It's a common question: does cleaning ductwork help with allergies? The answer is not a simple one, as it depends on the cause of your allergies. If your allergies are caused by dust mites, then cleaning the air ducts can be beneficial. Dust mites are tiny creatures that live in dust and can cause allergic reactions. If your doctor thinks that dust mites are causing your allergies, he or she may recommend cleaning your air ducts.Air ducts often collect and distribute allergens throughout the house.
The American Asthma and Allergy Foundation defines an allergic reaction as the release of antibodies by the immune system to combat anything it determines to be a threat. An allergy attack can include a rash, itchy eyes, runny nose, or sneezing. Before an air conditioning system can push hot or cold air throughout the house, it draws in unfiltered air that may contain contaminants. If you blow on a dirty bookshelf, that dust hangs in the air and covers your throat and nasal passages as it spreads. Keeping your home clean is very important, but these allergens build up in your ducts over time.
Regular cleaning of ventilation grilles and ducts reduces allergens in the home that are known to cause asthma attacks, sinusitis, and other respiratory problems. Basically, air ducts circulate air throughout the house. Therefore, allergens that enter your home also enter your air ducts. When the air conditioning system is working, these allergens are released back into the air so you can breathe. The air ducts in your home are designed to circulate air throughout the house and are used to both heat and cool your home.
Therefore, cleaning the air ducts removes any potential allergens from the ducts. Knowledge about cleaning air ducts is in its early stages, so no general recommendation can be offered as to whether you should clean your home's air ducts. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) urges you to read this document in its entirety, as it provides important information on the subject. Duct cleaning has never been proven to actually prevent health problems. Nor do studies conclusively prove that the particle (e.g., g) present in air ducts poses any health risk. This is because much of the dirt in the air ducts adheres to the surfaces of the ducts and does not necessarily enter the living space.
It's important to note that dirty air ducts are just one of many possible sources of particulate matter that are present in homes. Pollutants that enter the home from both outdoor and indoor activities, such as cooking, cleaning, smoking, or just moving, can cause greater exposure to pollutants than dirty air ducts. In addition, there is no evidence that a small amount of household dust or other particles in air ducts poses any health risk. If any of the conditions identified above exist, it usually suggests one or more underlying causes. Before cleaning, reconditioning, or replacing the ducts, the cause or causes must be corrected, or else the problem is likely to reappear. Some research suggests that cleaning the components of the heating and cooling system (e.g., filters) may improve system efficiency.
You may want to consider cleaning your air ducts simply because it seems logical that the air ducts will 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 is harmful. The EPA does not recommend that air ducts be cleaned routinely, but only when necessary. However, the EPA recommends that if you have a furnace, stove, or fireplace that burns fuel, they be inspected for proper functioning and maintained before each heating season to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning. If you decide to have your air ducts cleaned, take the same consumer precautions you would normally take when evaluating the competence and reliability of the service provider. Whether you decide to clean your home's air ducts or not, preventing water and dirt from entering the system is the most effective way to avoid contamination (see How to Prevent Duct Contamination).If you decide to clean your heating and cooling system, it's important to make sure that the service provider agrees to clean all components of the system and is qualified to do so.
In addition, the service provider may propose the application of chemical biocides, designed to remove microbiological contaminants, inside ducts and in other components of the system. Some service providers may also suggest applying chemical treatments (sealants or other encapsulants) to encapsulate or cover the inner surfaces of air ducts and equipment housings because they believe they will control mold growth or prevent the release of dirt particles or fibers from the ducts. These practices have not yet been thoroughly investigated and you should be fully informed before deciding to allow 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. Knowledge about the potential benefits and potential problems of air duct cleaning is limited. Since conditions in every home are different, it's impossible to generalize about whether cleaning your home's air ducts would be beneficial or not. On one hand,... On the other hand,.
It's important for homeowners to understand their own situation before making a decision about whether or not they should clean their home's air ducts. On one hand,... On one hand,... If family members have unusual or unexplained symptoms or illnesses that you think might be related to your home environment, you should discuss this with your doctor. The EPA has published several publications for guidance on how to identify potential indoor air quality problems and ways to prevent or fix them. You might consider cleaning your air ducts simply because it seems logical that they will get dirty over time and should be cleaned from time to time.
While there is still debate over regular duct cleaning benefits, there is no evidence suggesting such cleaning is harmful when done properly. In conclusion,... Whether you decide to clean your home's air ducts or not depends on many factors including what type of allergies you have and what other sources of pollutants exist in your home environment. It's important for homeowners to understand their own situation before making a decision about whether or not they should clean their home's air ducts.
