How Do You Know if Ac Has a Leak?
EPA 402-K-97-002, October 1997
On this page:
- Summary
- What Is Air Duct Cleaning?
- Deciding Whether or Not to Have Your Air Ducts Cleaned
- Suggestions for Choosing a Duct Cleaning Service Provider
- What to Expect of an Air Duct Cleaning Service Provider
- How to Decide if the Duct Cleaner Did a Thorough Chore
- How to Prevent Duct Contamination
- To Prevent Dirt from Inbound the System
- To Prevent Ducts from Becoming Wet
- Unresolved Issues of Duct Cleaning
- Does duct cleaning prevent health issues?
- Are duct materials other than bare sheet metal ducts more than probable to be contaminated with mold and other biological contaminants?
- Should chemical biocides be practical to the within of air ducts?
- Do sealants prevent the release of dust and dirt particles into the air?
- To Larn More than About Indoor Air Quality
- To Learn More Virtually Air Duct Cleaning
- Other Useful Resources
- Consumer Checklist
Summary
Knowledge near air duct cleaning is in its early stages, so a blanket recommendation cannot be offered equally to whether y'all should accept your air ducts in your home cleaned. The U.Due south. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) urges you to read this document in information technology entirety as information technology provides important information on the subject field.
Duct cleaning has never been shown to really preclude wellness problems. Neither do studies conclusively demonstrate that particle (e.g., grit) levels in homes increase because of dirty air ducts. This is because much of the dirt in air ducts adheres to duct surfaces and does not necessarily enter the living space. It is important to keep in mind that muddy air ducts are only one of many possible sources of particles that are present in homes. Pollutants that enter the home both from outdoors and indoor activities such as cooking, cleaning, smoking, or just moving around can cause greater exposure to contaminants than dingy air ducts. Moreover, there is no bear witness that a low-cal amount of household grit or other particulate affair in air ducts poses whatsoever risk to your health.
Y'all should consider having the air ducts in your dwelling house cleaned if:
There is substantial visible mold growth inside hard surface (e.thou., canvass metal) ducts or on other components of your heating and cooling system. There are several of import points to understand concerning mold detection in heating and cooling systems:
- Many sections of your heating and cooling system may not be attainable for a visible inspection, and so ask the service provider to prove you whatever mold they say exists.
- Yous should be enlightened that although a substance may look like mold, a positive conclusion of whether it is mold or not can be made only by an expert and may crave laboratory analysis for final confirmation. For about $50, some microbiology laboratories can tell yous whether a sample sent to them on a articulate strip of sticky household tape is mold or merely a substance that resembles it.
- If you have insulated air ducts and the insulation gets wet or moldy information technology cannot exist finer cleaned and should be removed and replaced.
- If the atmospheric condition causing the mold growth in the start place are non corrected, mold growth will recur.
Ducts are infested with vermin, e.thou. (rodents or insects).
Ducts are chock-full with excessive amounts of grit and droppings and/or particles are actually released into the dwelling house from your supply registers.
If any of the conditions identified in a higher place exists, it usually suggests one or more underlying causes. Prior to any cleaning, retrofitting, or replacing of your ducts, the cause or causes must be corrected or else the problem volition likely recur.
Some inquiry suggests that cleaning heating and cooling system components (e.thou., cooling coils, fans and heat exchangers) may amend the efficiency of your organisation, resulting in a longer operating life, as well as some free energy and maintenance toll savings. Still, little evidence exists that cleaning only the ducts volition improve the efficiency of the organization.
You may consider having your air ducts cleaned merely considering it seems logical that air ducts will get dirty over fourth dimension and should be occasionally cleaned. Provided that the cleaning is done properly, no bear witness suggests that such cleaning would exist detrimental. EPA does not recommend that the air ducts exist cleaned routinely, but only as needed. EPA does, however, recommend that if you have a fuel burning furnace, stove or fireplace, they be inspected for proper operation and serviced earlier each heating flavor to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning.
If you practise decide to have your air ducts cleaned, have the same consumer precautions you normally would in assessing the service provider'southward competence and reliability.
Air duct cleaning service providers may tell yous that they demand to apply chemic biocide to the within of your ducts as a means to kill bacteria (germs) and fungi (mold) and preclude future biological growth. They may also propose the awarding of a "sealant" to foreclose dust and clay particles from existence released into the air or to seal air leaks. You should fully empathise the pros and cons of permitting application of chemical biocides or sealants. While the targeted employ of chemical biocides and sealants may exist appropriate nether specific circumstances, research has not demonstrated their effectiveness in duct cleaning or their potential adverse wellness effects. No chemical biocides are currently registered by EPA for utilise in internally-insulated air duct systems (see Should chemical biocides be applied to the within of air ducts?).
Whether or non y'all make up one's mind to have the air ducts in your domicile cleaned, preventing h2o and dirt from inbound the system is the near effective style to prevent contamination (see How to Prevent Duct Contagion).
What is Air Duct Cleaning?
Most people are now aware that indoor air pollution is an event of growing business and increased visibility. Many companies are marketing products and services intended to improve the quality of your indoor air. Yous have probably seen an advertisement, received a coupon in the postal service, or been approached direct by a company offering to make clean your air ducts as a means of improving your dwelling'south indoor air quality. These services typically — but not always — range in cost from $450 to $1,000 per heating and cooling system, depending on:
the services offered
- the size of the system to exist cleaned
- system accessibility
- climatic region
- level of contamination
If you decide to have your heating and cooling organization cleaned, it important to make sure the service provider agrees to clean all components of the system and is qualified to do so.
Duct cleaning generally refers to the cleaning of various heating and cooling system components of forced air systems, including the supply and return air ducts and registers, grilles and diffusers, heat exchangers heating and cooling coils, condensate drain pans (drip pans), fan motor and fan housing, and the air handling unit housing (See diagram).
If not properly installed, maintained and operated, these components may become contaminated with particles of dust, pollen or other droppings. If moisture is nowadays, the potential for microbiological growth (e.g., mold) is increased and spores from such growth may be released into the home'due south living space. Some of these contaminants may cause allergic reactions or other symptoms in people if they are exposed to them. If you decide to have your heating and cooling system cleaned, it is important to make certain the service provider agrees to clean all components of the system and is qualified to practise and then. Failure to clean a component of a contaminated organization can result in re-contamination of the entire organization, thus negating whatever potential benefits. Methods of duct cleaning vary, although standards take been established by manufacture associations concerned with air duct cleaning. Typically, a service provider will utilize specialized tools to dislodge dirt and other debris in ducts, and then vacuum them out with a high-powered vacuum cleaner.
In add-on, the service provider may propose applying chemic biocides, designed to kill microbiological contaminants, to the inside of the duct work and to other arrangement components. Some service providers may also suggest applying chemical treatments (sealants or other encapsulants) to encapsulate or cover the inside surfaces of the air ducts and equipment housings because they believe it will control mold growth or prevent the release of clay particles or fibers from ducts. These practices accept all the same to be fully researched and you should exist fully informed before deciding to permit the use of biocides or chemic treatments in your air ducts. They should only be applied, if at all, later the system has been properly cleaned of all visible dust or debris.
Notation: Use of sealants to encapsulate the inside surfaces of ducts is a different do than sealing duct air leaks. Sealing duct air leaks can help save free energy on heating and cooling bills. For more information, see EPA'due south Energy Star website.
Deciding Whether or Not to Have Your Air Ducts Cleaned
Knowledge about the potential benefits and possible problems of air duct cleaning is limited. Since atmospheric condition in every home are different, it is impossible to generalize about whether or not air duct cleaning in your home would exist beneficial.
If no one in your household suffers from allergies or unexplained symptoms or illnesses and if, after a visual inspection of the within of the ducts, you meet no indication that your air ducts are contaminated with large deposits of dust or mold (no musty aroma or visible mold growth), having your air ducts cleaned is probably unnecessary. It is normal for the return registers to go dusty as grit-laden air is pulled through the grate. This does not indicate that your air ducts are contaminated with heavy deposits of grit or droppings; the registers tin be hands vacuumed or removed and cleaned.
On the other hand, if family members are experiencing unusual or unexplained symptoms or illnesses that y'all think might be related to your home surroundings, y'all should discuss the situation with your doctor. EPA has published the following publications for guidance on identifying possible indoor air quality problems and ways to prevent or ready them.
- Indoor Air Quality: An Introduction for Wellness Professionals
- The Within Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality
You may consider having your air ducts cleaned simply considering it seems logical that air ducts will go dirty over time and should occasionally be cleaned. While the debate most the value of periodic duct cleaning continues, no evidence suggests that such cleaning would be detrimental, provided that information technology is done properly.
On the other mitt, if a service provider fails to follow proper duct cleaning procedures, duct cleaning can cause indoor air problems. For example, an inadequate vacuum collection system can release more than dust, dirt and other contaminants than if you had left the ducts lone. A careless or inadequately trained service provider can damage your ducts or heating and cooling organisation, possibly increasing your heating and ac costs or forcing you to undertake hard and costly repairs or replacements.
You should consider having the air ducts in your dwelling cleaned if:
There is substantial visible mold growth inside hard surface (east.m., sheet metal) ducts or on other components of your heating and cooling system. At that place are several of import points to understand apropos mold detection in heating and cooling systems:
- Many sections of your heating and cooling system may not be accessible for a visible inspection, so ask the service provider to bear witness you whatsoever mold they say exists.
- You should be aware that although a substance may wait like mold, a positive determination of whether information technology is mold or not can exist made only by an skillful and may require laboratory assay for terminal confirmation. For about $l, some microbiology laboratories can tell y'all whether a sample sent to them on a clear strip of viscid household tape is mold or simply a substance that resembles it.
- If you take insulated air ducts and the insulation gets moisture or moldy information technology cannot be effectively cleaned and should be removed and replaced.
- If the conditions causing the mold growth in the first place are non corrected, mold growth will recur.
Ducts are infested with vermin, e.g. (rodents or insects)
Ducts are clogged with excessive amounts of dust and debris and/or particles are actually released into the abode from your supply registers.
Other Important Considerations
Duct cleaning has never been shown to actually prevent health problems. Neither do studies conclusively demonstrate that particle (e.k., dust) levels in homes increment because of dirty air ducts or become down after cleaning. This is because much of the dirt that may accumulate within air ducts adheres to duct surfaces and does not necessarily enter the living infinite. Information technology is important to proceed in mind that muddied air ducts are simply one of many possible sources of particles that are present in homes. Pollutants that enter the home both from outdoors and indoor activities such as cooking, cleaning, smoking, or just moving around can crusade greater exposure to contaminants than muddied air ducts. Moreover, there is no show that a light amount of household dust or other particulate thing in air ducts poses any gamble to wellness.
EPA does not recommend that air ducts be cleaned except on an as-needed basis because of the continuing uncertainty about the benefits of duct cleaning under nigh circumstances. EPA does, however, recommend that if you take a fuel called-for furnace, stove, or fireplace, they be inspected for proper functioning and serviced before each heating season to protect confronting carbon monoxide poisoning. Some research likewise suggests that cleaning dirty cooling coils, fans and rut exchangers tin amend the efficiency of heating and cooling systems. However, petty evidence exists to indicate that simply cleaning the duct system will increase your system's efficiency.
If you think duct cleaning might exist a good idea for your abode, but you lot are not certain, talk to a professional. The company that services your heating and cooling organisation may be a good source of advice. You may also want to contact professional duct cleaning service providers and ask them about the services they provide. Remember, they are trying to sell you a service, and so enquire questions and insist on complete and knowledgeable answers.
Suggestions for Choosing a Duct Cleaning Service Provider
To find companies that provide duct cleaning services, bank check your Yellow Pages under "duct cleaning" or contact the National Air Duct Cleaners Clan (NADCA) at the accost and telephone number in the information department located at the end of this guidance. Exercise not assume that all duct cleaning service providers are as knowledgeable and responsible. Talk to at least three different service providers and get written estimates earlier deciding whether to take your ducts cleaned. When the service providers come to your home, inquire them to show you the contamination that would justify having your ducts cleaned.
Do not hire duct cleaners who make sweeping claims virtually the health benefits of duct cleaning — such claims are unsubstantiated. Do not hire duct cleaners who recommend duct cleaning every bit a routine part of your heating and cooling system maintenance. You should too be wary of duct cleaners who claim to exist certified by EPA. Annotation: EPA neither establishes duct cleaning standards nor certifies, endorses, or approves duct cleaning companies.
Do not allow the use of chemical biocides or chemical treatments unless you lot fully understand the pros and the cons (See "Unresolved Issues of Duct Cleaning).
Cheque references to be sure other customers were satisfied and did not experience any problems with their heating and cooling system after cleaning.
Contact your canton or urban center role of consumer affairs or local Better Business organisation Bureau to determine if complaints accept been lodged against any of the companies yous are because.
Interview potential service providers to ensure:
- they are experienced in duct cleaning and accept worked on systems like yours;
- they will use procedures to protect you, your pets and your dwelling house from contamination; and
- they comply with NADCA'southward air duct cleaning standards and, if your ducts are constructed of fiber glass duct board or insulated internally with fiber glass duct liner, with the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association'due south (NAIMA) recommendations.
Ask the service provider whether they hold any relevant country licenses. As of 1996, the following states require air duct cleaners to concur special licenses: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan and Texas. Other states may require them as well.
If the service provider charges past the hour, asking an estimate of the number of hours or days the job volition take, and observe out whether at that place will be interruptions in the work. Brand sure the duct cleaner y'all choose will provide a written agreement outlining the total cost and telescopic of the chore earlier work begins.
What to Await From an Air Duct Cleaning Service Provider
If you choose to have your ducts cleaned, the service provider should:
Open up access ports or doors to let the entire system to be cleaned and inspected.
Inspect the system before cleaning to exist sure that there are no asbestos-containing materials (e.one thousand., insulation, annals boots, etc.) in the heating and cooling system. Asbestos-containing materials require specialized procedures and should not be disturbed or removed except by especially trained and equipped contractors.
Apply vacuum equipment that exhausts particles outside of the home or employ simply high-efficiency particle air (HEPA) vacuuming equipment if the vacuum exhausts inside the home.
Protect carpet and household furnishings during cleaning.
Employ well-controlled brushing of duct surfaces in conjunction with contact vacuum cleaning to dislodge dust and other particles.
Employ only soft-bristled brushes for fiberglass duct lath and sheet metal ducts internally lined with fiberglass. (Although flex duct can also exist cleaned using soft-bristled brushes, it tin be more economic to simply replace accessible flex duct.)
Take care to protect the duct work, including sealing and re-insulating any admission holes the service provider may have made or used so they are airtight.
Follow NADCA'south standards for air duct cleaning and NAIMA's recommended practice for ducts containing fiber glass lining or constructed of cobweb glass duct board.
How to Determine if the Duct Cleaner Did A Thorough Job
A thorough visual inspection is the best mode to verify the cleanliness of your heating and cooling system. Some service providers use remote photography to certificate atmospheric condition inside ducts. All portions of the organization should be visibly make clean; yous should non exist able to detect whatsoever debris with the naked middle. Show the Postal service-Cleaning Consumer Checklist to the service provider before the work begins. After completing the job, ask the service provider to show you each component of your arrangement to verify that the job was performed satisfactorily.
If you answer "No" to whatever of the questions on the checklist, this may signal a trouble with the chore. Inquire your service provider to correct any deficiencies until you tin can answer "yes" to all the questions on the checklist.
| Post Cleaning Consumer Checklist | Yes | No | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | Did the service provider obtain access to and clean the entire heating and cooling system, including ductwork and all components (bleed pans, humidifiers, coils and fans)? | ||
| Has the service provider fairly demonstrated that duct work and plenums are clean? (Plenum is a space in which supply or return air is mixed or moves; can exist duct, joist space, attic and clamber spaces, or wall cavity.) | |||
| Heating | Is the heat exchanger surface visibly clean? | ||
| Cooling Components | Are both sides of the cooling curl visibly clean? | ||
| If yous indicate a flashlight into the cooling curlicue, does lite polish through the other side? It should if the coil is clean. | |||
| Are the coil fins direct and evenly spaced (every bit opposed to beingness aptitude over and smashed together)? | |||
| Is the coil drain pan completely make clean and draining properly? | |||
| Blower | Are the blower blades clean and free of oil and droppings? | ||
| Is the blower compartment complimentary of visible dust or debris? | |||
| Plenums | Is the render air plenum free of visible dust or debris? | ||
| Exercise filters fit properly and are they the proper efficiency as recommended by HVAC system manufacturer? | |||
| Is the supply air plenum (directly downstream of the air handling unit) costless of moisture stains and contaminants? | |||
| Metal Ducts | Are interior ductwork surfaces gratis of visible debris? (Select several sites at random in both the return and supply sides of the system.) | ||
| Fiber Glass | Is all cobweb glass cloth in expert condition (i.e., gratuitous of tears and abrasions; well adhered to underlying materials)? | ||
| Access Doors | Are newly installed access doors in canvas metallic ducts fastened with more merely duct record (e.grand., screws, rivets, mastic, etc.)? | ||
| With the system running, is air leakage through admission doors or covers very slight or non-real? | |||
| Air Vents | Accept all registers, grilles and diffusers been firmly reattached to the walls, floors and/or ceilings? | ||
| Are the registers, grilles and diffusers visibly clean? | |||
| System Operation | Does the system function properly in both the heating and cooling modes afterward cleaning? | ||
How to Forestall Duct Contamination
Whether or non yous decide to accept the air ducts in your home cleaned, committing to a good preventive maintenance program is essential to minimize duct contamination.
To foreclose dirt from inbound the system:
Apply the highest efficiency air filter recommended by the manufacturer of your heating and cooling system.
Change filters regularly.
If your filters become clogged, change them more than ofttimes.
Exist sure yous practice not accept any missing filters and that air cannot bypass filters through gaps around the filter holder.
When having your heating and cooling arrangement maintained or checked for other reasons, be sure to inquire the service provider to clean cooling coils and drain pans.
During construction or renovation work that produces dust in your abode, seal off supply and return registers and exercise non operate the heating and cooling arrangement until after cleaning upwards the dust.
Remove dust and vacuum your home regularly. (Utilize a high efficiency vacuum (HEPA) cleaner or the highest efficiency filter numberless your vacuum cleaner can take. Vacuuming can increase the corporeality of dust in the air during and after vacuuming as well as in your ducts).
If your heating arrangement includes in-duct humidification equipment, exist sure to operate and maintain the humidifier strictly as recommended by the manufacturer.
Whether of not yous decide to take the air ducts in your home cleaned, committing to a good preventive maintenance programme is essential to minimize duct contamination.
To prevent ducts from condign moisture:
Moisture should non be present in ducts. Controlling wet is the about constructive mode to prevent biological growth in air ducts.
Moisture can enter the duct system through leaks or if the arrangement has been improperly installed or serviced. Inquiry suggests that condensation (which occurs when a surface temperature is lower than the dew point temperature of the surrounding air) on or near cooling coils of ac units is a major factor in wet contagion of the arrangement. The presence of condensation or high relative humidity is an of import indicator of the potential for mold growth on whatever type of duct. Controlling wet tin can oft be difficult, but here are some steps yous tin can take:
Promptly and properly repair any leaks or water damage.
Pay particular attention to cooling coils, which are designed to remove h2o from the air and can be a major source of wet contamination of the system that can lead to mold growth. Make sure the condensate pan drains properly. The presence of substantial continuing water and/or debris indicates a problem requiring immediate attention. Bank check any insulation well-nigh cooling coils for wet spots.
Make sure ducts are properly sealed and insulated in all non-air-conditioned spaces (east.1000., attics and crawl spaces). This will help to forestall moisture due to condensation from inbound the system and is important to make the system work as intended. To preclude h2o condensation, the heating and cooling system must exist properly insulated.
If you are replacing your air conditioning system, make sure that the unit of measurement is the proper size for your needs and that all ducts are sealed at the joints. A unit of measurement that is too big volition cycle on and off frequently, resulting in poor moisture removal, specially in areas with high humidity. As well make sure that your new system is designed to manage condensation effectively.
Unresolved Issues of Duct Cleaning
Does duct cleaning prevent health problems?
The bottom line is: no ane knows. In that location are examples of ducts that take become badly contaminated with a variety of materials that may pose risks to your health. The duct system can serve equally a means to distribute these contaminants throughout a home. In these cases, duct cleaning may make sense. Notwithstanding, a light amount of household dust in your air ducts is normal. Duct cleaning is non considered to be a necessary part of yearly maintenance of your heating and cooling organization, which consists of regular cleaning of drain pans and heating and cooling coils, regular filter changes and yearly inspections of heating equipment. Research continues in an effort to evaluate the potential benefits of air duct cleaning.
In the meantime
Brainwash yourself nigh duct cleaning past contacting some or all of the sources of information listed at the end of this publication and asking questions of potential service providers.
Are duct materials other than bare sheet metallic ducts more likely to exist contaminated with mold and other biological contaminants?
You may be familiar with air ducts that are constructed of sheet metal. However, many modern residential air duct systems are constructed of cobweb glass duct board or sheet metallic ducts that are lined on the inside with fiber glass duct liner. Since the early 1970's, a significant increase in the utilize of flexible duct, which mostly is internally lined with plastic or some other type of material, has occurred.
The use of insulated duct cloth has increased due:
- to improved temperature control
- free energy conservation
- reduced condensation
Internal insulation provides better acoustical (noise) control. Flexible duct is very low cost. These products are engineered specifically for use in ducts or as ducts themselves, and are tested in accordance with standards established past Underwriters Laboratories (UL), the American Guild for Testing and Materials (ASTM), and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Many insulated duct systems have operated for years without supporting significant mold growth. Keeping them reasonably make clean and dry is more often than not adequate. However, there is substantial argue about whether porous insulation materials (e.1000., cobweb glass) are more than prone to microbial contamination than bare sheet metallic ducts. If plenty clay and moisture are permitted to enter the duct system, there may be no significant divergence in the rate or extent of microbial growth in internally lined or bare sheet metal ducts. Yet, treatment of mold contamination on bare sheet metal is much easier. Cleaning and treatment with an EPA-registered biocide are possible. In one case fiberglass duct liner is contaminated with mold, cleaning is not sufficient to prevent re-growth and there are no EPA-registered biocides for the handling of porous duct materials. EPA, NADCA and NAIMA all recommend the replacement of wet or moldy fiber drinking glass duct material.
In the meantime
Experts do agree that wet should not exist present in ducts and if moisture and clay are present, the potential exists for biological contaminants to grow and exist distributed throughout the home. Decision-making moisture is the most constructive way to prevent biological growth in all types of air ducts.
Correct any water leaks or standing h2o.
Remove standing water under cooling coils of air treatment units by making sure that drain pans slope toward the drain.
If humidifiers are used, they must be properly maintained.
Air handling units should be constructed so that maintenance personnel take piece of cake, straight access to heat exchange components and drain pans for proper cleaning and maintenance.
Fiber drinking glass, or any other insulation cloth that is wet or visibly moldy (or if an unacceptable odor is present) should be removed and replaced by a qualified heating and cooling system contractor.
Steam cleaning and other methods involving moisture should non be used on whatsoever kind of duct work.
Should chemic biocides be applied to the inside of air ducts?
Air duct cleaning service providers may tell yous that they demand to utilise a chemic biocide to the inside of your ducts to kill bacteria (germs) and fungi (mold), and preclude future biological growth. Some duct cleaning service providers may propose to innovate ozone to kill biological contaminants. Ozone is a highly reactive gas that is regulated in the outside air as a lung irritant. Nonetheless, at that place remains considerable controversy over the necessity and wisdom of introducing chemical biocides or ozone into the duct work.
Amongst the possible problems with biocide and ozone application in air ducts:
- Piddling inquiry has been conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of most biocides and ozone when used within ducts. Simply spraying or otherwise introducing these materials into the operating duct system may cause much of the material to be transported through the arrangement and released into other areas of your home.
- Some people may react negatively to the biocide or ozone, causing adverse health reactions.
Chemical biocides are regulated by EPA under Federal pesticide police. A product must be registered by EPA for a specific use before it can be legally used for that purpose. The specific use(s) must appear on the pesticide (due east.m., biocide) characterization, along with other important data. Information technology is a violation of federal law to use a pesticide product in whatever manner inconsistent with the label directions.
A small number of products are currently registered past EPA specifically for utilize on the within of blank sail metal air ducts. A number of products are also registered for utilise as sanitizers on difficult surfaces, which could include the interior of blank sail metal ducts. While many such products may be used legally inside of unlined ducts if all label directions are followed, some of the directions on the label may be inappropriate for use in ducts. For example, if the directions point "rinse with h2o", the added moisture could stimulate mold growth.
All of the products discussed to a higher place are registered solely for the purpose of sanitizing the smooth surfaces of unlined (bare) sheet metallic ducts. No products are currently registered as biocides for use on fiber glass duct board or fiber glass lined ducts, then information technology is important to make up one's mind if sections of your system contain these materials earlier permitting the application of whatsoever biocide.
In the concurrently
Earlier allowing a service provider to use a chemical biocide in your duct work, the service provider should:
Demonstrate visible evidence of microbial growth in your duct work. Some service providers may try to convince you that your air ducts are contaminated by demonstrating that the microorganisms found in your home abound on a settling plate (i.due east., petri dish). This is inappropriate. Some microorganisms are always present in the air, and some growth on a settling plate is normal. As noted before, only an expert can positively place a substance as biological growth and lab analysis may be required for final confirmation. Other testing methods are not reliable.
Explain why biological growth cannot exist removed by physical means, such as brushing, and further growth prevented by decision-making wet.
If yous decide to permit the use of a biocide, the service provider should:
Show yous the biocide characterization, which volition depict its range of approved uses.
Employ the biocide only to united nations-insulated areas of the duct organization later on proper cleaning, if necessary to reduce the chances for re-growth of mold.
Always apply the product strictly according to its characterization instructions.
While some low toxicity products may be legally practical while occupants of the habitation are nowadays, you may wish to consider leaving the premises while the biocide is being applied as an added precaution.
Do sealants prevent the release of dust and clay particles into the air?
Manufacturers of products marketed to coat and encapsulate duct surfaces claim that these sealants prevent dust and dirt particles inside air ducts from being released into the air. Equally with biocides, a sealant is frequently practical by spraying information technology into the operating duct system. Laboratory tests indicate that materials introduced in this manner tend non to completely glaze the duct surface. Application of sealants may also affect the acoustical (dissonance) and fire retarding characteristics of fiber glass lined or synthetic ducts and may invalidate the manufacturer'southward warranty.
Questions about the safety, effectiveness and overall desirability of sealants remain. For instance, fiddling is known about the potential toxicity of these products under typical use conditions or in the effect they take hold of fire.
In addition, sealants have all the same to be evaluated for their resistance to deterioration over time which could add together particles to the duct air.
In the meantime
Most organizations concerned with duct cleaning, including EPA, NADCA, NAIMA and the Sheet Metal and Ac Contractors' National Clan (SMACNA) practice not currently recommend the routine use of sealants to encapsulate contaminants in any type of duct. Instances when the apply of sealants to encapsulate the duct surfaces may be appropriate include the repair of damaged fiber glass insulation or when combating burn down damage within ducts. Sealants should never exist used on wet duct liner, to cover actively growing mold, or to cover debris in the ducts, and should just be applied afterward cleaning according to NADCA or other appropriate guidelines or standards.
To Learn More About Indoor Air Quality
U.Due south. Ecology Protection Agency
Office of Radiation and Indoor Air
Indoor Environments Division (6609J)
1200 Pennsylvania Artery, N.W.
Washington, DC 20460
The following EPA publications are available on this spider web site, some can be ordered from NSCEP. (run into as well: Publications and Resources)
- The Within Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality
- Indoor Air Pollution: An Introduction for Health Professionals
- Guide to Air Cleaners in the Home
- Ozone Generators that are Sold every bit Air Cleaners
To Learn More About Air Duct Cleaning
National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA)
1120 Route 73, Suite 200
Mt. Laurel, NJ 08054
Telephone: (855) GO-NADCA • (856) 380-6810
Email: info@nadca.com
Website: NADCA
Find a NADCA professional duct cleaner nigh yous.
Due north American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA)
44 Canal Heart Plaza, Suite 310, Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: (703) 684-0084
Website: NAIMA
Website: NAIMA Member Company Listing
"Cleaning Fibrous Drinking glass Insulated Air Duct Systems; Recommended Practice", NAIMA Pub. No. AH122, 40 pages (Cost is $7.50 for a printed version, no free copies available.)
Other Useful Resources
For a free list of state consumer protection offices:
Land Consumer Protection Offices
For more information on biocides:
Antimicrobial Information Hotline
Telephone: (703) 308-0127 / Fax: (703) 308-6467
Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - five:00 PM EST
Electronic mail: Info_Antimicrobial@epa.gov
Website: Regulating Antimicrobial Pesticides
The Antimicrobials Data Hotline provides answers to questions apropos electric current antimicrobial issues (disinfectants, fungicides, others) regulated past the pesticide law, rules and regulations. These encompass estimation laws, rules and regulations, and registration and re-registration of antimicrobial chemicals and products. The Hotline also provide information health & safe bug on registered antimicrobial products, product label and the proper and safe use of these antimicrobial products.
Consumer Checklist
Learn as much every bit possible nearly air duct cleaning before y'all decide to have your ducts cleaned by reading this guidance and contacting the sources of information provided.
Consider other possible sources of indoor air pollution offset if you lot suspect an indoor air quality trouble exists in your home.
Take your air ducts cleaned if they are visibly contaminated with substantial mold growth, pests or vermin, or are clogged with substantial deposits of grit or debris.
Ask the service provider to show you any mold or other biological contamination they say exists. Go laboratory confirmation of mold growth or decide to rely on your ain judgment and mutual sense in evaluating apparent mold growth.
Get estimates from at least iii service providers.
Check references.
Ask the service provider whether he/she holds any relevant state licenses. As of 1996, the following states require air duct cleaners to agree special licenses: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan and Texas. Other states may besides crave licenses.
Insist that the service provider give you knowledgeable and complete answers to your questions.
Notice out whether your ducts are made of sheet metal, flex duct, or constructed of fiber glass duct board or lined with fiber glass since the methods of cleaning vary depending on duct blazon. Remember, a combination of these elements may exist present.
Let the application of biocides in your ducts merely if necessary to command mold growth and only after assuring yourself that the product will exist practical strictly co-ordinate to label directions. Equally a precaution, you and your pets should leave the premises during application.
Exercise not permit the use of sealants except nether unusual circumstances where other alternatives are not feasible.
Commit to a preventive maintenance programme of yearly inspections of your heating and cooling system, regular filter changes, and steps to prevent moisture contamination.
Source: https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/should-you-have-air-ducts-your-home-cleaned
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