Air duct cleaning has become a common part of household maintenance over the last few years. With growing awareness of health and environmental concerns, it is easy to understand why a preventative measure such as this would grow in popularity. However, there is still some discussion about the necessity of regular air duct cleaning and the benefits of it.

If you are asking yourself if you should be concerned about your air ducts, the answer is most likely “yes.” If you are thinking about your air ducts, it probably means something is wrong. Whether you are noticing unusual odors, suffering new respiratory problems or simply feel that the air quality in your home is poor for any reason, it may be a good idea to have your ducts cleaned. The National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) suggests five primary reasons why your ducts may need to be cleaned as:

• If you have pets in the home
• If you recently moved into a new home
• After damage has been done to your system due to fire or flooding
• If there is evidence of rodents and animal infestation of your ductwork
• If you or someone in your home smokes indoors
• If you or someone in your home suffers from asthma or allergies

 

Looking over that list, it would seem that almost every person would fall into at least one of the categories. At this point, it is important to note that the NADCA is not an independent agency; they do represent over 1,000 air duct cleaning companies, so it would be understandable to feel they may not be the most unbiased source. Because it is a fairly new industry, there is still little in the way of science about the health benefits of regular air duct cleaning. However, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggests you should have your air ducts cleaned if:

• There is visible mold growth inside your system
• Your ducts are infested with vermin
• Your ducts are clogged with an excessive amount of debris

 

The most important thing to remember is that air duct cleaning may help these situations, but it alone is not the be-all and end-all of indoor air quality. This is why it is important to talk with a reputable, licensed HVAC expert if you have any of the issues listed above in your home.

A discount air duct cleaner may vaccuum your ducts, but they will do little (if anything) to actually solve the issues. A licensed HVAC expert can clean your ducts, help solve the problem that caused the dirty ducts and advise you on how the issues can be prevented in the future.