air duct cleaning tips

See if We Have Top-RatedCleaning Services in Your Area Duct cleaning is one of those tasks that it's easy to forget about. Since ducts and vents are often overlooked, many homeowners might not even remember the last time they had them attended to. The fact is, however, that duct and vent cleaning may have health advantages, and might even reduce your energy bills and extend the life of your forced air system. Vent and Duct Cleaning and Indoor Air Quality One thing to consider when you're thinking about vent and duct cleaning is the fact that indoor air quality is decreasing. This is due in part to the popularity of high-efficiency windows, doors, and increased insulation that reduce the amount of air transfer between inside and outside. Though these fixtures are great when it comes to reducing energy costs and making a room more comfortable, they are often not supplemented with any additional ventilation, causing pollutants that enter the home to remain inside instead of leaking out through drafty windows and gaps.
The verdict still isn't in on whether or not duct and vent cleaning is going to improve indoor air quality in every situation. spray gun cleaning stationThough there is literature out there to support either side of the debate, we do know that in certain cases, duct cleaning is likely to find and remove harmful molds, fungus, and/or microbes from an infected system. air purifier cleaning instructionsAt the very least, duct and vent cleaning is not going to do your home any harm, and there is a chance that it will actually increase the quality of your indoor air.air purifier singapore where got stock How Duct and Vent Cleaning Works There are two ways of duct and vent cleaning. One system is connected into the ducting to provide suction.
A high-pressure air hose is passed through the ducting to remove the particles from the interior. The other system uses a large specialized vacuum attached to a hose and a brushing system that is run through the ducting. Both systems are effective when operated by properly trained personnel. A proper cleaning should include the following: cleaning of all registers, inside the ducting, and the interior of the heating and ventilating system. The furnace fan must be cleaned, and if you have air conditioning or a heat pump, the coils inside the system must also be thoroughly cleaned. Finally, a disinfectant can be fogged through the cleaned system to eliminate any mold, bacteria, and dust mites that might remain. Proper cleaning of a home should take a minimum of three to five hours, depending on the size of the house. If the home has more than one heating and cooling system, or the system is located on the roof, it can take longer. Most duct cleaning companies base their price upon square footage and/or the number of registers, systems, and levels to be cleaned and charge between $90 and $125 per hour to properly clean a duct system.
If a much lower price is offered, a consumer needs to make sure that the price includes a thorough cleaning, including registers, the inside of the ductwork, and all the fans and coils. Charging extra for cleaning fans and coils is unreasonable because those steps are mandatory for having a properly cleaned system. Jon Nunan is a freelance writer who draws on his experience in construction, ranging from landscaping to log home building, for his articles on home improvement. More Tips & Advice For Your Home Breathing Better in Your HomeCarpet Care TipsWhy Is It So Important to Keep Ducts Clean? Organize Your Closet, Organize Your Life Prevent Wear with Fabric Protection Powered by
The Home Depot Quality ProsGuaranteeContact Us5 Tips for Air Duct CleaningThe air ducts in your home have an important job, moving air throughout your house via your heating or cooling system. Over time, it’s possible that air ducts will become dirty or contaminated with mold and dust.
If people in your family have environmental sensitivities, they may have health issues connected with dirty air ducts. Visit the Environmental Protection Agency website for a comprehensive discussion about the purpose and benefits of cleaning your air ducts. Although the EPA doesn’t specifically recommend air duct cleaning, you will learn important information that will help you decide whether you need to have yours cleaned. Once you’re ready to proceed, learn five tips for air duct cleaning to make sure that you proceed correctly with the cleaning project. If mold develops, it will appear inside the hard surfaces of the air ducts or on other areas of a heating and cooling system. Mold develops in areas where moisture accumulates with inadequate ventilation. If mold develops inside your air ducts, it can create an unhealthy indoor environment because as air travels through the ducts, mold spores will release into this air and enter your living areas. If mold develops, it will appear inside the hard surfaces of the air ducts or on other areas of a heating and cooling system.
While you may be able to see areas that appear to have mold, the only way to ascertain definitively that you have mold is to conduct a laboratory analysis of a sample from your air ducts. Lacking this sample, you won’t know for sure whether you have a mold issue. If insulated air ducts develop mold with moist and moldy insulation, the best course of action is to remove the damaged insulation and replace it.Check for Clogs and Debris It’s also possible for clogs to accumulate in air ducts from debris and even from rodents and insects. If this happens to an extreme degree, you might even notice particles releasing into the air from the air ducts. The danger from these particles blowing into your home comes from possible mold and mildew that might develop from decaying organic matter. Get a Cleaning Estimate Because the air duct system is likely extensive, traveling through areas of your home that may be difficult to access, it’s usually a good idea to hire a professional air duct cleaner.
Supervise the estimate process so you see how the representative examines your ducts to arrive at the estimate. If the representative suggests that mold exists in your ducts, insist on laboratory analysis to confirm before proceeding with mold removal. Understand that if you are cleaning out existing mold or replacing moldy insulation, part of the repair process has to include remedying the environment that enabled mold to develop in the first place. If you don’t fix these issues, more mold will develop. Research any companies that you consider hiring for air duct cleaning. Get references or testimonials from satisfied customers. Check the Better Business Bureau to see if other customers have registered complaints about the company. Get an estimate before you hire anybody and make sure you have a contract for service that includes price and services provided, as well as any service guarantees. While clean air ducts won’t necessarily guarantee more efficient heating and cooling or the longer life of your HVAC unit, occasional cleaning usually makes sense.