When it comes to keeping your home's air ducts clean, it's important to hire the right people for the job. Before you make a decision, it's essential to ask yourself some questions and commit to a good preventive maintenance program. Air duct cleaning service providers may suggest applying a chemical biocide to the inside of the ducts to kill bacteria and fungi and prevent future biological growth. However, there is little evidence that cleaning the duct system increases its efficiency.
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, changing filters regularly, and inspecting heating equipment annually. 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. 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, believing this will control mold growth or prevent the release of dirt particles or fibers from the ducts. Sealants should never be used on the wet lining of ducts, to cover actively growing mold, or to cover duct debris, and should only be applied after cleaning in accordance with NADCA guidelines or regulations or other appropriate guidelines or regulations.
If you're unsure whether or not you should clean your home's air ducts, it's best to consult a professional. An accredited air duct cleaning company will have liability insurance and will be happy to provide you with evidence. Unfortunately, air duct cleaning has been associated with bait and exchange scams and other unreliable pricing practices that put consumers on their guard. However, these air conditioning systems have a network of air ducts that require regular cleaning to maintain indoor air quality and energy efficiency.
An accredited company should clean the boiler and air conditioner, as well as the supply and return air ducts. Since the conditions in every home are different, it's impossible to generalize about whether cleaning your home's air ducts would be beneficial or not.
