There are health benefits for all residents from regularly cleaning the Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning (VAC) System.
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems collect mold, fungi, bacteria and a variety of contaminants that reduce the quality of the air residents and visitors breathe. A dirty air duct contributes to poor indoor air quality and affects the health of people in the residence.
The purpose of residential air duct cleaning is to remove these contaminants from a home’s HVAC system to get the best indoor air quality.
The most effective way to clean an air duct and/or ventilation system
is to use a specialized, powerful vacuum which puts the air duct / ventilation system under negative pressure. While the vacuum draws air through the system, devices are inserted into the ducts to dislodge contaminants and debris from the interior surfaces, moving the contaminants/debris from the home’s air ducts and ventilation systems into the vacuum.
Vacuum collection alone does not clean the HVAC system.
Brushes, air whips, “skipper balls” and other tools that agitate contaminants and debris scrub the surfaces within the air duct system and propels contaminants and debris into the vacuum collection device(s).
Anti-microbial chemical sanitizers are applied to the interior surface of the air ducts to control microbial contamination…but…before sanitizers are used, the system should be thoroughly cleaned. All anti-microbial chemicals used must be EPA registered for use in HVAC systems. Ask to see the chemical’s Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). If you are still concerned, call the EPA at 1-800-438-4318. There are no EPA registered anti-microbial products for use on porous system surfaces – such as fiberglass surfaces.
When sanitizing air ducts you want to make sure the air duct cleaning company uses safe; effective EPA approved products that are safe for people, pets, and the environment. An atomizer fogs the sanitizing product throughout the entire ventilation system.
Allergic people, infants and elderly are especially sensitive
to the microbes that cause respiratory problems like bacteria, mildew, fungi algae and dust mites which require a highly-effective sanitizer to eliminate odor-causing microorganisms as well contaminants associated with allergies, mildew and bacterial growth. Make sure the sanitizer is rated by the EPA as a category IV product with the lowest toxicity rating. Sanitizing air ducts means toxicity and safety safeguards that establish and ensure there are no harmful dermal (skin), ocular (eyes), inhalation (breathing) or ingestion (swallowing) effects from the products.
There are two popular types of vacuum collection systems
those mounted on trucks and trailers versus portable units. Truck/trailer mounted equipment is generally more powerful than portable equipment. By contrast, portable equipment often can be brought directly into a facility, locating the vacuum closer to the ductwork. Both types of equipment clean to air duct industry standards. Vacuum units should be attached to a collection device for safe containment prior to disposal. A vacuum collection device which exhausts indoors must be HEPA (high efficiency particulate arrestance) filtered.
The frequency of air duct (HVAC) cleaning depends on several factors:
- before occupying a new home.
- afterhome renovations or remodeling.
- number of smokers in the household.
- Pets that shed hair and dander.
- Water contamination or damage to the home or HVAC system.
- Residents with allergies or asthma benefit from better indoor air quality.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency says that “duct cleaning services” typically range in cost from $450 to $1000 per heating and cooling system, depending on the services offered, the size of the system to be cleaned, system accessibility, climatic region, level of contamination” and type of duct material.
Consumers should beware of air duct cleaning companies making sweeping claims about the health benefits of duct cleaning – such claims are unsubstantiated.
Consumers should also beware of “blow-and-go” air duct cleaning
companies that charge low fees and do a poor job of cleaning the heating and cooling system. These companies also try to persuade consumers into unneeded services or provide service without the consumer’s permission. Contact the Better Business Bureau and local, federal, and state elected officials to report the company.
Interview at least 3 local air duct and VAC Erhvervsrengøring contractors and to perform a free system inspection and to provide a price to clean the VAC system.
Narrow your list of potential contractors:
o Make sure the company is a member in good standing of the National Air Duct Cleaners Association .
Verify that the company is certified by NADCA to perform HVAC system cleaning.
Ask how long the company has been in business and determine if that experience is adeq
