Angie's LIST Guide to
Duct cleaning & air quality

Many HVAC repair and maintenance companies also offer air duct cleaning services, which typically costs $300 to $500.

Is duct cleaning necessary?

Angie's List members share their experiences and opinions on air duct cleaning. Read more

There are also companies that only do duct cleaning, and they generally recommend having air ducts cleaned every 3 to 5 years, or even more frequently to reduce pollutants in the air.

However, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency warns that there is no scientific evidence that cleaning air ducts regularly improves air quality, and some HVAC professionals say it is a waste of money.

Yet some allergy sufferers, including Angie's List members, have reported that having their ducts cleaned has led to reduced allergy symptoms and cleaner air.

Although the EPA does not recommend routine duct cleaning, it does suggest it be done when there are specific reasons for doing so. This would include factors such as:

• You see substantial quantities of visible mold growth within the heating ducts or present on other parts of your home's HVAC system.
• Pests such as mice, rats or insects have infested portions of the duct system.
• Excessive amounts of dust or debris clog the duct system and release dust or debris into the home through the vent registers when the system operates.

The National Air Duct Cleaners Association agrees with most of the EPA's stance on air duct cleaning with one exception -- it does recommend routine cleanings every few years.

According to the NADCA, consider the following when making a decision whether or not to clean your home's air ducts:

• Smokers in the household
• Pets that shed high amounts of hair and dander
• Water contamination or damage to the home or HVAC system
• Residents with allergies or asthma who might benefit from a reduction in the amount of indoor air pollutants in the home's HVAC system
• After home renovations or remodeling
• Prior to occupancy of a new home

Indoor air pollutants from combustion devices

If your home uses a combustion-based furnace such as natural gas-fired furnace or an oil-burning furnace, these heating systems produce pollution particles from that combustion cycle. Other heating devices such as gas stoves, space heaters, wood-burning stoves and dryers will also produce pollution particles that can affect indoor air quality.

If your home’s HVAC system is installed properly and is up-to-date on maintenance or repairs, these pollution particles should be expelled from the furnace and vented through the exhaust or chimney.

However, if your home’s chimney or exhaust vent are not sealed properly, combustion byproducts such as carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide can enter your home’s air and cause symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, irritation of the mucous membranes in the eyes, nose and throat, and, in the case of carbon monoxide, even death.

Controlling pollutants from combustion devices

The most effective way to control indoor air pollution from combustion or heating devices is to make sure they’re used and maintained properly. The EPA recommends that you make sure there’s adequate ventilation in any area where a fuel-burning or heating device is being operated. If and when you use a heating or fuel-based device, make sure that it’s properly installed and up-to-date on maintenance and repairs.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from household items

According to the EPA, volatile organic compounds or VOCs are chemicals that can be commonly found in household products such as cleaning products, paints, chemical strippers, waxes and pesticides. Other in-home products that can produce VOCs that contribute to poor indoor air quality include floor coverings, furniture, electronic equipment, air fresheners and dry-cleaned clothing.

VOCs from household items can be especially hard to pinpoint as the cause of poor indoor air quality because the VOCs naturally evaporate into the air when the products are used or stored.

Controlling VOCs from household items

The negative impact of VOCs on indoor air quality can be minimized by adhering to a few common sense principles. For instance, when using a cleaning product or painting in the home, always make sure there’s adequate ventilation and fresh air by opening windows, using fans or making sure the air is expelled.

Follow manufacturer’s direction when using cleaning products and never mix any cleaning products that aren’t designed to do so. Make sure all chemical products are stored according to the directions on the label.

Smoke

One of the easiest indoor air quality factors to control is the negative effects of smoking tobacco products indoors. Not only does smoking indoors produce a foul odor that can linger in upholstery, clothing and carpeting, secondhand smoke can cause cancer, serious respiratory illnesses and aggravate asthma. Children are especially vulnerable to secondhand smoke.

Controlling secondhand smoke

The most effective way to prevent secondhand smoke from contributing to poor indoor air quality is to never smoke indoors.  If any of your home occupants smoke indoors, ask them to do so outside. The same goes for visitors who may smoke.

Mold & Radon

Molds are ever-present in the air we breathe both indoors and out. However, it takes two primary conditions for mold to be able to flourish within the home: moisture and darkness. Once established, inhaling or coming into contact with spores produce by molds can irritate the nose, skin and eyes, and even cause asthma attacks.

Radon is another naturally occurring source of poor indoor air quality. A byproduct of the degradation of uranium in the the soil and stone below a home’s foundation, exposure to radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States.