Research by the U.S. EPA has demonstrated that Air Duct cleaning may allow systems to run more efficiently by removing debris from sensitive mechanical components. Clean, efficient systems are less likely to break down, have a longer life span, and generally operate more effectively than dirty systems.

The most effective way to clean air ducts and ventilation systems is to employ Source Removal methods of cleaning. This requires a contractor to place the system under negative air pressure, through the use of a specialized, powerful vacuum. While the vacuum draws air through the system, devices are inserted into the ductwork to dislodge any debris that might be stuck to interior surfaces. The debris can then travel down the ducts to the vacuum, which removes it from the system and the home.

Frequency of cleaning depends on several factors, not the least of which is the preference of the home owner. Some of the things that may lead a home owner to consider cleaning include: Pets that shed high amounts of hair and dander, Water contamination or damage to the home or HVAC system, Residents with allergies or asthma who might benefit from a reduction in the amount of indoor air pollutants in the home’s HVAC system, smokers in the household, renovation and construction debris from home improvement projects and other miscellaneous factors.

There are a variety of factors that could affect the time needed to clean a residential HVAC system, including the type of home, accessibility to the ductwork, and the number of workers on the project. A typical three or four bedroom home will require 3 to 5 hours for cleaning.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration residential clothes dryers account for approximately 15,000 residential fires annually. Failure to clean is the leading factor contributing to clothes dryer fires in residential structures.

Dryers in new homes are typically located away from outside walls in bathrooms, kitchens and in hall closets which is convenient, but potentially dangerous from a safety standpoint. These locations mean longer venting distances often installed with more bends. As a result, dryer ducts are harder to access and this additional length creates more surface area where lint can collect and animals and birds can hide.

If your dryer takes twice as long to dry clothes as it should, the number of loads that it will dry is cut in half. When the dryer runs at higher than designed temperatures, the life of your clothes dryer decreases. This can lead to the heating element burning out or a fire could ignite as a result of overworked safety controls.

A clean exhaust duct prevents heat, moisture and, in the case of gas clothes dryers, carbon monoxide from being trapped in your home. When this type of spillage occurs, energy, natural resources and time are all wasted because your appliance works too hard and runs longer than necessary. Moisture can also cause damage to drywall, wallpaper, ceilings, and other building materials.