Cleaning home's air ducts? Do some research

It usually costs more than $1,000 to have your home's air ducts cleaned properly — but is it really worth it?

Maybe, says the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, noting there isn't much research regarding air duct cleaning.

Definitely, say other indoor air professionals, citing a litany of conditions - including years of accumulated pet dander, dust balls and dirt - as reasons why homeowners should consider a cleaning.

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Every day, Americans inhale mold, chemicals, dust, pollen, pet dander and a cloud of other indoor contaminants. The problem is so pervasive the EPA lists poor indoor air quality as the fourth-largest environmental threat in the country. The problem can be worse in the winter, as cold weather keeps people indoors with the windows tightly shut.

According to the National Air Duct Cleaners Association, duct cleaning can help if you have pets, if someone in the house smokes or if there has been water damage. The group, however, stops short of saying it can improve your health.

The EPA advises that improper cleaning of air ducts can actually cause problems by stirring up dust, and if you're thinking about having ducts cleaned only because someone in the home suffers from allergies or asthma, you might want to check with your doctor first.

"There are so many things that can trigger asthma," says Dr. Bruce Wolf, an allergist with St. Thomas Health Systems in Murfreesboro, Tenn. "Asthmatics have hypersensitive airways so anything can be an irritant."

Wolf doesn't necessarily advise patients to have air ducts cleaned; instead, he thinks people should consider being tested to see what it is they are allergic to in order to avoid that allergen.

John Schulte, executive director of the air duct cleaners group, says first determine whether ducts contain excessive accumulations of dust, dirt, or even mold. He recommends removing a floor or wall register and pointing a digital camera with a flash inside to take a picture down the duct.

"It's a great way to check," Schulte says.

He warns consumers to be wary of cleaning companies pushing for the use of sanitizers or anti-microbial chemicals. "Unless there is serious contamination of some kind, a regular cleaning is going to do the job," he says.