Your air ducts may need cleaning, but not for the reason you might expect.
Dirty air ducts lead to poor air quality and may cause or worsen illnesses, right? Maybe not. Although those air ducts might be lined with dust and, presumably, other pollutants, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, “Duct cleaning has never been shown to actually prevent health problems. Neither do studies conclusively demonstrate that particle (e.g., dust) levels in homes increase because of dirty air ducts.”
Due to the lack of scientific evidence supporting the case for air duct cleaning as a reducer of allergies and airborne illness, it’s difficult to say if this effort is beneficial to overall health. It is, however, recommended by the EPA and National Institutes of Health in these four scenarios:
- Previous water damage and mold, slime or microbial growth in the air ducts
- Restricted airflow due to the build-up of debris, or the discharge of such particles into the home
- Rodent or insect infestation inside the air ducts
- Bad odors originating from the air ducts
Your home’s air ducts should be cleaned on an as-needed basis. This should be a decision made if and when there is something out of the ordinary and the suspected origin is within your air ducts. Trained professionals conduct a thorough inspection of your air ducts to identify a cause for concern before employing the proper cleaning techniques.
Though scientific research might not yet back the theory behind air quality improvement, your energy bill may positively reflect the home-cleaning effort. Unobstructed air flow means higher efficiency in your home’s heating and cooling outputs.
Contact Lund’s Carpet Cleaning for more information about its air duct cleaning services.
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