Are you curious about the environmental advantages of having your air vents cleaned in Miami-Dade County, FL? The answer is not straightforward, as much of the knowledge about cleaning air ducts is still in its early stages. However, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has some essential information on the subject that you should read in its entirety. Duct cleaning has never been proven to actually prevent health problems. This is because much of the dirt in the air ducts adheres to the surfaces of the ducts and does not necessarily enter the living space.
Pollutants that enter the home from both outdoor and indoor activities, such as cooking, cleaning, smoking, or just moving, can cause greater exposure to pollutants than dirty air ducts. In addition, there is no evidence that a small amount of household dust or other particles in air ducts poses any health risk. The EPA does not recommend that air ducts be cleaned routinely, but only when necessary. However, they do suggest that if you have a furnace, stove, or fireplace that burns fuel, they be inspected for proper functioning and maintained before each heating season to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning.
If you decide to have your air ducts cleaned, take the same consumer precautions you would normally take when evaluating the competence and reliability of the service provider. Some research indicates that cleaning the components of the heating and cooling system may improve system efficiency. You may want to consider cleaning your air ducts simply because it seems logical that the air ducts will get dirty over time and should be cleaned from time to time. As long as cleaning is done properly, there is no evidence to suggest that such cleaning is harmful. If you decide to clean your heating and cooling system, it's important to make sure that the service provider agrees to clean all components of the system and is qualified to do so.
In addition, they may propose the application of chemical biocides designed to remove microbiological contaminants inside 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 inner surfaces of air ducts and equipment housings because they believe they will control mold growth or prevent the release of dirt particles or fibers from the ducts. These practices have not yet been thoroughly investigated and you should be fully informed before deciding to allow the use of biocides or chemical treatments in your air ducts. They should only be applied, if at all, after the system has been properly cleaned of all visible dust or debris. Knowledge about the potential benefits and potential problems of air duct cleaning is limited.
Since conditions in every home are different, it's impossible to generalize about whether cleaning your home's air ducts would be beneficial or not. On the other hand, if family members have unusual or unexplained symptoms or illnesses that you think might be related to your home environment, you should discuss the situation with your doctor. The EPA has published some publications for guidance on how to identify potential indoor air quality problems and ways to prevent or fix them. 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 avoid contamination (see How to Prevent Duct Contamination). 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.
