Do you need to sanitize your air ducts?

One of the most common questions we are asked by prospective air duct cleaning customers is should the air ducts be “sanitized” after cleaning. Often times during their search for an air duct cleaning contractor, customers speak to companies who insist that the air ducts be sanitized after cleaning.  Since the contractors are viewed as experts, they believe this is a necessary step in the cleaning process.

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The reality is, the vast majority of homes and businesses do not need their air ducts sanitized after the ducts are cleaned. In fact, the National Air Duct Cleaner’s Association (NADCA), says the best method for cleaning and decontaminating air ducts is to use the source removal cleaning method.  Complete HVAC system cleaning removes the contaminants that may contribute to mold and other microbiological growth (NADCA).  NADCA also states that it is not necessary to apply chemicals as part of the source removal cleaning process.

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At AmeriClean, our answer when asked if the air ducts should be treated for contamination is, No. Our air duct cleaning technicians use the source removal cleaning method on all of our residential, commercial, and industrial air duct cleaning projects, so our cleaning not only removes dust and debris from inside of the air ducts, it also removes the contaminants that can be inside the duct.

Facts about sanitizing ductwork:

• The EPA has not registered any products for sanitizing or disinfecting ductwork.
• A chemical application is only acceptable when the product is legally approved for the application for which it will be used.  Some products have been registered and accepted by the EPA for use on other parts of HVAC systems, not for sanitization.
• Evacuation and proper ventilation may be necessary during chemical application.
• Occupants may need to stay out of the house or building from 2 to 8 hours to allow for proper ventilation.

If you would like to learn more about our air duct cleaning services please feel free to contact our office at 219-641-3711.