Cleaning air ducts can be a tricky business, and if done incorrectly, it can cause significant damage that can be costly to repair. The ducts are made of various materials, and you or an unqualified duct cleaner may not know how best to clean them. In addition, you could damage them if you use the wrong cleaning materials and procedures. Most Houston residents choose to clean their air ducts because they have old ducts that have been in the attic or inside walls and that have collected dust for more than ten years.
Most air conditioning companies will promote duct cleaning as a solution to improve indoor air quality, but they don't mention that this service can cause significant damage to duct systems that will need to be repaired in the future. At Smart Air, our Houston HVAC team puts the best interests of our customers first. We offer alternative solutions for indoor air quality without jeopardizing the integrity of your air duct systems. You may consider cleaning air ducts simply because it seems logical that air ducts 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 could be harmful. The EPA does not recommend that air ducts be cleaned routinely, but only when necessary. However, the EPA recommends that if you have an oven, stove, or chimney that burns fuel, they be inspected to make sure they are working properly and serviced before each heating season to protect them against carbon monoxide poisoning. A heating and air conditioning professional can thoroughly check the ducts to determine the type of ducts and the condition of the different hooks and safety points.
Failure to do so could damage the ducts, reducing efficiency and, in addition, could cause premature system failure. For example, the rotbrush can quickly become trapped in flow dampers and break or disconnect poorly secured or protected ducts. Damaged ducts are often the result of air duct cleaning, especially when done by an inexperienced contractor. In most cases, dust is harmless and cleaning air ducts could cause major problems, such as duct damage.
It found no significant improvement in air quality, and duct cleaning alone did not improve airflow or energy efficiency. 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. You've probably seen an advertisement, received a coupon in the mail, or a company contacted you directly to offer you to clean your home's air ducts to improve indoor air quality in your home. However, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), cleaning air ducts has never been proven to actually prevent health problems or effectively remove dust and dirt from ducts.
Or if health isn't what you're worried about, you might be intrigued by the idea of having clean air ducts everywhere in the house. However, even though air ducts get dirty, air quality experts agree that cleaning them provides no measurable benefit, even if residents suffer from allergies or asthma. Most organizations dealing with pipeline cleaning, including the EPA, NADCA, NAIMA, and the National Association of Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors (SMACNA), currently do not recommend the routine use of sealants to encapsulate contaminants in any type of duct. If you think duct cleaning might be a good idea for your home but you're not sure, talk to a professional.
Whether you decide to clean your home's air ducts or not, it's essential that you commit to a good preventive maintenance program to minimize duct pollution. This includes regularly checking for leaks or cracks in your system and sealing them promptly. When service providers arrive at your home, ask them to show you the contamination that would justify cleaning the ducts. Cleaning your home's air ducts can be a tricky business - one wrong move can cause significant damage that can be costly to repair. It's important to understand what materials your air ducts are made of and how best to clean them without causing any harm.
Most HVAC companies offer this service but it's important to remember that it may do more harm than good if done incorrectly. At Smart Air we put our customers first - we offer alternative solutions for improving indoor air quality without risking damage to your air duct systems. The EPA does not recommend routine cleaning of air ducts but suggests inspecting them before each heating season for any potential issues. It's also important to note that using sealants on any type of duct is not recommended by most organizations dealing with pipeline cleaning. The best way to ensure your home's indoor air quality is up-to-par is by committing to a good preventive maintenance program which includes regularly checking for leaks or cracks in your system and sealing them promptly. If you're considering having your home's air ducts cleaned it's important to talk with a professional first - they can help determine if it's necessary and show you any contamination that would justify it.
