Does air duct cleaning really make a difference?
Duct cleaning has never been shown to actually prevent health problems. Neither do studies conclusively demonstrate that particle (e.g., dust) levels in homes increase because of dirty air ducts. This is because much of the dirt in air ducts adheres to duct surfaces and does not necessarily enter the living space.
What are the cons of duct cleaning?
Furnace duct cleaning consYour air filter(s) (should) already keep dust out of your ducts. If you don't see mold, insects/rodents or excessive dust coming from your vents then you may not need a duct cleaning. ... You risk damage to your ducts, if you don't hire the right contractor.
What are the pros and cons of having your air ducts cleaned?
Air Duct Cleaning Pros and ConsIncrease efficiency and lifespan of your HVAC. ... Eliminating the risk of dangerous diseases. ... A hygiene environment without allergens. ... Get rid of unpleasant odours. ... Don't spend money every year. ... A visual inspection is not possible. ... Some systems might need replacement. ... It was just a change of filter.
How often should ducts be cleaned in a house?
every three to five yearsThe recommendation for air duct cleaning is every three to five years. But it depends on various factors. Location, climate, and HVAC use affect air duct cleaning frequency schedules. Other issues, like mold and illness, may also be a sign that your ducts need cleaning.
What happens if you don't clean your air ducts?
If you allow dust and other outside particles to build up inside your HVAC and your air ducts, you're likely to see shortness of breath, chest pain and other common symptoms of an asthma flare-up. These problems are all completely avoidable as long as you're regularly cleaning out your filter and your air ducts.
How do I prepare my home for air duct cleaning?
How to Prepare for a Professional Duct Cleaning AppointmentClean Up Clutter Around Vents and Registers. ... Clear Space Around Your Furnace or Air Conditioner. ... Determine Where You'll Keep Pets. ... Decide Whether You'll Stay or Leave. ... Do a Walk-Through With the Duct Cleaning Specialists.More items...•
Does cleaning air ducts make a mess?
Will Air Duct Cleaning Make A Mess Of My Home? No, it won't. If you hire a professional company to clean your air ducts, such as Dustless Duct, your home will be clean and tidy when they're done.
Why is my house so dusty?
Usually, a dusty house is because of a lack of airflow or a contaminated flow of air that carries millions of microparticles. These are largely dead skin cells, hair particles, pet dander, carpet fibers, clothing and upholstery, dust mite, bedding fragments, and outdoor pollutants.
How do I know if my ducts need to be cleaned?
11 Signs Your Ducts Should Be CleanedVents & ducts are clogged with dust and debris. ... Your air filters become clogged. ... Unpleasant odor from ducts. ... Mold & mildew presence inside or outside your HVAC system. ... Unstable or poor airflow in the house. ... Insects, rodents and other vermin infestation in your air ducts.More items...
Will my house be dusty after duct cleaning?
There will literally be less dust when you have clean ducts. The reason behind this is that air ducts that are clogged with debris blow the same dusty debris into every surface of your home, making it more time-consuming and demanding to clean your home. Once your ducts are clear, you simply won't have to dust as much.
What time of the year is best for duct cleaning?
springAir duct cleaning is best done in the spring. It's a great way to ensure you and your family don't breathe in microscopic dust, mould and even mouse droppings.
Does cleaning air ducts make a mess?
Will Air Duct Cleaning Make A Mess Of My Home? No, it won't. If you hire a professional company to clean your air ducts, such as Dustless Duct, your home will be clean and tidy when they're done.
Are Dirty air ducts a health hazard?
Develop Respiratory Infections, Disease If your air ducts remain uncleaned, these issues could develop into something worse–a lower respiratory infection such as bronchitis or pneumonia.
Which duct cleaning method is the best?
Power Vacuum or Air Sweep – this is a meticulous method of duct cleaning, although, more expensive. It does the best job of removing dirt in an extremely careful manner. Point of Contact – while this may not be as thorough as the air sweep method, it is safer for the vents and air ducts.
Can dirty air ducts affect air conditioning?
Many homeowners don't know this, but the excessive buildup of dirt and debris in the average home's ductwork can interfere with the overall performance of both air conditioning and heating systems.
What is duct cleaning?
NADCA recommends duct cleaning as part of an overall HVAC system cleaning that includes cleaning and replacing the air filter, cleaning grilles and diffusers, checking drain pans and drain lines for proper drainage, checking the heat exchanger and cooling coils, grills, furnace air plenum, blower motor, etc.
How does duct cleaning work?
Please understand that duct cleaning uses specialized tools to agitate and dislodge dirt in the ducts to make the dirt and other contaminants increasingly loose and airborne before they are vacuumed out. Sometimes the ducts are cut for tool access and needs to be carefully resealed.
Why is the EPA not cleaning air ducts?
In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency states the “EPA does not recommend that air ducts be cleaned except on an as-needed basis because of the continuing uncertainty about the benefits of duct cleaning under most circumstances.”
How much does a blow and go duct cleaning cost?
They usually accompany an offer to assess or clean your home’s ducts for a very cheap price, say $49.95 or even less. As they often work on commission, they will try high-pressure sales techniques to sell you on expensive add-on services (mold testing, etc) or other service upgrades. They may try to charge for duct restoration, branch duct cleaning, etc. Some may even falsely claim they found mold in your ducts. Complaints abound about some unscrupulous “blow-and-go” companies using air fragrances, false mold tests showing positive results, handheld dust-buster vacuums, simple drills with brushes, etc.
What causes air ducts to be contaminated?
Air ducts can be contaminated with mold, bacteria, pollen, dust mites, chemical residue, and other household pollutants. A malfunctioning HVAC system, ineffective air filters, improperly installed ductwork, and moisture buildup all can cause air duct contamination. For example, if the vacuum hose/containment system is not sealed tightly ...
How to minimize risk of HVAC system cleaning?
How to Minimize Risk If You Are Going to Have Your HVAC System Cleaned. Start by selecting and using a qualified contractor. Duct and HVAC system cleaning that is performed by someone who is trained and certified by the National Air Duct Cleaning Association (NADCA) has the best chance of being done safely.
What is an ASCS in HVAC?
According to NADCA, the major trade association for contractors doing air duct/HVAC system cleaning, its members need to have at least one certified Air Systems Cleaning Specialist (ASCS) on staff and they are responsible to clean and restore a customer’s HVAC system accordance with the association’s standards and guidelines. 2
What to do if there is an animal in my HVAC?
Animals:If there’s evidence of animal infestation or nesting in your ducts or HVAC system, have the animals removed then clean the ductwork and HVAC unit .
What is duct cleaning?
Professional duct cleaning services use specialized blowers, vacuums, and brushes to clean out the supply, intake, and return ducts throughout your home. Duct cleaning should also involve a thorough cleaning of the air handler, registers, grilles, fans, motors, housings, and coils of the HVAC system.
How much dust does a duct cleaner get?
Keep in mind that most duct cleaning companies will only get 80% of the dust , or less at best. Keep in mind that most of the dust in your home is lint from clothes and linens, and skin cells from you and your pets and is constantly being generated. Dust that builds up in ductwork , generally stays in the ductwork.
Why did my smoke detector go off in one room?
In one room this caused a ceiling smoke detector to go off because the excess dust fooled it into thinking there was smoke.
Can you replace duct cleaning with a rotating brush?
If the duct cleaning has a rotating brush it will remove part of the glue that is holding the Fiberglass in the ducts together, PERIOD no matter how much the say it don’ t because the brush is soft.
Is duct cleaning a profit?
I have worked with dozens of HVAC companies over the years as an operations and sales consultant. Duct cleaning is one of the lowest-risk highest-profit services an HVAC company can offer,and it is almost always a completely unnecessary waste of a homeowner’s money. Period, end of story.
Does duct cleaning hurt?
If done properly, duct cleaning doesn’t hurt; but it’s not something that needs to be on your regular home maintenance list. You probably don’t need to have your ducts and HVAC system cleaned unless:
When Is Air Duct Cleaning a Good Idea?
While the health benefits of air duct cleaning are questionable when it comes to removing allergens and tiny particulates, the EPA specifies three situations in which the agency recommends it:
What Is Encapsulation?
Encapsulation is the method used by duct cleaning services to deal with dust and pathogens clinging to duct walls made or lined with fiberglass duct board. Encapsulation is also known as sealing because the process also results in all ductwork leaks being sealed, although there are other ways to do that — the simplest being to cover leaky joints and holes with aluminum foil tape. Besides sealing in pathogens, encapsulation also seals the fraying edges of worn fiberglass duct joints and prevents the fibers from blowing through the system and out the vents. If a fiber duct system was installed before the 1980s, encapsulation is more of a necessity than an option because the ductwork as well as the tape used to seal the joints could include asbestos.
What is encapsulation in duct cleaning?
Encapsulation is the method used by duct cleaning services to deal with dust and pathogens clinging to duct walls made or lined with fiberglass duct board. Encapsulation is also known as sealing because the process also results in all ductwork leaks being sealed, although there are other ways to do that — the simplest being to cover leaky joints and holes with aluminum foil tape. Besides sealing in pathogens, encapsulation also seals the fraying edges of worn fiberglass duct joints and prevents the fibers from blowing through the system and out the vents. If a fiber duct system was installed before the 1980s, encapsulation is more of a necessity than an option because the ductwork as well as the tape used to seal the joints could include asbestos.
How to prevent mold in ducts?
The easiest way to prevent a mold infestation is to keep the inside of the ducts as dry as possible, and well-placed plants can also keep the air healthy in your house.
Why does mold grow in ductwork?
Poor insulation is the most common cause of the growth of mold and other pathogens inside ducts. Moisture condenses out of the air and collects on the sides of metal ducts when there's a temperature differential between the inside and outside of the duct. This can happen on a hot day when the air conditioner is on or on a cold day when the heating system is running. Water also tends to condense onto the evaporator coils for an air conditioning or heat pump system, and mold could grow there if dirty filters are restricting airflow.
Where is mold growth on ducts?
Mold growth is visible in any part of the system, including around the edges of the vents on the inside of the ducts just beyond the vent openings, on the supply register or on an air filter. You have an infestation of vermin, including rodents or insects.
Why is it important to clean ducts?
Clean ducts are vital for proper airflow, which is necessary for the health of all the occupants of the building as well as for the HVAC system itself, which can overheat and shut down if a buildup of dust in the duct system interferes with ventilation.
