Is It Worth It to Get Your Air Ducts Sanitized?
Before and After Duct Cleaning
When I get my ducts cleaned I am always asked if I want to have them sanitized. Is that really beneficial?
Great question. The answer is no and yes.
No. There is little benefit to sanitizing a duct system the way that most companies perform this service or the solution that is used to do so. Most companies spray a scented solution, maybe one that is or is not a disinfectant. If the proper principals of sanitizing are not followed, little benefit is obtained. This is why many companies include this service at no charge. You got what you paid for.
Yes. This service when done properly has great benefit. Your duct system is “The air you breath system”. That system is dark, dusty, sometimes humid and during some seasons not active. All these factors are prime for growth of mold and bacteria.
Factors for effective application of a sanitizing agent are:
1. Applied to a clean surface. (After proper cleaning - applying at least a 25 step cleaning process)
2. Registered, effective sanitizing solution at appropriate dilutions and method.
3. Dwelling time according to solution used. (5 - 20 minutes)
Without these principles being applied, it is not worth paying for this service.
If a duct cleaner includes this in their cleaning package then they are most likely simply spraying a deodorizer or sanitizing agent just into the vents. You are getting what you paid for, a false sense of clean.
The company should apply at least a 15 step process to ensure an effective application of a quality sanitizing agent. The sanitizing agent needs to be fogged into your entire system and allowed time to dwell. There are some great natural sanitizing products being used that get the job done and aren't harmful to you and your family.
As your mother and mine taught “Anything worth doing is worth doing right” otherwise save your money.
Benefect
This process is done through the use of a FOGGER with a 100% natural sanitizer and deodorizer called Benefect.
Benefect is an ingenious mixture of plant extracts that surpasses government efficacy requirements for hospital disinfectants but that, unbelievably, are also Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) or as Direct Food Additives by the FDA. Benefect’s botanical active ingredient is classified by the EPA as having no known adverse affects to human health or the environment. Benefect is classified under the EPA’s highest safety rating category allowed under law for all routes of exposure which include:
- Inhalation
- Ingestion
- Skin Irritation
- Skin Sensitization
- Eye Irritation
Therefore, Benefect does not even require a caution statement on the label which has been the standard minimum requirement for all products by the EPA until now. As well, Benefect is non-corrosive, non-flammable and non-reactive. It contains no ammonia, chlorine, oxidizers or alcohols & even has a neutral pH.
