Air Ducts: To clean or not to clean.

[Brandon Whitmore]

Here's an EPA document that you may want to link to.....

http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/airduct.html

And for Canada (CMHC)

http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/co/maho/g ... re_011.cfm

[Scottpat]

I'm of the no cleaning school, unless it is all metal duct work. This is a picture of some flex duct after it was cleaned!

Click to Enlarge

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[Marc]

When I see dirt trails emanating from ceiling registers, I use boilerplate that says 'thoroughly clean or replace'.

Marc

[Scottpat]

When I see dirt trails emanating from ceiling registers, I use boilerplate that says 'thoroughly clean or replace'.

Marc

That is not always a sign of a dirty air duct. The cool/warm surface around the duct acts like a magnet and attracts the grime in the air and it sticks around the registers. Same principle as "ghosting" that we see on walls and ceilings.

[Marc]

When I see dirt trails emanating from ceiling registers, I use boilerplate that says 'thoroughly clean or replace'.

Marc

That is not always a sign of a dirty air duct. The cool/warm surface around the duct acts like a magnet and attracts the grime in the air and it sticks around the registers. Same principle as "ghosting" that we see on walls and ceilings.

I was referring to dirt trails on the ceiling finish itself that emanate outward from the register perimeter. Are we on the same page?

Marc

[Terence McCann]

When I see dirt trails emanating from ceiling registers, I use boilerplate that says 'thoroughly clean or replace'.

Marc

That is not always a sign of a dirty air duct. The cool/warm surface around the duct acts like a magnet and attracts the grime in the air and it sticks around the registers. Same principle as "ghosting" that we see on walls and ceilings.

I was referring to dirt trails on the ceiling finish itself that emanate outward from the register perimeter. Are we on the same page?

Marc

Actually it has more to do with poor housekeeping than dirty ducts.

[Scottpat]

I have to agree with Terry...

[Tom Raymond]

I recommend radiant heat.[]

[kurt]

Or mini split ductless. Ductwork is so yesterday.