Knowledge about the possible problems and potential benefits of air duct cleaning is limited, since no two homes are the same. It is impossible to generalize as to whether the process will be beneficial in your home. However, if anyone in your household is experiencing unexplained or unusual illnesses or symptoms that you suspect are related to your indoor environment, then air duct cleaning may be imperative.
Other factors related to your heating and cooling system that signal the need to have the air ducts in your home cleaned are:
- Visible mold growth in the ducts or on any other component of your HVAC system.
- The ducts are blocked with excessive amounts of debris and dust and/or particles are being released into your home from the supply registers.
- The ducts are infested with insects or vermin.
Sections of your HVAC system might not be accessible for a proper visual inspection, so ask the contractor to show you any mold he says exists. Although a substance may appear to be mold, a positive determination of whether it is actually mold can only be made by an expert. For final confirmation, a laboratory analysis may be necessary.
Also, if your air ducts are insulated and the insulation gets moldy or wet, it should be removed and replaced because it cannot be effectively cleaned. Lastly, choose a contractor that is experienced in air duct cleaning because if the conditions causing mold growth are not corrected, the mold will recur. The company that services your HVAC system should be a good place to start.
