Breathe easier:   Effective furnace filter might be all you need

By Amy Howell Hirt

People who suffer from allergies and asthma can limit their exposure to outdoor triggers, but the daily dirt of life that collects in our homes can be a re-circulating problem – particularly once the windows are shut and the heat is turned on.

Today’s increased awareness of how dust, mites, animal dander, pollen, mold and mildew can bring on symptoms – such as itchy eyes, sneezing and coughing – and companies advertising low prices for services have generated interest in air-duct cleaning.

Keith Desserich, owner of Coit Services in Woodlawn and director of the Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) Cincinnati chapter, estimates that 60 percent of homeowners who call about air-duct cleaning don’t have a specific reason – it’s “just because” they saw an ad, read something or have a neighbor who had the service performed.  And 10-15 percent of the homes don’t need it at all, he adds.

While the service may have benefits for allergy and asthma sufferers – no conclusive data has been released by government agencies or consumer organizations – health and HVAC professionals agree it isn’t necessary unless there is a specific cause for concern, and it must be combined with other control measures.

Those in the health and HVAC industries note that a high-efficiency furnace filter is a sure-fire way to reduce air-borne allergens.

“I can’t tell you how many people come in and say, “We just had our ducts cleaned and it hasn’t made any difference,” says Dr. Julie McNairn, an allergist and immunologist with Premier Allergy and Asthma Associates in Middletown.  “I think it’s a tricky scenario because it’s hard to tell if you’re getting a benefit.”

The EPA recommends home-owners “consider” the service if their home has “substantial, visible mold,” ducts that have been or are infested with rodents or insects, or if the ducts have excessive dust or debris – although dust-covered return vents aren’t necessarily a cause for concern.

“If no one in your household suffers from allergies or unexplained symptoms or illnesses and if, after a visual inspection of the inside of the ducts, you see no indication that you air ducts are contaminated with large deposits of dust or mold, having your air ducts cleaned is probably unnecessary,” according to an EPA document on the subject.

Desserich recommends the service if someone has allergies and a situation has introduced irritants or allergens into the home, like smoke, construction dust or pets.

Michael Longman and Channon House-Longman of Wyoming have good reason to hope a duct-cleaning from Coit will do some good. 

Channon and one of their two daughters have year-round allergies.  The household has a cat and dog, and the family is finishing up a kitchen remodel that involved tearing down a wall and recently had the walls painted and new flooring installed throughout the first floor.

A “source removal” method, which addresses both the supply and return sides of a central air system, is considered the most thorough.

A HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) vacuum is attached to the main through a 10 to 12 inch hole.  An air whip connected to an air compressor is inserted into the ductwork through each supply vents, while the other vents are covered to increase suction.  The whip essentially helps stir up the dirt, dust and debris – particularly in outlying branches – and pushes it toward the vacuum.

The process is then repeated on the return side.

McNairn suggests using a company that belongs to the IAQA, which has developed standards for the industry. 

But underlying causes and simple maintenance issues should be addressed before investing in a duct-cleaning service.  “If there is a question of ‘My basement smells’, I don’t tend to recommend air duct cleaning.  That isn’t so much the problem,” McNairn says.

Cleaning floors frequently and ensuring the home has proper ventilation and sealed ductwork will also help improve the indoor air quality. 

Desserich also suggests homeowners with allergies remove the covers from floor vents twice a year and use a standard vacuum extension to clean as far as possible into the ductwork.

Be wary of duct-cleaning companies that: 

• Offer to clean the entire system in less that three to four hours or for less that $300-$400.
• Advertise “one main and unlimited vents” for a low price – the cost to clean the whole system, including a second main, can shoot up.
• Recommend “routine” duct cleaning.  The EPA recommends every three to five years, and some companies like Coit Services suggest going five to seven years.
• Claim to be certified by the EPA.  There currently are no standards or certifications.
• Promote using chemicals to “sanitize” or “seal” air ducts.  While used to address mold from flood damage or smoke from fire damage that can’t be mitigated through duct cleaning, the EPA discourages their general use.