What You Need To Know About Duct Cleaning

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

(NAPSA)—According to the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA), up to 40 poundsof dust is created annually in a typical six-bedroom home, which raises the question, is duct cleaning important to indoor air quality (IAQ)? The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports duct cleaning has never been shownto actually prevent health problems. Neither do studies conclusively demonstrate that particle levels in homesincrease because of dirty air ducts. So, before scheduling duct cleaning, both NADCA and EPA recommendvisually inspecting your home’s ductwork, using a small mirror and flashlight or a digital camera to photographtheinside of the duct. If you find evidence of animal infestation, mold growth or excessive amounts of dust and debris clogging the duct, you should first address the source of the problem and then consider having your ducts cleaned. As you interview companies to clean your ducts, be certain they: * are experienced in duct cleaning and have worked on systemslike yours. will use procedures to protect you, your pets and your home from contamination. *comply with NADCA’s air duct cleaning standards,and,if your ducts are constructed offiberglass duct board or insulated internally with fiberglass duct liner, with North American Insulation Manufacturers Association’s (NAIMA) recommendations. *hold relevant state licenses. It’s also a good idea to checkreferences and contact your county or city office of consumeraffairs or local Better Business Bureau to determine if complaints have been lodged against the companiesyou are considering. If you choose to have your ducts cleaned, you should expect the service providerto: * Inspect the system for asbestoscontaining materials, which require specialized procedures. * Clean the entire system. NADCA recommendscleaningair ducts,coils, 2 Do right by your ducts: Check them every two yearsto seeif they need cleaning. drain pans, registers,grills, air plenum, blower motor and assembly, heat exchanger, air filter and air cleaner. *Use vacuum equipment that exhausts particles outside of the home,or use only high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) vacuuming equipmentif the vacuum exhaustsinside. Use well-controlled brushing of duct surfaces in conjunction with contact vacuum cleaningto dislodge dust and otherparticles. * Use only soft-bristled brushes for fiberglass duct board and sheet metal ducts internally lined with fiberglass. * Protect ductwork, includingsealing and reinsulating access holes the service provider may have made or used so theyare airtight. Follow NADCA’s standardsfor air duct cleaning and NAIMA’s recommended practice for ducts containing fiberglass lining or constructed of fiberglass duct board. NADCArecommendsinspecting your system every two yearsto deter- mine whetherit needs to be cleaned again. In the meantime, regularly changetheairfilters in your home comfort system. Also, consider installing products designed to improve your home’s IAQ. The Coleman brand of Johnson Controls offers a complete line of IAQ products, including whole-house humidifiers and dehumidifiers, ultravio- let irradiation systems, and heat and energy recovery ventilators. To learn more, visit www.cole manac.com, follow the companyat www.youtube.com/ColemanHome Comfort and @ColemanHVAC on Twitter or call 877-874-7378.

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