Less dust and dirt! Ads for air duct cleaning services are everywhere. Every coupon mailer seems to contain at least one, often illustrated with dramatic before and after photos of dust-choked vents, now shiny clean. You could shell out $50 to $1,000 or more to have the interior of your home’s heating and air conditioning ductwork spruced up, a process that may involve brushing, vacuuming, blasts with compressed air and the spraying of mold- and bacteria-killing chemicals. Most of the time, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), it’s not worth it. “Duct cleaning has never been shown to prevent health problems,” the EPA writes on its website. “Neither do studies conclusively demonstrate that particle (e.g., dust) levels in homes increase because of dirty air ducts. Little evidence exists that cleaning only the ducts will improve the efficiency of the system." Related: 8 Innocent-Seeming Habits that Put Your Home at Risk The EPA reached that conclusion back in 1997, after teaming up with the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) to study how vent cleaning affected indoor air. 

Since then, newer studies have reached conflicting conclusions. One 2010 review of the scientific data on air duct cleaning raised alarms about the practice. Canada’s National Research Council concluded that in some cases, “post-cleaning air pollutant concentrations can be higher than pre-cleaning levels” and “there are health concerns in the use of biocides, sealants and encapsulants.” Another study was more positive. When researchers from Florida International University compared air quality in homes before, during and after duct cleaning in 2001, they found that pollutant levels did drop afterward. But, they warn, the amount of “dirt, debris and other pollutants” in the air was higher during the process than before cleaning began — pointing to the need to hire well-trained contractors if you do decide to have your ducts cleaned. While no research links duct cleaning to fewer health problems, the EPA as well as some asthma experts suggest that duct cleaning by a reputable company may be worthwhile if your vents contain visible mold or are clogged with dirt that spews from vents when you turn on the heat or air conditioning, or if your ducts have become stomping grounds for mice

, bugs and other pests. Related: Ban These 7 Allergens from Your Home If you do opt for duct-cleaning, these five steps can help you get the best results.1. air purifier lg kuwaitHire a reputable contractor. sharp ion plasmacluster air purifierAsk the company that services your heating or air conditioning system for referrals. fresh air duct cleaning columbus ohioOr check the NADCA website for companies in your area. Ask about licenses, which are required in some states including Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan and Texas. Shy away from contractors who make big health claims or who say they’re endorsed by the EPA — that federal agency doesn’t certify duct cleaners. Make sure they have experience working on systems like yours and that they comply with NADCA cleaning standards.

Check references and get several estimates.2. Insist on a thorough inspection before you sign up for a cleaning. Ask for proof of dirt, mold or vermin problems. The EPA recommends fixing the cause of the problem before having your ductwork cleaned. This may involve working with a heating, air conditioning and ventilation company. 3. Go with a cleaning plan that protects your home and your air.Ask how the contractor will keep dust and pollutant levels low during the job. This may involve using a vacuum system that exhausts air to the outdoors or that uses a HEPA filter. 4. Think twice about antimicrobials and other chemicals. Ask for information about the risks and benefits of pesticides, sealants, deodorizers and any other chemicals the contractor suggests using. The National Institutes of Health recommends avoiding them, noting, “even EPA-registered biocides may pose health risks including eye, nose and skin irritation.” 5. Inspect the work. Ask to look into all ducts before they’re closed up.

You shouldn’t see any signs of dirt, mold or vermin. Some companies even provide remote photography to show hard-to-access spots. Use the EPA’s duct-cleaning checklist to help you perform a thorough review with your contractor. Related: Is a Hidden Hazard Lurking in Your Washer or Dryer?in Coil Cleaners, HVAC, Industrial Vacuums, Legionnaires DiseasePreviously on the Goodway blog we told you some of the reasons you should clean your facility’s air ducts and how to perform preventive work to keep your air ducts clean.But what happens when despite your best efforts to keep your ducts clean, they still require cleaning and your facility operators don’t have the skills, time or resources necessary to get the job done?It’s time to call in the professionals. You can find a duct cleaning company by looking in the Yellow Pages for “duct cleaning companies.” You can also consult the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) website for a list of qualified contractors.

However, before you pick up the phone, it’s important that you understand how to hire a reputable, qualified duct cleaning company.Here’s what the EPA recommends:If you decide to undertake duct cleaning for your facility, Goodway has all the tools you need.Goodway’s duct cleaning equipment cleans ducts quickly and easily. Our duct cleaning equipment can clean 4″-18″ round and spiral ducts and 4″-16″ rectangular/square ducts with a simple one-person operation. Some of the features available with our duct cleaners include flexible shafts, rotary brushes, reversible shaft rotation, adjustable speed control and a three-stage true HEPA filtration system.The periodic cleaning of HVAC systems is necessary to ensure delivery of acceptable air to the indoor environment. Cleaning may be required on older systems that have not been properly maintained, damaged systems, or in cases such as following indoor or outdoor construction activities. Determining the Need for Cleaning HVAC systems should be cleaned when a visual inspection indicates excessive particulate debris or microbiological growth on any interior surfaces.

A fiber optic system or video inspection system is recommended to determine the condition of the system both before and after any cleaning. Obvious problems that require cleaning and restoration would include visible microbiological contamination, significant amounts of particulate debris coming out of supply ducts, or deteriorated fiberglass insulation that was contaminating the supply air. In all cases, the source or cause of particulate contamination or microbiological proliferation must be determined and corrected prior to system cleaning. In general, most HVAC systems should be inspected annually or biannually for cleanliness. HVAC System CleaningFor cleaning purposes, the HVAC system includes any interior surface of the air distribution system. This includes all components from where the air enters the system to all points of discharge in the facility. Methods to clean HVAC systems involve both mechanical techniques and chemical sanitizers or biocides. The preferred method of cleaning depends on the system component, type of debris or contamination, and access to the area.

Mechanical Cleaning TechniquesMechanical techniques are useful to clean certain HVAC components including duct work, fan components, diffusers, dampers, and internal surfaces of the air handling unit. When using mechanical cleaning methods, strict controls such as physical barriers, devices equipped with HEPA filtered exhaust, and system negative pressure must be used to contain and collect debris. Mechanical cleaning methods incorporate techniques to agitate and dislodge material as well as contain and remove it. Agitation devices may include power brushes, pressurized air and water systems, as well as hand tools such as brushes. Collection of dislodged particulate debris is achieved by vacuums. A vacuum collection device with an appropriate capture velocity should be connected to a service opening and operated continuously to collect material as it is dislodged. In certain areas of the HVAC system, direct contact vacuuming with a brush may be used to remove material from contaminated surfaces.