Is cleaning your air ducts every year really necessary, or is it an industry upsell?
In fact, other indoor and outdoor pollutants often pose a greater risk to the health of your home.
Think: Smoking, cleaning, cooking, cleaning, or even just moving in your spaces.
Credit:Getty Images / Janice Richard
Overall, the EPA advises cleaning your ducts only when necessary.
This is key because a dusty return does not automatically indicate contamination.
You might also be able to mitigate air quality issueswith the help of an air purifier.
Do you better Hire a Professional for Air Duct Cleaning?
you might skip annual cleanings, but don’t overlook visual inspections.
Some cleaning companies might give a shot to talk you into unnecessary routine cleanings to increase their business.
Before hiring a professional, ask yourself: Do they have experience and licenses to do the job right?
Do they have any local complaints?
Are they making an unsubstantiated health claims or recommending routine cleaning without reason?
you could also make things easy on yourself bychoosing the right HVAC systemto begin with, Cunniffe explains.
Should you have the air ducts in your home cleaned?
Office of Research Services, Division of Occupational Health and Safety.
Fact Sheet: HVAC System Air Duct Cleaning.
National Institutes of Health.
