General Info on Duct Cleaning

Dirty Ducks Duct Service provides extensive air duct cleaning services. These are some of the general information you should learn about cleaning air ducts.

• Air quality - The quality of indoor air is one of the top five environmental dangers to the general public. Indoor air quality is affected by pollutants that are trapped and then circulated throughout the house or building through the air duct system. According to the American Lung Association and the EPA, the average person spends 60% to 90% of their time indoors and is then exposed to the indoor air quality. Duct cleaning removes dust, dust mites, and other contaminants from the air duct system and prevents them from being circulated continuously.
• Allergies and asthma - Air conditioning ducts can become breeding grounds for fungi and bacteria, leading to allergies and asthma. Dirty ducts have been linked to illnesses such as strep, headaches, fatigue, itchy eyes and nausea, and asthma and legionella pneumonia.
• Heating and cooling benefits - Dirt and dust can cause stress on mechanical components, leading to increased energy costs and wear and tear on equipment. Cleaning out air ducts can save money on the next year's heating and cooling bill and help pay for the duct cleaning.

Interesting Air Duct Cleaning Facts

Duct cleaning is an important step in improving Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). It helps to reduce the source of contaminants and pollutants which can trigger adverse health reactions. Poor ventilation and dirty filters are also major contributors to unhealthy contaminants in the home.

While it is true that air duct cleaning alone does not cure health conditions like asthma, allergies and other respiratory related conditions, vent cleaning does, however, play an important role in prevention and treatment. The EPA does not have any recommendations for how often air ducts should be cleaned, but the furnace manufacturer does. The proper time frame is every 3-5 years, depending on factors like pets, smoking and location of house.

Indoor Air Quality Facts

• The EPA has claimed that indoor air pollutants have been found to be 70 times more polluted than outdoor air. Since we spend 60-90% of our time inside our home, it is essential that that air be the cleanest. (American Lung Association & EPA)
• Indoor air pollution is ranked among the top 5 environmental dangers to the public. (EPA)
• Studies have shown that two out of three indoor air quality problems involve the HVAC/Air Duct System.
• Children and the elderly are especially affected by polluted indoor air. (Department of Consumer Affairs)
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in indoor air can be 2 to 5 times greater than in outdoor air. (EPA)
• 20% of all illnesses are either caused by, or aggravated by, polluted indoor air. (American College of Allergists)
• The average 6-room house collects 40 pounds of dust each year. (Discover Magazine)

Facts About Allergies and Dust Mites

Allergies - More than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies. One out of six people who suffer from allergies do so because of the direct relationship to fungi and bacteria in air duct systems. (Total Health and Better Health Magazines)

Dust mites

• Each person can shed up to 700,000 skin scales per day creating an abundant food source for dust mites.
• About 40,000 dust mites can “thrive” in only one ounce of dust.
• Approximately 10 to 15 percent of the population suffers from an allergy related to dust mites.