Facts About Duct Cleaning and Indoor Air Quality

The average 6 room house collects 40 pounds of dust a year (Discover magazine)

Air ducts have more germs than a chicken coop (American Lung Association)
EPA claims indoor air quality has been found to be up to 70% more polluted than outdoor air
A build up 0.42 inches of dirt on a heating or cooling coil can result in a decrease in efficiency of 21%

Why should I get my air ducts cleaned?

A collection of large items and debris taken from a duct cleaning

There are many benefits of getting your air ducts cleaned; dust can be greatly reduced, there will be relief from allergies, and any odor will be removed from the air ducts. Other benefits include reducing your heating and cooling cost by having your system run more efficiently.

How often should I get my air ducts cleaned?

The frequency of cleaning depends on several factors: how often the furnace is used, whether smokers live in the home, whether there are pets, or a presence of other contaminants in the air. Industry standard recommends getting your air ducts cleaned every 7-10 years.

Once my air ducts have been cleaned how can I keep them that way? Air filters...

You can keep your air ducts clean by using the highest efficiency air filter, changing your air filters regularly, and asking your heating and cooling service provider to clean cooling coils and drain pans. If you are having construction or renovation work done in your home seal off supply and return registers. Vacuum and dust your house regularly using high efficiency vacuum bags.

Should I get my furnace cleaned also?

Yes, it's important to get your furnace cleaned regularly. Your furnace will work more efficiently, you'll save money on heating and cooling cost and the air in your home will be cleaner.

If you are one of the over 30 million North americans that suffer from allergies and asthma, you may be aware of the difference clean indoor air can make in your life. The benefits of a clean HVAC system effect all of us. Dust acts as a magnet to pollen, germs, pet dander and a variety of other contaminants. These stick to the dust in your HVAC system. When your blowers are on . . . these shoot out into the air. If it's in your ducts . . it will be in your lungs!

In addition, this dust acts as a fertilizer for molds and bacteria to grow in your system. Dust mites thrive in this environment as well, and when they die . . . they add more fertilizer for contaminants and the next generation of dust mites! In this dirty environment, molds may begin to grow in your HVAC system.

The dangers of breathing mold of mold toxins from your HVAC system are real:

Asthma: Molds just like the kind that are found in HVAC systems can trigger asthma attacks in persons who are allergic (sensitized) to molds. The irritants produced by molds may also worsen asthma in non-allergic (non-sensitized) people.

Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis: Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis may develop following either short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic) exposure to molds. The disease resembles bacterial pneumonia and is uncommon.

Irritant Effects: Exposure to mold like the types commonly found in HVAC systems can cause irritation of the eyes, skin, nose, throat and lungs and sometimes can create a burning sensation in these areas.

Opportunistic Infections: People with weakened immune systems may be more vulnerable to infection by molds. Aspergillus Fumigatus, for example, has been known to infect the lungs of immune-compromised individuals. These individuals inhale the mold spores that start growing in their lungs. Thrichoderma has also been known to infect immune-compromised children.

Healthy individuals are usually not vulnerable to opportunistic infections from airborne mold exposure. However, molds can cause common skin infections such as Athlete's Foot and Yeast infections.