Based on media advertising, homeowners wonder how best to invest their hard-earned energy dollar. In the last few years, duct cleaning received growing attention. However, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency guidelines, your energy dollar may be better spent elsewhere. Because every home is different, the practice you follow may not be the same as another’s. There’s no one-size, fits all when it comes to air duct cleaning.
Lisa E. Crosley, Lifestyle Comfort Solutions’ President, shares some general guidelines when deciding on periodic air-duct cleaning.
Are Your Duct Visibly Contaminated?
Remove the registers and take a look inside the ducts. Dust around registers is normal and easily removed by vacuuming so don’t use that as a guide. If you see substantial mold growth, evidence of considerable pest or vermin infestation, or are clogged with dust and debris you may benefit from air-duct cleaning.
Unusual Symptoms of Illness
According to the EPA, unless a family member suffers from allergies, asthma, or other breathing disorders, air-duct cleaning may yield limited benefits.Lifestyle Comfort Solutions suggests you discuss this with your doctor. According to the EPA, there is currently no firm evidence that air-duct cleaning improves health.
Construction Debris
Just move into a newly constructed home? Just perform major renovation to an existing structure? In these cases, air-duct cleaning may be in order. Small scale home repairs like painting, flooring installation, kitchen cabinet installation, are unlikely to generate sufficient dust to clog air ducts. Major renovations which actually change the footprint of your living space–like taking down and erecting new walls, for example–may make duct-cleaning at the conclusion of the project a good idea.
Filtration is Superior to Clean-out
Your mechanical system is outfitted with a filtration system which works continuously. Air blows through ducts, picking up mold, bacteria and viruses, and airborne pollutants. Dirty air reaching your mechanical system is filtered before again entering your living space. Investing in high quality air filtration devices may actually reduce indoor pollutants much more than the occasional air-duct cleaning would.
Like Ben Franklin observed, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
In some instances, poorly functioning duct cleaning systems may release more dust and dirt than if ducts were left alone.
Moreover, if air-duct insulation becomes wet or moldy, it must be replaced. No air-duct cleaning system can effectively clean it.
Experience Matters
Choose a qualified HVAC duct cleaning service provider. Duct cleaning services have damaged ducts, requiring costly repairs or replacement. Beware the side-effects of any proposed cleaning products or biocides. used in the duct cleaning process.
Qualified contractors will conform to air-duct cleaning standards set by organizations like the North America Insulation Manufacturers Association or NADCA, the National Air Duct Cleaners Association.
To learn more about creating a home which is comfortable, safe, healthy, and energy efficient, visit www.lifestylecomfortsolutions.com or call us at 937.202.4520.
Lifestyle Comfort Solutions is an award-winning, family-owned heating and cooling company serving Dayton and its surrounding communities: Kettering, Centerville/Washington Twp, Bellbrook/Sugarcreek Twp, Miamisburg/Miami Twp, Englewood, Huber Heights, Fairborn, and. Springboro/Clearcreek Twp.
