Like any other air conditioning system, air ducts require regular maintenance to ensure they are running at peak performance. The National Association of Air Duct Cleaners (NADCA) recommends cleaning air ducts every 3 to 5 years as a general rule. However, certain environments may require more frequent cleaning. For instance, food manufacturers and manufacturing operations that create combustible dust need to have their air ducts cleaned quarterly, biannually, or annually.\The frequency of air duct cleaning depends on several factors, such as location, climate, and the use of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems.
Other signs that your air ducts need to be cleaned include the presence of mold or diseases. It is also a good idea to clean your air ducts periodically just to keep them in good condition. High relative humidity can lead to mold growth in any type of duct, so controlling humidity is the best way to prevent this from happening.\If you have recently completed a home remodeling project or have a furnace, stove, or fireplace that burns fuel, it is important to inspect them for proper functioning and maintain them before each heating season to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Products marketed to coat and encapsulate duct surfaces claim that they can prevent dust and dirt particles from being released into the air.
However, there is no evidence that a small amount of household dust or other particulate matter in air ducts poses any health risk.\The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does not recommend that air ducts be cleaned routinely but only when necessary. The general rule of the NADCA is: “If your air ducts look dirty, they probably are. If a component of a contaminated system is not cleaned, it can re-contaminate the entire system, negating any potential benefit”. Homeowners should inspect their air ducts once a year to check their condition.
