Small gaps in air ducts can be a source of dust entering your home, but the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has not yet proven that cleaning air ducts can prevent health problems. Much of the dirt in the air ducts adheres to the duct surfaces and does not necessarily enter the living space, and there is no evidence that a small amount of household dust or other particles in air ducts poses a health risk. The EPA does not recommend that air ducts be cleaned routinely, but only when necessary. Before cleaning air ducts, it's important to identify and address any underlying causes of the problem.
Cleaning the components of heating and cooling systems, such as cooling coils, fans, and heat exchangers, may improve system efficiency, but there is little evidence to support this. If you decide to clean your air ducts, make sure you hire a reliable service provider who is committed to cleaning all components of the system and is qualified to do so. The EPA recommends that if you have a furnace, stove, or fireplace that burns fuel, it should be inspected for proper functioning and maintained before each heating season to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning. You can consider cleaning the air ducts simply because it seems logical that they will become dirty over time and need to be cleaned from time to time.
As long as the cleaning is done correctly, there is no evidence to suggest that such cleaning is harmful. In conclusion, while there is still debate over regular duct cleaning services' value, there is no evidence suggesting such cleaning is harmful when done correctly. On the other hand, if a service provider doesn't follow proper procedures for cleaning air ducts, it can cause problems with indoor air quality. It's important to note that much of dirt which accumulates inside air ducts adheres to their surfaces and does not necessarily enter living spaces.
