| If you decide to have your heating and cooling system
cleaned, it important to make sure the service provider agrees to clean all
components of the system and is qualified to do so. |
Most people are now aware that indoor air
pollution is an issue of growing concern and increased visibility. Many
companies are marketing products and services intended to improve the quality of
your indoor air. You have probably seen an advertisement, received a coupon in
the mail, or been approached directly by a company offering to clean your air
ducts as a means of improving your home's 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 be
cleaned, system accessibility, climatic region, and level of contamination.
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.
If not properly installed, maintained, and operated, these components may
become contaminated with particles of dust, pollen or other debris. If moisture
is present, the potential for microbiological growth (e.g., mold) is increased
and spores from such growth may be released into the home's 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 sure the service provider agrees to
clean all components of the system and is qualified to do so. Failure to
clean a component of a contaminated system can result in re-contamination of the
entire system, thus negating any potential benefits. Methods of duct cleaning
vary, although standards have been established by industry associations
concerned with air duct cleaning. Typically, a service provider will use
specialized tools to dislodge dirt and other debris in ducts, then vacuum them
out with a high-powered vacuum cleaner.
In addition, the service provider may propose applying chemical biocides,
designed to kill microbiological contaminants, to the inside of the duct work
and to other system 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 dirt particles or fibers from
ducts. These practices have yet to be fully researched and you should be fully
informed before deciding to permit 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.
To find companies that provide duct cleaning
services, check your Yellow Pages under "duct cleaning" or contact the
National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) at the
address and phone number in the information section located at the end of this
guidance. Do not assume that all duct cleaning service providers are equally
knowledgeable and responsible. Talk to at least three different service
providers and get written estimates before deciding whether to have your ducts
cleaned. When the service providers come to your home, ask them to show you the
contamination that would justify having your ducts cleaned.
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Do not hire duct cleaners who make sweeping claims about the health
benefits of duct cleaning -- such claims are unsubstantiated. Do not hire
duct cleaners who recommend duct cleaning as a routine part of your
heating and cooling system maintenance. You should also be wary of duct
cleaners who claim to be certified by EPA. EPA neither establishes duct
cleaning standards nor certifies, endorses, or approves duct cleaning
companies.
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Do not allow the use of chemical biocides or chemical treatments unless
you fully understand the pros and the cons
(See "Unresolved Issues of Duct
Cleaning).
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Check references to be sure other customers were satisfied and did not
experience any problems with their heating and cooling system after cleaning.
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Contact your county or city office of consumer affairs or local Better
Business Bureau to determine if complaints have been lodged against any of the
companies you are considering.
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Interview potential service providers to ensure:
- they are experienced in duct cleaning and have worked on systems like
yours;
- they will use procedures to protect you, your pets, and your home from
contamination; and
- they comply with NADCA's 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's (NAIMA) recommendations.
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Ask the service provider whether they hold any relevant state licenses.
As of 1996, the following states require air duct cleaners to hold special
licenses: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan and Texas.
Other states may require them as well.
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If the service provider charges by the hour, request an estimate of the
number of hours or days the job will take, and find out whether there will be
interruptions in the work. Make sure the duct cleaner you choose will
provide a written agreement outlining the total cost and scope of the job
before work begins. |
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