(NAPSI)—Two out of three American homes get a thorough cleaning at least once a year, reports the American Cleaning Institute, often in the springtime.

A Problem

That can be a healthy thing to do, but there’s one place even the most fastidious families can forget: the air ducts. This can be a problem in homes with pets, plants, or people with allergies. Dirty filters let dust, dander, allergens and mold spores in. So do leaks around duct joints. In a typical six-room home, up to 40 pounds of dirt—including dangerous chemicals and other pollutants—is created annually through everyday living. The contaminants cause the heating and cooling system to work harder, use more energy and wear out faster. That can cost you money—the U.S. Department of Energy says 25 to 40 percent of the energy used for heating or cooling a home is wasted.

An Answer

Fortunately, you can fix this. Have the ducts cleaned regularly by a member of the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA). NADCA members possess general liability insurance, are trained and tested regularly, sign on to a code of ethics, and must clean and restore your heating and cooling system in accordance with NADCA standards, so they provide a high level of security.

Learn More

For further facts on having healthy air in a healthy home, go to www.BreathingClean.com. To find a NADCA member nearby, go to http://nadca.com/en/prosearch/all and enter your zip code.

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