Whether your concerned about your home or a large residential or commercial building, preventing contamination of air ducts is a serious subject.

Depending on the condition of the ducts, they may or may not need to be professional cleaned. However, enacting a comprehensive preventive maintenance policy is essential for minimizing or elimination contamination. Here are five simple steps that you can add to your regular building maintenance routine:

1) Stop dirt from penetrating the system: For your cooling and heating, use the highest efficiency air filter recommended by your system’s manufacturer. They may cost a few pennies more, but they’ll save you dollars in the long run!

2) Change air filters regularly and check them frequently. At certain times, due to weather or production demands, filters may become clogged at an accelerated rate. Replace all clogged filters promtply.

3) Be sure that all airways have filters and that they are securely in place. Missing or poorly fitted filters can allow dirt and contaminants to enter.

4) When your service provider is conducting routine maintenance on your system, be sure to ask them to clean cooling coils and drain pans.

5) During construction work that produces dirt and dust in your building, seal off the supply and return registers and do not operate the heating and cooling system until after cleaning up.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Taking a few extra moments to routinely check and replace your building’s air duct filters can help save your health, the environment, and money in the long-term as it will eliminate the need to hire outside assistance in contamination clean-up!