Like any other air conditioning system, air ducts require regular maintenance to ensure maximum efficiency. As a general rule, the National Association of Air Duct Cleaners (NADCA) recommends cleaning air ducts every 3 to 5 years. However, in some environments, the need for professional duct cleaning services is more immediate. Food manufacturers, for example, require quarterly, biannual, and annual cleaning due to the food particles they introduce into their systems, leading to mold and pest problems.
The same is true for manufacturing operations that create risks of combustible dust. But how often should you really have your air ducts professionally cleaned? It depends on several factors. Location, climate, and HVAC use all affect air duct cleaning frequency programs. Other problems, such as mold and diseases, can also be a sign that ducts need cleaning.
You may also want to consider cleaning your air ducts simply because it seems logical that the air ducts will get dirty over time and should be cleaned from time to time. As long as cleaning is done properly, there is no evidence to suggest that such cleaning is harmful. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does not recommend that air ducts be cleaned routinely, but only when necessary. However, the EPA does recommend that if you have a furnace, stove, or fireplace that burns fuel, they be inspected for proper functioning and maintained before each heating season to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning. If sufficient dirt and moisture are allowed to enter the duct system, there may be no significant difference in the rate or degree of microbial growth in bare sheet or internally lined ducts. If you decide to clean your heating and cooling system, it's important to make sure that the service provider agrees to clean all components of the system and is qualified to do so. Hospitals also need air duct cleaning services much more regularly because they are concerned about any type of particulate matter that could pose a risk to patients.
In fact, regular duct cleaning can cause dust to accumulate and increase levels of particulate matter inside the house more than they would have been if you had lived with lightly dirty ducts. Manufacturers of products marketed to coat and encapsulate duct surfaces claim that these sealants prevent dust and dirt particles inside air ducts from being released into the air. You might consider cleaning your air ducts simply because it seems logical that the air ducts will get dirty over time and should be cleaned from time to time. Just as regular oil changes are important for the efficiency and safety of your vehicle's operation, cleaning the air ducts is crucial for the proper functioning of your air conditioning system. Duct cleaning is not considered a necessary part of the annual maintenance of your heating and cooling system, which consists of regularly cleaning drain pans and heating and cooling coils, regular filter changes, and annual inspections of heating equipment. While dirt, dust, hair, and other debris can accumulate inside these ducts, this doesn't mean you should clean them regularly. This is because much of the dirt in the air ducts adheres to the surfaces of the ducts and does not necessarily enter the living space. Proper air duct cleaning not only improves indoor air quality (IAQ), but also improves employee efficiency, increases employee retention, helps ensure a safe work environment, and reduces equipment maintenance costs.
Whether you decide to clean your home's air ducts or not, it's essential to commit to a good preventive maintenance program to minimize duct contamination. 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 because they believe they will control mold growth or prevent the release of dirt particles or fibers from the ducts.
