Homeowners often take on the task of cleaning the air ducts lining their homes. They could do it themselves, but they prefer professional cleaning services instead. Professional services utilize air duct cleaning equipment and supplies on the entire system, including the return vents, ducts tracts, intake, and supply outlets. In addition, they may even service the fans, registers, HVAC units, and grills as well.
It’s better to have that professional touch when cleaning the air ducts using professional air duct cleaning tools. You get the best maintenance results and can enjoy a much healthier home. But how often should extensive air duct cleaning be taken up? Some experts recommend cleaning the air ducts every three to five years, while in other cases, every two to three years.
Why is air duct cleaning necessary?
It’s important to take really good care of the quality of the air inside your home. Air ducts are required for boosting the air flows indoors but can agitate respiratory reactions even in the healthiest people. Air ducts can collect pollen, mold spores, dust particles, insects’ droppings, animal dander, etc. If left as they are, the ducts could lead to health issues. Some of the common signs that indicate whether you need to invest in air duct cleaning equipment and supplies include:
Clogged debris and dust
Sometimes you might notice small bits of dust being blown out as soon as you start up your HVAC system. These few, smaller puffs indicate a lot more of that dust deeper in the air ducts and air registers that you can’t spot easily. If the ducts are cleaned, you won’t see that debris, dust being released each time you run the HVAC.
Clogged air filters
If you find yourself changing the air filters too often, it’s a sign that the ducts need cleaning. Air filters need to be replaced frequently, as they’re supposed to trap dander pollen, debris, dirt, and airborne contaminants. However, if you need to change them every few days, then it’s better to call the professionals. Professionals check and clean out the ducts with air duct cleaning equipment and supplies.
Presence of mildew around the HVAC units
Mold and mildew have a bad effect on your health and breathing, exacerbating respiratory and allergic conditions. When you run the HVAC system while it is covered in mold, you eventually spread more mold spores around the rest of the house. You don’t have to buy air duct cleaning machine just for this; the cost-effective way to get rid of mold around the HVAC is to call the professionals. Apart from mold removal, they might even suggest other effective solutions too. For example, you might require a dehumidifier since mildew is commonly found in damp/wet areas.
Inconsistent air flows
One of the most obvious signs of dirty air ducts is inconsistent airflow throughout the house. The main purpose of ducts is to provide the same amount of air to all rooms. Technicians equipped with professional air duct cleaning tools will know which parts of the ductwork need clearing out.
How to clean an air duct
Undertaking the cleaning of the air ducts system isn’t easy as there are so many parts to it. Various grills, pipes, filters, and switches require different air duct cleaning equipment and supplies. Investing in professional cleaning services is faster, affordable, and leaves you with lasting results. Companies that offer cleaning services use various professional air duct cleaning tools varying from smaller tools, heavy machinery, and inspection tools. So, how do professional duct cleaning services put all these fancy tools together?
Inspection of the whole air duct system
Technicians will first take a closer look at the duct system to determine the cause of a problem. To do that, they will evaluate access points on those ducts and the conditions inside them. Technicians may do inspections with a simple mirror; other times, they may use a periscope or CCTV fitted on flexible cables for those hard-to-reach areas inside the ducts. They might even use inspection equipment to find out if something is clogged, find the source of odors, etc. After this initial check is completed, they recommend the cleaning techniques best suited for the ducts and other issues.
Cleaning
One of the common professional air duct cleaning tools is a vacuum collection unit. This vacuum unit is used for collecting debris and dust trapped inside the vents. A technician will ensure that the air pressure inside the vents is negative to prevent the dust from being blown into the house. Next, the vacuum unit is attached to any access point in the ductwork, and it begins collecting pollutants, even growth on the duct walls.
Post cleaning inspection
After the cleaning activity, technicians use their air duct cleaning equipment and supplies to inspect the cleaning results. This last activity is when technicians check to see if they missed anything or if certain ducts still need to be cleaned.
