What Is Air Duct Sanitizing?

As the ultimate area of your home that's hard to access, your duct system can get pretty grimy over time. Unfortunately, that means all of the air that circulates through your home may be carrying particles containing bacteria, mold, allergens, and pathogens. That's where air duct sanitizing comes in. What is air duct sanitizing? Come learn about this professional service that can stop your home from becoming a breeding ground for mold, bacteria, and other harmful substances that can make you unhealthy.

What is Air Duct Sanitizing, and How is it Used?

Air duct sanitizing is a specialized treatment that removes bacteria, germs, microorganisms, and pathogens from inside ductwork. Homeowners get their ducts sanitized because it can help to reduce risks for airborne illness, allergic reactions, and respiratory problems. Sanitizing goes a step beyond the normal duct cleaning services that just remove dirt and debris from ducts by actively targeting living microbes nesting inside ductwork. By removing debris that mites feast on, sanitizing can even eliminate mite issues in households with pets.

Air duct sanitizing involves applying specialized sanitizing products to the ductwork's interior surfaces. Generally, a professional duct cleaner will first thoroughly clean ducts to remove all debris and dust that would otherwise spread harmful pathogens. During duct sanitizing treatment, a professional will apply an antimicrobial air duct sanitizer spray to the interior surface of your home's ductwork. While techniques vary, most professionals use a fogging technique with EPA-registered sanitizing and sporicidal agents.

Should You Have Your Air Ducts Sanitized? Look for These Signs

Heat or air conditioning duct disinfection should be considered whenever a homeowner suspects that mold, bacteria, fungi, or viruses could be present in their air ducts. However, there are also some telltale signs or key scenarios where this treatment could also be recommended:

• You've noticed signs of dirty air ducts after moving into a newly built or pre-owned home.

• You've noticed an unpleasant smell coming from your ducts could indicate bacterial, mold, or fungal growth.

• A member of your household is immunocompromised or has a fragile health situation that could be exacerbated by airborne droplets being dispersed through your HVAC system.

• You live in a pest-prone household.

• Your duct system has experienced leaking and water damage.

• Your home tends to get dusty quickly.

• You live in an area with heavy dust exposure or ongoing construction that creates dust.

How Safe Is Duct Sanitizing?

As long as you're working with a licensed professional duct cleaner near you who is using the best duct cleaning chemicals and EPA-registered disinfectants to clean your ducts, duct sanitizing is considered safe. Professional duct cleaners will take precautions to keep your home safe during cleaning. This includes things like utilizing drop clothes to collect debris that is pushed out from your ducts and wearing protective clothing that will prevent tracking of debris.