EPA Form EPA-4G2-K-97-002, October 1997

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

If you have insulated air ducts tine duct cleaning or makes claims and the insulation gets wet or about its health benefits, you should moldy, it cannot be effectively notify EPA by writing to the address list­ cleaned and should be removed ed in the back of this booklet. EPA and replaced. does, however, recommend that if you have a fuel burning furnace, stove, or If the conditions causing the fireplace, they be inspected for proper mold growth in the first place are functioning and serviced before each not corrected, mold growth will heating season to protect against car­ recur. bon monoxide poisoning. Some research also suggests that cleaning Z Ducts are infested with vermin, dirty cooling coils, fans, and heat (e.g., rodents or insects); or exchangers can improve the efficiency of heating and cooling systems. Z Ducts are clogged with excessive However, little evidence exists to indi­ amounts of dust and debris and/or cate that simply cleaning the duct sys­ particles are actually released into tem will increase your system’s the home from your supply registers. efficiency.

Other Important Considerations... I f you think duct cleaning might be I a good idea for your home, but you uct cleaning has never been are not sure, talk to a professional. Lz shown to actually prevent health The company that services your heating problems. Studies have not conclu­ and cooling system may be a good sively demonstrated that particle (e.g., source of advice. You may also want to dust) levels in homes increase because contact professional duct cleaning ser­ of dirty air ducts or go down after clean­ vice providers and ask them about the ing. This is because much of the dirt services they provide. Remember, they that may accumulate inside air ducts are trying to sell you a service, so ask adheres to duct surfaces and does not questions and insist on complete and necessarily enter the living space. It is knowledgeable answers. important to keep in mind that dirty air ducts are only one of many possible sources of particles that are present in homes. Pollutants that enter the home both from outdoors and indoor activities such as cooking, cleaning, smoking, or just moving around can cause greater exposure to contaminants than dirty air ducts. Moreover, there is no evidence that a light amount of household dust or other particulate matter in air ducts poses any risk to health.

E PA does not recommend that air ducts be cleaned except on an as- needed basis because of the contin­ uing uncertainty about the benefits of duct cleaning under most circum­ stances. If a service provider or adver­ tiser asserts that EPA recommends rou-

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