The ventilation grilles and ducts are clogged with dust and dirt, which is a clear indication that Duct Cleaning near South Fulton GA is needed. Probably a clear sign that the air ducts are dirty is the presence of a small cloud of dust when the HVAC system is started up. Knowledge about cleaning air ducts is in its early stages, so a general recommendation cannot be given as to whether you should clean the air ducts in your home. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) urges you to read this document in its entirety, as it provides important information on the subject. You may consider cleaning the air ducts simply because it seems logical that the air ducts would get dirty over time and should be cleaned from time to time. As long as the cleaning is done properly, there is no evidence to suggest that such cleaning is harmful.
The EPA does not recommend that air ducts be cleaned routinely, but only as needed. However, the EPA recommends that if you have a furnace, stove, or fireplace that burns fuel, you inspect them for proper operation and check them before each heating season to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning. In addition, the service provider may propose the application of chemical biocides, designed to eliminate microbiological contaminants, inside the ducts and in other components of the system. Some service providers may also suggest applying chemical treatments (sealants or other encapsulants) to encapsulate or cover the interior surfaces of air ducts and equipment housings, because they believe that this will control the formation of mold or prevent the release of dirt particles or fibers from the ducts.
These practices have not yet been thoroughly researched and you should be well informed before deciding to allow the use of biocides or chemical treatments in air ducts. If they are applied, they should only be applied after the system has been properly cleaned of all visible dust or dirt. On the other hand, if family members have unusual or unexplained symptoms or illnesses that you think could be related to your home environment, you should discuss the situation with your doctor. The EPA has published the following publications as guidance on how to identify potential indoor air quality problems and ways to prevent or address them.
On the other hand, if a service provider doesn't follow proper duct cleaning procedures, duct cleaning can cause indoor air problems. For example, an inadequate vacuum collection system can release more dust, dirt and other contaminants than if the ducts had been left in good condition. A careless or inadequately trained service provider can damage ducts or the heating and cooling system, which could increase heating and air conditioning costs or force you to perform difficult and costly repairs or replacements. The EPA does not recommend cleaning air ducts, except when necessary, because of ongoing uncertainty about the benefits of duct cleaning in most cases. However, the EPA recommends that if you have an oven, stove or fireplace that burns fuel, you inspect them for proper operation and that you check them before each heating season to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning.
Some research also suggests that cleaning dirty cooling coils, fans, and heat exchangers can improve the efficiency of heating systems and refrigeration. However, there is little evidence to indicate that simply cleaning the duct system will increase system efficiency. If you think duct cleaning might be a good idea for your home, but you're not sure, talk to a professional. The company that services your heating and cooling system can be a good source of advice.
You can also contact professional duct cleaning service providers and ask them about the services they provide. Remember that they are trying to sell you a service, so ask questions and insist on getting complete and well-informed answers. A thorough visual inspection is the best way to verify the cleanliness of your heating and cooling system. Some service providers use remote photography to document conditions inside pipelines. All parts of the system must be visibly clean; you should not be able to detect any debris with the naked eye.
Show the consumer checklist after cleaning to the service provider before work begins. After completing the work, ask the service provider to show you each component of your system to verify that the work was done in a satisfactory manner. Experts agree that there should be no moisture in the ducts and, if there is moisture and dirt, there is a possibility that biological contaminants can grow and be distributed throughout the house. Controlling humidity is the most effective way to prevent biological growth in all types of air ducts. Questions remain about the safety, efficacy, and overall convenience of sealants.
For example, little is known about the potential toxicity of these products under normal conditions of use or if they catch fire. In addition, sealants have not yet been evaluated for their resistance to deterioration over time, which could add particles to the air in the ducts. The ducts emit something like a dusty smell and sometimes look more like a burning smell. Some customers have told me that they can almost taste it on the tip of their tongue. 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.
Air duct cleaning professionals are also trained to detect other problems in an HVAC system that the average homeowner may not know how to detect. The easiest way to tell if air ducts need to be cleaned is for irregular airflow in the bedroom, bathroom, living room, and even the kitchen. Whether or not you decide to clean your home's air ducts, it's essential to commit to a good preventive maintenance program to minimize duct contamination. You may consider cleaning the air ducts simply because it seems logical that the air ducts will get dirty over time and, from time to time, need to be cleaned.
However, many modern residential air duct systems are built with fiberglass or sheet metal ducts lined inside with a fiberglass coating. However, most have the common question: how do you know if air ducts need to be cleaned? Well, there you have it. Air duct cleaning service providers can tell you that they must apply a chemical biocide inside the ducts to kill bacteria (germs) and fungi (mold) and prevent future biological growth. Cases where it may be appropriate to use sealants to encapsulate duct surfaces include repairing damaged fiberglass insulation or combating damage caused by a fire in ducts. Air duct cleaning service providers may tell you that they must apply a chemical biocide inside the ducts to kill bacteria (germs) and fungi (mold) and prevent future biological growth.
Regardless of whether you decide to clean your home's air ducts or not, preventing water and dirt from entering the system is the most effective way to prevent pollution (see How to Prevent Duct Contamination).).
