask them about the services they provide. Recollect, they are trying to sell you a service, so ask questions and insist on consummate and knowledgeable answers.
Suggestions for Choosing a Duct Cleaning Service Provider
To find companies that provide duct cleaning services, check your Yellow Pages under "duct cleaning" or contact the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) at the accost and telephone number in the information section located at the end of this guidance. Do not assume that all duct cleaning service providers are equally knowledgeable and responsible. Talk to at least three different service providers and get written estimates before deciding whether to have your ducts cleaned. When the service providers come to your abode, ask them to show you the contamination that would justify having your ducts cleaned.
Practice not hire duct cleaners who brand sweeping claims virtually the wellness benefits of duct cleaning — such claims are unsubstantiated. Do not hire duct cleaners who recommend duct cleaning equally a routine role of your heating and cooling system maintenance. You should also be wary of duct cleaners who claim to be certified by EPA. Note: EPA neither establishes duct cleaning standards nor certifies, endorses, or approves duct cleaning companies.
Practise not allow the employ of chemical biocides or chemic treatments unless you fully understand the pros and the cons (Run into "Unresolved Bug of Duct Cleaning).
Check references to be certain other customers were satisfied and did non experience whatsoever problems with their heating and cooling system after cleaning.
Contact your canton or city office of consumer affairs or local Better Business concern Agency to determine if complaints have been lodged against any of the companies you are considering.
Interview potential service providers to ensure:
- they are experienced in duct cleaning and have worked on systems like yours;
- they will use procedures to protect you, your pets and your home from contamination; and
- they comply with NADCA's air duct cleaning standards and, if your ducts are synthetic of cobweb drinking glass duct board or insulated internally with fiber glass duct liner, with the Northward American Insulation Manufacturers Association's (NAIMA) recommendations.
Ask the service provider whether they hold any relevant state licenses. As of 1996, the following states require air duct cleaners to concord special licenses: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan and Texas. Other states may crave them as well.
If the service provider charges by the hour, asking an estimate of the number of hours or days the job will accept, and find out whether there volition be interruptions in the work. Brand sure the duct cleaner y'all choose volition provide a written agreement outlining the total cost and telescopic of the chore before work begins.
What to Await From an Air Duct Cleaning Service Provider
If you choose to accept your ducts cleaned, the service provider should:
Open up admission ports or doors to allow the entire system to be cleaned and inspected.
Inspect the system before cleaning to exist sure that at that place are no asbestos-containing materials (eastward.g., insulation, register boots, etc.) in the heating and cooling system. Asbestos-containing materials require specialized procedures and should not exist disturbed or removed except past specially trained and equipped contractors.
Utilize vacuum equipment that exhausts particles outside of the home or use only loftier-efficiency particle air (HEPA) vacuuming equipment if the vacuum exhausts inside the domicile.
Protect carpet and household furnishings during cleaning.
Utilise well-controlled brushing of duct surfaces in conjunction with contact vacuum cleaning to dislodge grit and other particles.
Use only soft-bristled brushes for fiberglass duct lath and sheet metal ducts internally lined with fiberglass. (Although flex duct can also be cleaned using soft-bristled brushes, it tin be more than economical to simply supercede attainable flex duct.)
Take care to protect the duct work, including sealing and re-insulating whatever access holes the service provider may have made or used so they are airtight.
Follow NADCA'due south standards for air duct cleaning and NAIMA's recommended exercise for ducts containing cobweb glass lining or constructed of fiber drinking glass duct lath.
How to Determine if the Duct Cleaner Did A Thorough Job
A thorough visual inspection is the all-time mode to verify the cleanliness of your heating and cooling organisation. Some service providers use remote photography to certificate atmospheric condition inside ducts. All portions of the system should be visibly clean; you should non exist able to detect any debris with the naked eye. Prove the Mail-Cleaning Consumer Checklist to the service provider before the piece of work begins. Later completing the chore, ask the service provider to bear witness you each component of your system to verify that the task was performed satisfactorily.
If you answer "No" to any of the questions on the checklist, this may point a problem with the job. Ask your service provider to correct any deficiencies until you lot can answer "yes" to all the questions on the checklist.
| Post Cleaning Consumer Checklist | Yes | No | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | Did the service provider obtain admission to and clean the entire heating and cooling system, including ductwork and all components (drain pans, humidifiers, coils and fans)? | ||
| Has the service provider fairly demonstrated that duct work and plenums are clean? (Plenum is a space in which supply or return air is mixed or moves; can exist duct, joist space, cranium and clamber spaces, or wall cavity.) | |||
| Heating | Is the heat exchanger surface visibly clean? | ||
| Cooling Components | Are both sides of the cooling ringlet visibly clean? | ||
| If you bespeak a flashlight into the cooling scroll, does low-cal shine through the other side? Information technology should if the coil is make clean. | |||
| Are the coil fins straight and evenly spaced (equally opposed to being bent over and smashed together)? | |||
| Is the scroll drain pan completely clean and draining properly? | |||
| Blower | Are the blower blades make clean and free of oil and debris? | ||
| Is the blower compartment complimentary of visible dust or debris? | |||
| Plenums | Is the render air plenum free of visible grit or debris? | ||
| Practice filters fit properly and are they the proper efficiency as recommended by HVAC system manufacturer? | |||
| Is the supply air plenum (directly downstream of the air handling unit of measurement) free of moisture stains and contaminants? | |||
| Metal Ducts | Are interior ductwork surfaces gratuitous of visible debris? (Select several sites at random in both the return and supply sides of the system.) | ||
| Fiber Drinking glass | Is all fiber glass material in good status (i.east., gratis of tears and abrasions; well adhered to underlying materials)? | ||
| Access Doors | Are newly installed admission doors in sheet metallic ducts attached with more than just duct record (e.g., screws, rivets, mastic, etc.)? | ||
| With the system running, is air leakage through access doors or covers very slight or non-existent? | |||
| Air Vents | Take all registers, grilles and diffusers been firmly reattached to the walls, floors and/or ceilings? | ||
| Are the registers, grilles and diffusers visibly clean? | |||
| System Operation | Does the system function properly in both the heating and cooling modes subsequently cleaning? | ||
How to Prevent Duct Contamination
Whether or not you make up one's mind to have the air ducts in your home cleaned, committing to a good preventive maintenance program is essential to minimize duct contamination.
To prevent dirt from entering the system:
Apply the highest efficiency air filter recommended past the manufacturer of your heating and cooling system.
Modify filters regularly.
If your filters go clogged, change them more frequently.
Exist sure you do not have whatsoever missing filters and that air cannot bypass filters through gaps around the filter holder.
When having your heating and cooling system maintained or checked for other reasons, be certain to inquire the service provider to make clean cooling coils and drain pans.
During construction or renovation work that produces dust in your dwelling house, seal off supply and return registers and do not operate the heating and cooling system until after cleaning upward the dust.
Remove dust and vacuum your habitation regularly. (Utilize a high efficiency vacuum (HEPA) cleaner or the highest efficiency filter bags your vacuum cleaner tin have. Vacuuming tin can increase the amount of dust in the air during and after vacuuming also every bit in your ducts).
If your heating system includes in-duct humidification equipment, be sure to operate and maintain the humidifier strictly as recommended by the manufacturer.
Whether of not you lot decide to have the air ducts in your abode cleaned, committing to a good preventive maintenance plan is essential to minimize duct contamination.
To prevent ducts from becoming moisture:
Wet should non be present in ducts. Controlling moisture is the near effective manner to prevent biological growth in air ducts.
Moisture tin can enter the duct system through leaks or if the system has been improperly installed or serviced. Research suggests that condensation (which occurs when a surface temperature is lower than the dew point temperature of the surrounding air) on or nearly cooling coils of ac units is a major gene in moisture contamination of the system. The presence of condensation or high relative humidity is an important indicator of the potential for mold growth on any type of duct. Controlling moisture can often exist difficult, just here are some steps y'all can take:
Promptly and properly repair whatsoever leaks or water impairment.
Pay particular attention to cooling coils, which are designed to remove water from the air and can be a major source of moisture contagion of the organisation that tin lead to mold growth. Make certain the condensate pan drains properly. The presence of substantial standing water and/or debris indicates a problem requiring immediate attending. Check any insulation almost cooling coils for wet spots.
Brand sure ducts are properly sealed and insulated in all non-air-conditioned spaces (due east.g., attics and crawl spaces). This will help to prevent moisture due to condensation from entering the system and is important to make the arrangement work every bit intended. To prevent water condensation, the heating and cooling organisation must be properly insulated.
If yous are replacing your air conditioning organization, make certain that the unit is the proper size for your needs and that all ducts are sealed at the joints. A unit that is as well big will bike on and off ofttimes, resulting in poor moisture removal, especially in areas with high humidity. Also brand sure that your new system is designed to manage condensation effectively.
Unresolved Issues of Duct Cleaning
Does duct cleaning prevent health problems?
The bottom line is: no 1 knows. In that location are examples of ducts that accept become desperately contaminated with a multifariousness of materials that may pose risks to your health. The duct organisation can serve as a means to distribute these contaminants throughout a dwelling. In these cases, duct cleaning may make sense. However, a low-cal amount of household grit in your air ducts is normal. Duct cleaning is not considered to be a necessary office of yearly maintenance of your heating and cooling system, which consists of regular cleaning of drain pans and heating and cooling coils, regular filter changes and yearly inspections of heating equipment. Research continues in an effort to evaluate the potential benefits of air duct cleaning.
In the meantime
Brainwash yourself almost duct cleaning past contacting some or all of the sources of information listed at the stop of this publication and request questions of potential service providers.
Are duct materials other than bare sheet metal ducts more likely to be contaminated with mold and other biological contaminants?
You may be familiar with air ducts that are constructed of canvas metal. Nonetheless, many modern residential air duct systems are constructed of fiber glass duct board or sheet metallic ducts that are lined on the inside with cobweb drinking glass duct liner. Since the early on 1970'south, a significant increase in the use of flexible duct, which generally is internally lined with plastic or some other type of material, has occurred.
The use of insulated duct material has increased due:
- to improved temperature control
- free energy conservation
- reduced condensation
Internal insulation provides meliorate acoustical (racket) control. Flexible duct is very low price. These products are engineered specifically for use in ducts or equally ducts themselves, and are tested in accordance with standards established by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), and the National Fire Protection Clan (NFPA). Many insulated duct systems accept operated for years without supporting pregnant mold growth. Keeping them reasonably clean and dry is generally adequate. However, in that location is substantial debate about whether porous insulation materials (e.g., fiber glass) are more than prone to microbial contamination than bare sail metal ducts. If plenty dirt and moisture are permitted to enter the duct system, there may be no pregnant difference in the charge per unit or extent of microbial growth in internally lined or bare sheet metal ducts. However, treatment of mold contagion on bare canvas metal is much easier. Cleaning and treatment with an EPA-registered biocide are possible. Once fiberglass duct liner is contaminated with mold, cleaning is not sufficient to prevent re-growth and there are no EPA-registered biocides for the treatment of porous duct materials. EPA, NADCA and NAIMA all recommend the replacement of wet or moldy fiber glass duct material.
In the meantime
Experts exercise agree that moisture should not be nowadays in ducts and if moisture and clay are present, the potential exists for biological contaminants to grow and exist distributed throughout the domicile. Controlling moisture is the near constructive mode to prevent biological growth in all types of air ducts.
Correct whatsoever h2o leaks or standing water.
Remove standing water under cooling coils of air treatment units by making sure that bleed pans gradient toward the bleed.
If humidifiers are used, they must be properly maintained.
Air handling units should be constructed so that maintenance personnel take like shooting fish in a barrel, direct access to heat commutation components and bleed pans for proper cleaning and maintenance.
Fiber glass, or any other insulation material that is wet or visibly moldy (or if an unacceptable smell is present) should exist removed and replaced by a qualified heating and cooling organisation contractor.
Steam cleaning and other methods involving wet should not be used on any kind of duct work.
Should chemic biocides be applied to the inside of air ducts?
Air duct cleaning service providers may tell you that they need to apply a chemical biocide to the within of your ducts to impale bacteria (germs) and fungi (mold), and prevent futurity biological growth. Some duct cleaning service providers may propose to introduce ozone to kill biological contaminants. Ozone is a highly reactive gas that is regulated in the outside air as a lung irritant. However, there remains considerable controversy over the necessity and wisdom of introducing chemical biocides or ozone into the duct piece of work.
Among the possible issues with biocide and ozone application in air ducts:
- Fiddling research has been conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of most biocides and ozone when used within ducts. Just spraying or otherwise introducing these materials into the operating duct system may crusade much of the textile to be transported through the organisation and released into other areas of your home.
- Some people may react negatively to the biocide or ozone, causing adverse health reactions.
Chemical biocides are regulated by EPA under Federal pesticide law. A product must exist registered by EPA for a specific apply before it can be legally used for that purpose. The specific use(s) must appear on the pesticide (due east.grand., biocide) characterization, forth with other important information. It is a violation of federal police to utilise a pesticide product in any manner inconsistent with the label directions.
A modest number of products are currently registered by EPA specifically for employ on the within of bare sheet metal air ducts. A number of products are also registered for utilize as sanitizers on hard surfaces, which could include the interior of bare sheet metal ducts. While many such products may be used legally inside of unlined ducts if all label directions are followed, some of the directions on the label may be inappropriate for utilise in ducts. For instance, if the directions indicate "rinse with h2o", the added moisture could stimulate mold growth.
All of the products discussed above are registered solely for the purpose of sanitizing the smooth surfaces of unlined (bare) sheet metal ducts. No products are currently registered as biocides for employ on fiber drinking glass duct lath or fiber glass lined ducts, then it is important to determine if sections of your system comprise these materials before permitting the application of any biocide.
In the concurrently
Before assuasive a service provider to apply a chemic biocide in your duct piece of work, the service provider should:
Demonstrate visible evidence of microbial growth in your duct work. Some service providers may attempt to convince you that your air ducts are contaminated by demonstrating that the microorganisms found in your dwelling house grow on a settling plate (i.e., petri dish). This is inappropriate. Some microorganisms are always nowadays in the air, and some growth on a settling plate is normal. Equally noted earlier, only an expert tin positively place a substance as biological growth and lab analysis may be required for last confirmation. Other testing methods are not reliable.
Explicate why biological growth cannot be removed by physical means, such every bit brushing, and farther growth prevented past controlling wet.
If you decide to permit the employ of a biocide, the service provider should:
Evidence you the biocide label, which will describe its range of approved uses.
Apply the biocide simply to un-insulated areas of the duct arrangement after proper cleaning, if necessary to reduce the chances for re-growth of mold.
Always use the product strictly according to its label instructions.
While some low toxicity products may be legally practical while occupants of the home are present, you may wish to consider leaving the premises while the biocide is being practical as an added precaution.
Do sealants prevent the release of dust and dirt particles into the air?
Manufacturers of products marketed to glaze and encapsulate duct surfaces claim that these sealants foreclose dust and dirt particles within air ducts from being released into the air. As with biocides, a sealant is ofttimes practical past spraying information technology into the operating duct system. Laboratory tests indicate that materials introduced in this manner tend not to completely coat the duct surface. Application of sealants may also affect the acoustical (noise) and burn retarding characteristics of fiber glass lined or constructed ducts and may invalidate the manufacturer's warranty.
Questions about the safety, effectiveness and overall desirability of sealants remain. For example, little is known about the potential toxicity of these products under typical apply conditions or in the outcome they catch fire.
In improver, sealants accept even so to be evaluated for their resistance to deterioration over fourth dimension which could add particles to the duct air.
In the meantime
Most organizations concerned with duct cleaning, including EPA, NADCA, NAIMA and the Canvass Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA) do non currently recommend the routine use of sealants to encapsulate contaminants in any type of duct. Instances when the utilise of sealants to encapsulate the duct surfaces may be appropriate include the repair of damaged fiber glass insulation or when combating fire impairment within ducts. Sealants should never exist used on wet duct liner, to cover actively growing mold, or to cover debris in the ducts, and should only be applied subsequently cleaning co-ordinate to NADCA or other appropriate guidelines or standards.
To Larn More About Indoor Air Quality
U.S. Ecology Protection Agency
Office of Radiation and Indoor Air
Indoor Environments Division (6609J)
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20460
The post-obit EPA publications are available on this web site, some can be ordered from NSCEP. (meet also: Publications and Resources)
- The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality
- Indoor Air Pollution: An Introduction for Health Professionals
- Guide to Air Cleaners in the Dwelling
- Ozone Generators that are Sold as Air Cleaners
To Learn More Most Air Duct Cleaning
National Air Duct Cleaners Clan (NADCA)
1120 Route 73, Suite 200
Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054
Telephone: (855) Become-NADCA • (856) 380-6810
E-mail: info@nadca.com
Website: NADCA
Detect a NADCA professional duct cleaner near you.
North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA)
44 Culvert Center Plaza, Suite 310, Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: (703) 684-0084
Website: NAIMA
Website: NAIMA Member Company Listing
"Cleaning Fibrous Drinking glass Insulated Air Duct Systems; Recommended Practice", NAIMA Pub. No. AH122, twoscore pages (Cost is $7.l for a printed version, no complimentary copies bachelor.)
Other Useful Resource
For a free list of land consumer protection offices:
State Consumer Protection Offices
For more information on biocides:
Antimicrobial Information Hotline
Telephone: (703) 308-0127 / Fax: (703) 308-6467
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM EST
Email: Info_Antimicrobial@epa.gov
Website: Regulating Antimicrobial Pesticides
The Antimicrobials Information Hotline provides answers to questions apropos electric current antimicrobial bug (disinfectants, fungicides, others) regulated by the pesticide law, rules and regulations. These encompass interpretation laws, rules and regulations, and registration and re-registration of antimicrobial chemicals and products. The Hotline also provide information health & safe issues on registered antimicrobial products, production label and the proper and safe employ of these antimicrobial products.
Consumer Checklist
Larn every bit much as possible well-nigh air duct cleaning before you decide to take your ducts cleaned by reading this guidance and contacting the sources of information provided.
Consider other possible sources of indoor air pollution first if you suspect an indoor air quality problem exists in your dwelling house.
Accept your air ducts cleaned if they are visibly contaminated with substantial mold growth, pests or vermin, or are clogged with substantial deposits of grit or debris.
Ask the service provider to prove you any mold or other biological contagion they say exists. Get laboratory confirmation of mold growth or make up one's mind to rely on your own judgment and common sense in evaluating credible mold growth.
Get estimates from at least three service providers.
Check references.
Ask the service provider whether he/she holds any relevant state licenses. As of 1996, the following states require air duct cleaners to concur special licenses: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan and Texas. Other states may too require licenses.
Insist that the service provider give you knowledgeable and complete answers to your questions.
Find out whether your ducts are made of sheet metal, flex duct, or synthetic of fiber glass duct lath or lined with cobweb glass since the methods of cleaning vary depending on duct blazon. Recall, a combination of these elements may be present.
Allow the awarding of biocides in your ducts just if necessary to control mold growth and merely after assuring yourself that the product will be applied strictly according to label directions. Equally a precaution, you and your pets should leave the premises during application.
Exercise non let the use of sealants except nether unusual circumstances where other alternatives are not viable.
Commit to a preventive maintenance program of yearly inspections of your heating and cooling system, regular filter changes, and steps to prevent moisture contamination.
Source: https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/should-you-have-air-ducts-your-home-cleaned
Posted by: benderemenim.blogspot.com
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