Who Makes More Profit Texas Or Utah Cleaning Company
EPA 402-K-97-002, Oct 1997
On this page:
- Summary
- What Is Air Duct Cleaning?
- Deciding Whether or Not to Accept Your Air Ducts Cleaned
- Suggestions for Choosing a Duct Cleaning Service Provider
- What to Expect of an Air Duct Cleaning Service Provider
- How to Determine if the Duct Cleaner Did a Thorough Chore
- How to Prevent Duct Contamination
- To Prevent Dirt from Entering the Organisation
- To Prevent Ducts from Becoming Wet
- Unresolved Bug of Duct Cleaning
- Does duct cleaning prevent health problems?
- Are duct materials other than bare sheet metallic ducts more likely to be contaminated with mold and other biological contaminants?
- Should chemic biocides be applied to the inside of air ducts?
- Do sealants foreclose the release of dust and dirt particles into the air?
- To Acquire More About Indoor Air Quality
- To Learn More Near Air Duct Cleaning
- Other Useful Resources
- Consumer Checklist
Summary
Knowledge nigh air duct cleaning is in its early on stages, so a coating recommendation cannot be offered equally to whether you should accept your air ducts in your home cleaned. The U.Due south. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) urges you to read this document in it entirety as it provides important information on the subject.
Duct cleaning has never been shown to really prevent health problems. Neither do studies conclusively demonstrate that particle (e.g., dust) levels in homes increase because of dirty air ducts. This is because much of the dirt in air ducts adheres to duct surfaces and does non necessarily enter the living infinite. It is of import to proceed in mind that dirty air ducts are only one of many possible sources of particles that are nowadays in homes. Pollutants that enter the habitation both from outdoors and indoor activities such as cooking, cleaning, smoking, or only moving around tin can cause greater exposure to contaminants than dirty air ducts. Moreover, there is no evidence that a light amount of household grit or other particulate thing in air ducts poses whatever risk to your wellness.
Y'all should consider having the air ducts in your home cleaned if:
At that place is substantial visible mold growth inside difficult surface (e.g., sail metallic) ducts or on other components of your heating and cooling system. There are several important points to understand 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 you any mold they say exists.
- You should be enlightened that although a substance may expect similar mold, a positive determination of whether information technology is mold or not tin be made only by an expert and may require laboratory analysis for final confirmation. For nearly $l, some microbiology laboratories tin tell y'all whether a sample sent to them on a clear strip of gummy household record is mold or merely a substance that resembles information technology.
- If you have 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 non corrected, mold growth will recur.
Ducts are infested with vermin, east.g. (rodents or insects).
Ducts are clogged with excessive amounts of dust and debris and/or particles are really released into the home from your supply registers.
If any of the atmospheric condition identified higher up exists, information technology usually suggests ane or more underlying causes. Prior to any cleaning, retrofitting, or replacing of your ducts, the cause or causes must be corrected or else the problem will likely recur.
Some inquiry suggests that cleaning heating and cooling organisation components (eastward.g., cooling coils, fans and oestrus exchangers) may improve the efficiency of your system, resulting in a longer operating life, as well equally some energy and maintenance cost savings. Yet, little evidence exists that cleaning just the ducts will improve the efficiency of the arrangement.
Yous may consider having your air ducts cleaned merely because information technology seems logical that air ducts will get dingy over time and should exist occasionally cleaned. Provided that the cleaning is done properly, no bear witness suggests that such cleaning would exist detrimental. EPA does not recommend that the air ducts be cleaned routinely, but only as needed. EPA does, however, recommend that if you accept a fuel burning furnace, stove or fireplace, they be inspected for proper performance and serviced before each heating season to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning.
If y'all do make up one's mind to take your air ducts cleaned, take the same consumer precautions you normally would in assessing the service provider's competence and reliability.
Air duct cleaning service providers may tell you lot that they need to utilize chemic biocide to the inside of your ducts as a means to impale leaner (germs) and fungi (mold) and prevent futurity biological growth. They may as well suggest the awarding of a "sealant" to prevent dust and dirt particles from being released into the air or to seal air leaks. You should fully understand the pros and cons of permitting application of chemical biocides or sealants. While the targeted use of chemical biocides and sealants may exist appropriate under specific circumstances, inquiry has not demonstrated their effectiveness in duct cleaning or their potential adverse health effects. No chemical biocides are currently registered past EPA for use in internally-insulated air duct systems (encounter Should chemical biocides exist applied to the inside of air ducts?).
Whether or not you decide to have the air ducts in your home cleaned, preventing water and clay from entering the organization is the most effective mode to forbid contamination (see How to Prevent Duct Contagion).
What is Air Duct Cleaning?
Most people are at present 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 straight by a company offer to make clean your air ducts as a means of improving your dwelling's indoor air quality. These services typically — but not e'er — range in cost from $450 to $ane,000 per heating and cooling organisation, depending on:
the services offered
- the size of the system to exist cleaned
- system accessibility
- climatic region
- level of contamination
If y'all make up one's mind to have your heating and cooling system cleaned, information technology important to brand sure the service provider agrees to make clean all components of the organisation and is qualified to practise so.
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 (baste pans), fan motor and fan housing, and the air treatment unit housing (Encounter 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 crusade allergic reactions or other symptoms in people if they are exposed to them. If you lot decide to accept your heating and cooling organisation cleaned, information technology is important to make sure the service provider agrees to make clean all components of the system and is qualified to practice so. Failure to clean a component of a contaminated arrangement can result in re-contagion of the entire organization, thus negating any potential benefits. Methods of duct cleaning vary, although standards accept been established by industry associations concerned with air duct cleaning. Typically, a service provider will utilise specialized tools to dislodge dirt and other debris in ducts, then vacuum them out with a loftier-powered vacuum cleaner.
In improver, the service provider may advise applying chemical biocides, designed to impale microbiological contaminants, to the within of the duct work and to other system components. Some service providers may besides suggest applying chemic treatments (sealants or other encapsulants) to encapsulate or cover the within surfaces of the air ducts and equipment housings considering they believe information technology volition control mold growth or preclude the release of dirt particles or fibers from ducts. These practices have yet to be fully researched and you lot should be fully informed earlier deciding to permit the use of biocides or chemical treatments in your air ducts. They should just be applied, if at all, after the system has been properly cleaned of all visible dust or debris.
Note: Use of sealants to encapsulate the inside surfaces of ducts is a dissimilar practice than sealing duct air leaks. Sealing duct air leaks can help save free energy on heating and cooling bills. For more data, see EPA's Energy Star website.
Deciding Whether or Not to Take Your Air Ducts Cleaned
Knowledge about the potential benefits and possible problems of air duct cleaning is express. Since atmospheric condition in every home are different, information technology is impossible to generalize about whether or not air duct cleaning in your domicile would be beneficial.
If no one in your household suffers from allergies or unexplained symptoms or illnesses and if, after a visual inspection of the within 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 equally grit-laden air is pulled through the grate. This does not bespeak 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 hand, if family members are experiencing unusual or unexplained symptoms or illnesses that you lot think might be related to your dwelling environment, you should discuss the situation with your doctor. EPA has published the post-obit publications for guidance on identifying possible indoor air quality problems and ways to prevent or fix them.
- Indoor Air Quality: An Introduction for Health Professionals
- The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality
You may consider having your air ducts cleaned only considering information technology seems logical that air ducts will get dirty over time and should occasionally be cleaned. While the debate about the value of periodic duct cleaning continues, no evidence suggests that such cleaning would be detrimental, provided that information technology is washed properly.
On the other hand, 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 tin can release more dust, dirt and other contaminants than if you had left the ducts alone. A careless or inadequately trained service provider can damage your ducts or heating and cooling system, possibly increasing your heating and air workout costs or forcing you to undertake difficult and costly repairs or replacements.
You should consider having the air ducts in your home cleaned if:
At that place is substantial visible mold growth inside hard surface (e.g., sheet metallic) ducts or on other components of your heating and cooling system. There are several of import points to empathise concerning mold detection in heating and cooling systems:
- Many sections of your heating and cooling system may not be attainable for a visible inspection, and then ask the service provider to show you whatever mold they say exists.
- You should be aware that although a substance may look like mold, a positive determination of whether it is mold or non tin be made simply by an proficient and may require laboratory analysis for final confirmation. For about $50, some microbiology laboratories can tell you whether a sample sent to them on a clear strip of sticky household tape is mold or simply a substance that resembles it.
- If you accept insulated air ducts and the insulation gets wet or moldy it cannot exist effectively cleaned and should be removed and replaced.
- If the atmospheric condition causing the mold growth in the showtime identify are non corrected, mold growth volition recur.
Ducts are infested with vermin, east.g. (rodents or insects)
Ducts are chock-full with excessive amounts of grit and debris and/or particles are actually released into the domicile from your supply registers.
Other Important Considerations
Duct cleaning has never been shown to actually prevent health problems. Neither practice studies conclusively demonstrate that particle (east.g., dust) levels in homes increase considering of dingy air ducts or become downwardly afterwards cleaning. This is because much of the clay that may accrue inside air ducts adheres to duct surfaces and does non necessarily enter the living space. Information technology is important to keep in listen that dirty air ducts are only one of many possible sources of particles that are present in homes. Pollutants that enter the abode both from outdoors and indoor activities such as cooking, cleaning, smoking, or just moving effectually can crusade greater exposure to contaminants than dirty air ducts. Moreover, there is no evidence that a low-cal amount of household dust or other particulate matter in air ducts poses any risk to health.
EPA does not recommend that air ducts be cleaned except on an as-needed basis because of the standing uncertainty well-nigh the benefits of duct cleaning under most circumstances. EPA does, however, recommend that if you have a fuel called-for furnace, stove, or fireplace, they exist inspected for proper functioning and serviced earlier each heating season to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning. Some research too suggests that cleaning dirty cooling coils, fans and estrus exchangers can improve the efficiency of heating and cooling systems. However, trivial evidence exists to indicate that only cleaning the duct system will increase your arrangement's efficiency.
If you think duct cleaning might exist a expert idea for your dwelling, simply y'all are not certain, talk to a professional. The company that services your heating and cooling organization may be a good source of advice. You may also want to contact professional duct cleaning service providers and enquire them most the services they provide. Remember, they are trying to sell yous a service, so ask questions and insist on consummate and knowledgeable answers.
Suggestions for Choosing a Duct Cleaning Service Provider
To discover companies that provide duct cleaning services, check your Yellowish Pages nether "duct cleaning" or contact the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) at the accost and phone number in the data department located at the terminate of this guidance. Do not assume that all duct cleaning service providers are equally knowledgeable and responsible. Talk to at to the lowest degree 3 different service providers and get written estimates earlier deciding whether to accept your ducts cleaned. When the service providers come to your abode, ask them to prove y'all the contagion that would justify having your ducts cleaned.
Practice not rent duct cleaners who make sweeping claims almost the health benefits of duct cleaning — such claims are unsubstantiated. Practice not hire duct cleaners who recommend duct cleaning equally a routine part of your heating and cooling organization maintenance. You should also be wary of duct cleaners who claim to be certified by EPA. Notation: EPA neither establishes duct cleaning standards nor certifies, endorses, or approves duct cleaning companies.
Do not allow the use of chemical biocides or chemical treatments unless you fully empathise the pros and the cons (See "Unresolved Issues of Duct Cleaning).
Check references to be certain other customers were satisfied and did non experience whatever issues with their heating and cooling system after cleaning.
Contact your county or city office of consumer affairs or local Better Business Bureau to determine if complaints have been lodged against whatever of the companies you are considering.
Interview potential service providers to ensure:
- they are experienced in duct cleaning and accept worked on systems like yours;
- they will employ procedures to protect you, your pets and your dwelling house from contamination; and
- they comply with NADCA's air duct cleaning standards and, if your ducts are synthetic of cobweb glass duct board or insulated internally with fiber drinking glass duct liner, with the Northward American Insulation Manufacturers Association'southward (NAIMA) recommendations.
Ask the service provider whether they hold any relevant country licenses. Every bit of 1996, the post-obit states crave air duct cleaners to hold special licenses: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan and Texas. Other states may require them also.
If the service provider charges by the hour, request an estimate of the number of hours or days the job will have, and notice out whether there will exist interruptions in the work. Brand sure the duct cleaner you lot choose will provide a written understanding outlining the total cost and scope of the task earlier piece of work begins.
What to Await From an Air Duct Cleaning Service Provider
If you cull to have your ducts cleaned, the service provider should:
Open access ports or doors to allow the unabridged system to be cleaned and inspected.
Inspect the organisation earlier cleaning to be sure that there 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.
Apply vacuum equipment that exhausts particles outside of the dwelling house or use only loftier-efficiency particle air (HEPA) vacuuming equipment if the vacuum exhausts inside the domicile.
Protect carpet and household furnishings during cleaning.
Use 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 board and canvas metallic ducts internally lined with fiberglass. (Although flex duct tin also be cleaned using soft-bristled brushes, it can exist more than economical to only supersede accessible flex duct.)
Take care to protect the duct work, including sealing and re-insulating any access holes the service provider may have made or used and so they are airtight.
Follow NADCA's standards for air duct cleaning and NAIMA'due south recommended practice for ducts containing fiber glass lining or constructed of fiber glass duct board.
How to Determine if the Duct Cleaner Did A Thorough Job
A thorough visual inspection is the best style to verify the cleanliness of your heating and cooling system. Some service providers employ remote photography to document conditions inside ducts. All portions of the organization should be visibly clean; y'all should not be able to detect whatsoever debris with the naked eye. Show the Post-Cleaning Consumer Checklist to the service provider before the work begins. After completing the chore, ask the service provider to show you each component of your organization to verify that the job was performed satisfactorily.
If you answer "No" to any of the questions on the checklist, this may indicate a problem with the job. Ask your service provider to correct any deficiencies until you can respond "yes" to all the questions on the checklist.
| Post Cleaning Consumer Checklist | Yep | No | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full general | Did the service provider obtain access to and clean the unabridged heating and cooling system, including ductwork and all components (bleed pans, humidifiers, coils and fans)? | ||
| Has the service provider adequately demonstrated that duct work and plenums are make clean? (Plenum is a space in which supply or return air is mixed or moves; tin be duct, joist space, attic and crawl spaces, or wall crenel.) | |||
| Heating | Is the estrus exchanger surface visibly clean? | ||
| Cooling Components | Are both sides of the cooling gyre visibly clean? | ||
| If y'all bespeak a flashlight into the cooling roll, does lite smoothen through the other side? It should if the curl is clean. | |||
| Are the ringlet fins straight and evenly spaced (as opposed to being aptitude over and smashed together)? | |||
| Is the ringlet drain pan completely clean and draining properly? | |||
| Blower | Are the blower blades clean and costless of oil and droppings? | ||
| Is the blower compartment free of visible dust or debris? | |||
| Plenums | Is the return air plenum costless of visible dust or debris? | ||
| Do filters fit properly and are they the proper efficiency as recommended past HVAC system manufacturer? | |||
| Is the supply air plenum (straight downstream of the air handling unit of measurement) free of moisture stains and contaminants? | |||
| Metallic Ducts | Are interior ductwork surfaces costless of visible debris? (Select several sites at random in both the return and supply sides of the system.) | ||
| Cobweb Glass | Is all fiber glass material in good condition (i.eastward., gratuitous of tears and abrasions; well adhered to underlying materials)? | ||
| Admission Doors | Are newly installed access doors in sheet metal ducts attached with more but duct tape (e.k., screws, rivets, mastic, etc.)? | ||
| With the system running, is air leakage through access doors or covers very slight or non-existent? | |||
| Air Vents | Have all registers, grilles and diffusers been firmly reattached to the walls, floors and/or ceilings? | ||
| Are the registers, grilles and diffusers visibly clean? | |||
| Organisation Operation | Does the system office properly in both the heating and cooling modes afterward cleaning? | ||
How to Prevent Duct Contamination
Whether or not you lot make up one's mind to have the air ducts in your abode cleaned, committing to a proficient preventive maintenance programme is essential to minimize duct contamination.
To foreclose dirt from entering the system:
Use the highest efficiency air filter recommended past the manufacturer of your heating and cooling system.
Change filters regularly.
If your filters become clogged, change them more than frequently.
Be sure yous do not have whatsoever missing filters and that air cannot featherbed filters through gaps around the filter holder.
When having your heating and cooling system maintained or checked for other reasons, exist sure to ask the service provider to clean cooling coils and drain pans.
During construction or renovation piece of work that produces dust in your home, seal off supply and return registers and exercise not operate the heating and cooling system until subsequently cleaning up the dust.
Remove grit and vacuum your home regularly. (Use a high efficiency vacuum (HEPA) cleaner or the highest efficiency filter numberless your vacuum cleaner can take. Vacuuming tin can increase the amount of dust in the air during and subsequently vacuuming likewise equally in your ducts).
If your heating arrangement includes in-duct humidification equipment, be sure to operate and maintain the humidifier strictly as recommended by the manufacturer.
Whether of not you decide to accept the air ducts in your dwelling cleaned, committing to a good preventive maintenance program is essential to minimize duct contagion.
To prevent ducts from becoming wet:
Wet should not exist present in ducts. Controlling wet is the most constructive way to prevent biological growth in air ducts.
Moisture 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 betoken temperature of the surrounding air) on or nearly cooling coils of air conditioning units is a major factor in wet contagion 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 be difficult, but hither are some steps you tin can take:
Promptly and properly repair any leaks or h2o damage.
Pay particular attention to cooling coils, which are designed to remove h2o from the air and can be a major source of moisture contamination of the system that tin atomic number 82 to mold growth. Make certain the condensate pan drains properly. The presence of substantial continuing water and/or debris indicates a problem requiring immediate attention. Check whatever insulation near cooling coils for wet spots.
Make sure ducts are properly sealed and insulated in all non-air-conditioned spaces (e.yard., attics and crawl spaces). This will help to foreclose moisture due to condensation from entering the arrangement and is of import to make the system work equally intended. To prevent h2o condensation, the heating and cooling system must be properly insulated.
If y'all are replacing your air workout system, make sure that the unit is the proper size for your needs and that all ducts are sealed at the joints. A unit that is too big will bicycle on and off oftentimes, resulting in poor wet removal, particularly in areas with high humidity. Likewise make sure that your new system is designed to manage condensation effectively.
Unresolved Issues of Duct Cleaning
Does duct cleaning prevent health issues?
The bottom line is: no ane knows. There are examples of ducts that take go desperately contaminated with a diversity of materials that may pose risks to your health. The duct system can serve as a ways to distribute these contaminants throughout a home. In these cases, duct cleaning may brand sense. Nonetheless, a low-cal amount of household dust in your air ducts is normal. Duct cleaning is not considered to exist a necessary part of yearly maintenance of your heating and cooling organization, which consists of regular cleaning of bleed pans and heating and cooling coils, regular filter changes and yearly inspections of heating equipment. Research continues in an endeavor to evaluate the potential benefits of air duct cleaning.
In the meantime
Educate yourself about duct cleaning by contacting some or all of the sources of information listed at the terminate of this publication and asking questions of potential service providers.
Are duct materials other than blank sail metal ducts more probable to be contaminated with mold and other biological contaminants?
Yous may be familiar with air ducts that are constructed of canvass metal. However, many modern residential air duct systems are constructed of fiber glass duct board or sheet metal ducts that are lined on the inside with cobweb drinking glass duct liner. Since the early 1970's, a pregnant increase in the use of flexible duct, which generally is internally lined with plastic or some other blazon of material, has occurred.
The apply of insulated duct material has increased due:
- to improved temperature control
- energy conservation
- reduced condensation
Internal insulation provides better acoustical (racket) command. Flexible duct is very depression cost. These products are engineered specifically for use in ducts or every bit ducts themselves, and are tested in accordance with standards established past Underwriters Laboratories (UL), the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Many insulated duct systems have operated for years without supporting significant mold growth. Keeping them reasonably clean and dry is generally adequate. Withal, at that place is substantial fence about whether porous insulation materials (e.one thousand., fiber glass) are more than prone to microbial contamination than blank sheet metal ducts. If enough clay and moisture are permitted to enter the duct system, there may be no pregnant difference in the rate or extent of microbial growth in internally lined or bare sheet metal ducts. Even so, handling of mold contagion on blank canvas metal is much easier. Cleaning and treatment with an EPA-registered biocide are possible. In one case fiberglass duct liner is contaminated with mold, cleaning is not sufficient to foreclose re-growth and in that location 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 drinking glass duct cloth.
In the meantime
Experts do hold that moisture should not be present in ducts and if moisture and clay are present, the potential exists for biological contaminants to grow and be distributed throughout the home. Controlling moisture is the most effective way to forestall biological growth in all types of air ducts.
Correct whatsoever water leaks or standing h2o.
Remove standing water under cooling coils of air treatment units past making sure that drain pans slope toward the bleed.
If humidifiers are used, they must be properly maintained.
Air handling units should be synthetic so that maintenance personnel have easy, direct access to heat exchange components and bleed pans for proper cleaning and maintenance.
Fiber glass, or whatsoever other insulation material that is wet or visibly moldy (or if an unacceptable odour is present) should be removed and replaced by a qualified heating and cooling system contractor.
Steam cleaning and other methods involving moisture should not be used on any kind of duct work.
Should chemical biocides be applied to the inside of air ducts?
Air duct cleaning service providers may tell y'all that they need to utilise a chemical biocide to the within of your ducts to impale leaner (germs) and fungi (mold), and prevent future biological growth. Some duct cleaning service providers may suggest to innovate ozone to impale biological contaminants. Ozone is a highly reactive gas that is regulated in the outside air as a lung irritant. All the same, at that place remains considerable controversy over the necessity and wisdom of introducing chemical biocides or ozone into the duct work.
Among the possible problems with biocide and ozone awarding in air ducts:
- Fiddling enquiry has been conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of most biocides and ozone when used within ducts. Simply spraying or otherwise introducing these materials into the operating duct system may cause much of the material 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 agin health reactions.
Chemical biocides are regulated by EPA under Federal pesticide law. A production must be registered past EPA for a specific use earlier it can be legally used for that purpose. The specific use(s) must announced on the pesticide (e.m., biocide) label, along with other important information. It is a violation of federal constabulary to use a pesticide product in any way inconsistent with the label directions.
A minor number of products are currently registered by EPA specifically for use on the inside of bare sheet metallic air ducts. A number of products are besides registered for use as sanitizers on hard surfaces, which could include the interior of bare sheet metal ducts. While many such products may exist used legally within of unlined ducts if all characterization directions are followed, some of the directions on the label may be inappropriate for use in ducts. For example, if the directions indicate "rinse with h2o", the added wet could stimulate mold growth.
All of the products discussed to a higher place are registered solely for the purpose of sanitizing the polish surfaces of unlined (bare) canvas metal ducts. No products are currently registered equally biocides for apply on fiber glass duct board or fiber drinking glass lined ducts, and then it is important to determine if sections of your organization contain these materials earlier permitting the application of any biocide.
In the meantime
Before allowing a service provider to use a chemical biocide in your duct work, the service provider should:
Demonstrate visible evidence of microbial growth in your duct work. Some service providers may attempt to convince you lot that your air ducts are contaminated past 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 present in the air, and some growth on a settling plate is normal. As noted before, only an expert tin positively place a substance as biological growth and lab assay may be required for final confirmation. Other testing methods are non reliable.
Explicate why biological growth cannot exist removed past physical means, such as brushing, and further growth prevented by controlling moisture.
If you decide to let the employ of a biocide, the service provider should:
Show you the biocide label, which will describe its range of canonical uses.
Utilize the biocide but to un-insulated areas of the duct organization after proper cleaning, if necessary to reduce the chances for re-growth of mold.
Ever utilize the production strictly according to its label instructions.
While some low toxicity products may be legally applied while occupants of the habitation are nowadays, you may wish to consider leaving the premises while the biocide is being applied every bit an added precaution.
Do sealants foreclose the release of grit and dirt particles into the air?
Manufacturers of products marketed to glaze and encapsulate duct surfaces claim that these sealants prevent dust and clay particles within air ducts from being released into the air. As with biocides, a sealant is frequently applied by spraying it into the operating duct system. Laboratory tests betoken that materials introduced in this manner tend not to completely coat the duct surface. Application of sealants may also affect the acoustical (noise) and fire retarding characteristics of cobweb glass lined or constructed ducts and may invalidate the manufacturer's warranty.
Questions virtually the safety, effectiveness and overall desirability of sealants remain. For example, little is known about the potential toxicity of these products under typical use conditions or in the outcome they catch fire.
In addition, sealants have however to be evaluated for their resistance to deterioration over fourth dimension which could add together particles to the duct air.
In the meantime
Nearly organizations concerned with duct cleaning, including EPA, NADCA, NAIMA and the Canvas Metal and Ac Contractors' National Association (SMACNA) do not currently recommend the routine use of sealants to encapsulate contaminants in any blazon of duct. Instances when the apply of sealants to encapsulate the duct surfaces may be advisable include the repair of damaged fiber glass insulation or when combating fire damage within ducts. Sealants should never be used on wet duct liner, to cover actively growing mold, or to cover debris in the ducts, and should only exist applied after cleaning according to NADCA or other appropriate guidelines or standards.
To Learn More than Well-nigh Indoor Air Quality
U.South. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Radiation and Indoor Air
Indoor Environments Division (6609J)
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, Due north.W.
Washington, DC 20460
The following EPA publications are available on this spider web site, some can exist ordered from NSCEP. (see also: Publications and Resource)
- The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality
- Indoor Air Pollution: An Introduction for Health Professionals
- Air Cleaners and Air Filters in the Home
- Ozone Generators that are Sold equally Air Cleaners
To Learn More About Air Duct Cleaning
National Air Duct Cleaners Clan (NADCA)
1120 Route 73, Suite 200
Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054
Phone: (855) GO-NADCA • (856) 380-6810
Electronic mail: info@nadca.com
Website: NADCA
Find a NADCA professional duct cleaner most you.
Due north American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA)
44 Canal Heart Plaza, Suite 310, Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: (703) 684-0084
Website: NAIMA
Website: NAIMA Member Visitor List
"Cleaning Fibrous Drinking glass Insulated Air Duct Systems; Recommended Practice", NAIMA Pub. No. AH122, forty pages (Cost is $vii.50 for a printed version, no gratuitous copies available.)
Other Useful Resources
For a free list of state consumer protection offices:
Land Consumer Protection Offices
For more information on biocides:
Antimicrobial Information Hotline
Phone: (703) 308-0127 / Fax: (703) 308-6467
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM EST
E-mail: Info_Antimicrobial@epa.gov
Website: Regulating Antimicrobial Pesticides
The Antimicrobials Information Hotline provides answers to questions apropos current antimicrobial issues (disinfectants, fungicides, others) regulated past the pesticide police force, rules and regulations. These cover estimation laws, rules and regulations, and registration and re-registration of antimicrobial chemicals and products. The Hotline likewise provide information wellness & safety issues on registered antimicrobial products, production label and the proper and rubber employ of these antimicrobial products.
Consumer Checklist
Learn as much as possible near air duct cleaning before you decide to take your ducts cleaned past reading this guidance and contacting the sources of information provided.
Consider other possible sources of indoor air pollution first if you doubtable an indoor air quality trouble exists in your home.
Have your air ducts cleaned if they are visibly contaminated with substantial mold growth, pests or vermin, or are clogged with substantial deposits of dust or droppings.
Inquire the service provider to bear witness you any mold or other biological contagion they say exists. Get laboratory confirmation of mold growth or decide to rely on your own judgment and common sense in evaluating apparent mold growth.
Get estimates from at least three service providers.
Bank 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 agree special licenses: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan and Texas. Other states may too require licenses.
Insist that the service provider give y'all knowledgeable and complete answers to your questions.
Notice out whether your ducts are made of canvas metal, flex duct, or constructed of fiber glass duct lath or lined with fiber drinking glass since the methods of cleaning vary depending on duct type. Retrieve, a combination of these elements may be present.
Permit the application of biocides in your ducts only if necessary to control mold growth and only afterwards assuring yourself that the product will be applied strictly according to label directions. As a precaution, you and your pets should leave the bounds during application.
Do non let the apply of sealants except under unusual circumstances where other alternatives are not feasible.
Commit to a preventive maintenance plan of yearly inspections of your heating and cooling system, regular filter changes, and steps to preclude moisture contamination.
Source: https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/should-you-have-air-ducts-your-home-cleaned
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