If you’ve ever had an HVAC tech push you to invest in air duct cleaning services, you were probably a bit conflicted. On one hand, it sounds logical. It makes sense that your air ducts get dirty over time and, like any other part of your system, if it’s dirty it should be cleaned...right? On the other hand, how can you be sure that your air ducts are actually dirty? Is “air duct cleaning” really necessary or are you being scammed? Well, here’s the true answer according to the Environmental Protection Agency: You should never invest in air duct cleaning except on an “as-needed” basis. So when is air duct cleaning needed? When you have one of these 3 issues: Want to know how to spot the signs of each of these situations? Signs: Mold visible on air vents, smells musty (sometimes described as a pungent, sweet cedar smell or dirty socks) Mold on or around air vents is a sign that your ducts should be cleaned. What to do: If you think you have mold in your air ducts, you can try taking picture of the inside of your air ducts with your phone to confirm that there is mold.

Otherwise, have a professional inspect the ducts for mold. If they come back saying that there is mold, make sure they can show you a picture. If there is mold, you’ll need to remove the conditions causing it, otherwise the mold will just come back. homemade air cleanerFor example, if your ducts are insulated and the insulation got wet and grew mold, the insulation needs to be removed and replaced.air purifier whole foods Mold on air duct insulation.air duct mold control Signs: A rotting smell that gets worse when the AC turns on, you see bugs crawling out of vents, you notice small droppings, food or remains of pests when you remove register and look into vents. What to do: First, you’ll want to call an exterminator to get rid of the pests.

Then, have a professional clean your ducts to remove the bacteria, droppings, dander, skin, etc. left behind by the pests. Signs: A puff of dust shoots out from registers when AC kicks on, the house is dusty a day or two after cleaning the house. What to do: Have a professional come in to clean your ducts. If you think you have any of these issues, your next step is to choose a company that offers duct cleaning services. But beware, there are plenty of companies who claim to offer duct cleaning services but don’t actually clean your air ducts thoroughly. Or they may only clean a small portion of the ductwork (i.e. only the part of the ducts that are visible when peering into the registers). To differentiate between an honest company and one that is just out for your money, check out these tips: Signs of an honest duct cleaning company: Signs of a dishonest duct cleaning company: At MSP, we provide air duct cleaning services but will never push a homeowner to invest in the service unless it’s absolutely needed.

Think you have one of the 3 issues we discussed above?Just schedule your appointment with our licensed techs today.You know that dirt and debris can collect inside your ducts. But when is it too much? When should you get them cleaned? The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) answers that question in their paper Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned?. Here are their 3 situations when you should consider cleaning your ducts. If your ducts are infested with rodents or insects, you should have them cleaned. You’d do the same if any other part of your home was infested, right? After all, the feces, saliva and body parts of cockroaches and other pests can cause allergic reactions or trigger asthma symptoms, especially in children. Contact a pest control expert to get rid of the infestation, and then a duct cleaning expert to remove any allergens still in your ducts. If you notice dust actually blowing out of your air vents when your air conditioner, furnace or heat pump turns on, you should have your air ducts cleaned.

But don’t stop there. Have your air ducts checked out for leaks. One of the most common reasons for that excessive dust buildup is leaky air ducts. Learn more in our article: Why Does My Home Get So Dusty So Fast? We agree with the EPA that if you have mold inside your ducts or on other parts of your heating and cooling system, you should get them cleaned. This can help reduce the chance of mold spores being released into your home’s air. But, this has to be done by mold remediation specialist. These companies are specially trained in the safe removal of mold from your home. So if you suspect there might be mold in your ducts, here’s what to do: The EPA has this recommendation: If you think duct cleaning might be a good idea for your home, but you are not sure, talk to a professional. The company that services your heating and cooling system may be a good source of advice.We’d be happy to check out your ducts for you and give you our advice. Just schedule an appointment with us.

For more information on our duct cleaning service and some before and after photos, check out: What is Cleaned in a Duct Cleaning by George Brazil? Click on the dust mite above, to learn more about them on our dust mite page... * * * Order Filters Here! a. How do I know if it’s time to clean my air duct system? b. How often should my ductwork be cleaned? c. How does Clean Air Service, Inc. clean air ducts? d. Why cleaning by a certified ventilation inspector? e. What should I do before/after my ductwork is cleaned? f. Will my house get dirty when you clean the ductwork? g. How much does duct cleaning usually cost? a. What is asbestos? b. Why won’t Clean Air Service, Inc. clean air ducts wrapped with asbestos? c. How do I get rid of it? a. What is mold? b. Where is mold commonly found? c. What are the air-quality consequences? a. What is radon? b. How much is too much radon? Navigation Tip: If you click on the blue questions above, the page will scroll directly to the question you click.

You can always click "Top of Page" to return to the top. How do I know if it’s time to clean my air duct system? It might be time to clean your air ducts if: You regulary clean excessive dust accumulations from furniture or other household items. You notice "musty" or "stale" odors when the furnace or air conditioner is operating. You have recently moved to or are currently living in a home that appears to have never been cleaned or has not been cleaned for a long time. Someone in your home or business suffers from allergies, asthma or respiratory problems and their symptoms have been getting gradually/rapidly worse. Someone in your family or business suffers from headaches, nasal congestion, nausea, burning sensations in the nose, throat or eyes when they are inside the home or business. You have dogs, cats or other pets that shed hair or dander in your home. There are/were smokers in your home or office. (This is characteristic of brown or sometimes black sticky tar coating air ducts and register covers.)

These situations can create indoor air pollution that your HVAC system may circulate or disturb when the system is running. Call Clean Air Service, Inc. and you'll breathe easy! How often should my ductwork be cleaned? Clean Air Service, Inc. speaks from experience when we say "Any time is usually a good time to clean the ductwork in your home or business." We find all sorts of interesting items in ductwork like marbles, coins, toys, historic documents and pictures but unfortunately we also find things that are a little less pleasant. It's sometimes difficult to tell what might be lurking in an HVAC system until it is cleaned, especially in older homes or buildings. Although the EPA recommends air duct cleaning every 3-5 years, we have found certain times warrant special attention to ductwork cleaning including: New construction or remodeling - because drywall dust, saw dust and construction debris always seem to find their way into the air duct system. Furnace replacement or the addition of new ductwork - if the furnace is already it will save you and us time during the cleaning process.

A newer, more efficient furnace may disturb debris your old furnace didn't affect. Creating or modifying ductwork also changes how air is directed and new ductwork can quickly become contaminated by old dust and debris that previously had no place to go. Duct cleaning is still a relatively new application for indoor air quality; unfortunately, this also means many homes and businesses have not established routine maintenance or cleaning to keep the HVAC system operating at peak efficiency. Call or email us today to see if your home or business is a good candidate for air duct cleaning. How does Clean Air Service, Inc. clean air ducts? Clean Air Service, Inc. technicians are trained to use a variety of cleaning techniques that vary based on the application. More information about our cleaning process can be found on our Air Duct Cleaning page or by clicking: ***HERE*** Why cleaning by a certified ventilation inspector? The answer to this question can be found by visiting our Air Duct Cleaning page or by clicking: ***HERE***

What should I do before/after my ductwork is cleaned? That's a great question, we're glad you asked! We've actually assembled some checklists you can use to help determine what you should do before and after the cleaning. Click on the respective checklist names to visit them on our Checklists page: Will my house get dirty when you clean the ductwork? Clean Air Service, Inc. generally uses negative air pressure to clean HVAC systems. That means all the dust and debris we agitate gets drawn into our vacuums or other equipment rather than blowing all around your environment. For sensitive working environments, we also offer HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filtered cleaning to filter up to 0.3 microns of dust or other contaminates. Although some small dust accumulations may occur near register or access openings, we do our best to clean the mess we make. You can help us keep your house clean by following the instructions on our Pre-cleaning Checklist. How much does duct cleaning typically cost?

Our pricing is based on a number of factors that depend primarily on the size and layout of your home. To ensure you are getting the most accurate quote, please call or email us today and we would be happy to give you a personalized estimate! Asbestos is a mineral fiber commonly used for insulation. When asbestos is damaged or moved, microscopic fibers can be inhaled into the lungs leading to negative health side effects. For more information about asbestos, please visit the US EPA's webpage: http://www.epa.gov/asbestos/. You can also see pictures of asbestos on ductwork on our Asbestos page: ***HERE*** Why won’t Clean Air Service, Inc. clean air ducts wrapped with asbestos? Unfortunately, the health risks of disturbing asbestos deter us from cleaning your ductwork until it is removed. Please remove any asbestos on or near your ductwork before scheduling an appointment with us. What should be done about it in your home? The EPA has some great information about what course of action should be taken when asbestos is found: EPA Link.

The following information about mold was taken from the Aller Air Industries website: Mold is a simple, microscopic organism, present virtually everywhere, indoors and outdoors. For molds to grow and reproduce, they need moisture and a food source (any organic material, such as leaves, wood, paper, or dirt.) Because molds grow by digesting the organic material, they gradually destroy whatever they grow on. Sometimes, new molds grow on old mold colonies. Molds release countless tiny lightweight spores that travel through the air. If they land on a damp area the spores begin to grow and digest what they are attached to. Where is mold commonly found? Mold needs dampness to grow so it will be found in basements, bathrooms, kitchens and after a water leak or flood. Mold growth on surfaces can often be seen in the form of discoloration, frequently green, gray, brown, or black but also white and other colors. Mold may appear on ceiling tiles floors, windowsills, insulation, carpet, furniture, behind ductwork and walls (including wallpaper) and in cardboard or paper.