Should You Get Your Ducts Cleaned?           Some ducts are filthy. Sometimes you will find dead mice and other dried up critters in them especially where the vents are on the floor. You should consider having the ducts cleaned if they have never been cleaned or if they look dirty.  When choosing a duct cleaning company make sure they are certified by the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) or comply with or NADCA’s  air duct cleaning standards. Do not allow the duct cleaning company to use chemical sanitizers. A sanitizer is not necessary if things are effectively cleaned. There should be nothing left to sanitize. If the duct company recommends a sanitizer tell them to finish cleaning the ducts properly. Sanatizers will not kill or prevent mold growth anyhow. Once ducts are clean they should not need to be re-cleaned for about 5 years unless they leak and are sucking in dust from attics and crawlspaces. Many people think that cleaning ducts will reduce dust. In fact, while dirty ducts can cause health problems, cleaning them may not lower dust levels indoors. This is because much of the dirt adheres to the surface of the ducts and does not enter the living space. Lowering the amount of dust indoors is better accomplished by installing a good HEPA filter onto the furnace. This does not mean you won’t have to dust anymore but probably not as often. The reason you will still have to dust is that HEPA filters remove the very small particles. The larger particles settle out of the air quickly and show up as house dust. You don’t breathe the larger particles. They are more of a nuisance than a health threat.               Back to top                            Copyright © 2014-2017 Healthy Living Spaces LLC.  All rights reserved.   877-992-9904 Revised: July 05, 2017. Information in this document is subject to change without notice. Other products and companies referred to herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or trademark holders.