Air Duct Maintenance and Cleaning

If you are responsible for maintaining indoor air quality and heating and cooling systems, whether in residential or commercial buildings, maintenance of air ducts is a routine part of your work.  While cleaning air ducts hasn’t been shown to prevent health issues, having air ducts that are dirty can contribute to those particles (pollution, dirt, toxins…) being found in indoor air. When is it time to clean or even replace air ducts? Consider the following:

  • Is there mold on the inside of the sheet metal ducts or on other parts of the heating and cooling system? As some sections of the system may be difficult to inspect, a qualified service provider may required. Any substance that appears to be mold should be sent to a laboratory for testing and analysis. If your air ducts contain insulation that is moldy or wet, it should be removed and replaced immediately. If mold is not properly removed and the space treated, growth will reoccur.
  • Have ducts become infested with insects, rodents, or birds? This can cause potential health problems if not removed and treated.
  • Are ducts excessively clogged with dust, debris, or other matter? Excessive amounts of particles in the ducts can reduce the effectiveness of the system and result in particles entering the indoor air stream.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Taking care of your heating and cooling systems can reduce your energy costs. By also periodically reviewing the air ducts you can identify issues before they become expensive to repair!