If you’re like I used to be, you might be a little confused about air duct cleaning.
you may wonder:
- “What should I expect from the contractor?”
- “Who can I trust?”
- “What is air duct cleaning?”
Well, let’s start with a look at how a heating and cooling system is properly cleaned.
Loosening contaminants
Loosening contaminants is the first major element to proper cleaning and it’s done using:
- Brushes
- Air whips
- Compressed air
Which tools are used is based on the type of ductwork being cleaned.
whether your home has:
- Flexible ductwork
- Duct board
- Sheet metal ductwork
The technician cleaning your heating and cooling system will know the correct tools to use.
The second major element to proper duct cleaning is:
collecting or removing the loose and contaminants from the system.
This process is done using negative pressure collection equipment.
Just think of a really big vacuum. This vacuum not only sucks down the dirt and contaminants removing them from your heating and cooling system, but it also keeps contaminants from getting into the living areas of your home during the cleaning process.
the vacuum equipment may be:
- Portable and brought directly into your home.
- Truck-mounted.
Both types will provide sufficient suction to ensure the contaminants are removed from your heating and cooling system and not released into your home.
Depending on the type of equipment used, the technician may cover all the vents in your home.
service openings need to be created in the duct system for attaching the vacuum and using agitation tools.
rest assured that these services will be sealed once the cleaning process has been completed.
Next, your Air Duct contractor will turn his attention to the other components inside your heating and cooling system.
This includes making sure your:
- Blower
- Blower motor
- Cooling coils
- The external surfaces of your heat exchanger are clean!
A heating and cooling system cleaning are not complete until all those components are clean!
How long will this whole cleaning process take?
Well, there are many things that can affect the amount of time it takes to clean a heating and cooling system.
In general, a proper cleaning for an average single furnace home will take three to five hours for a two-person crew. and the fact is, it takes time to do the job right.
How clean is the cooling system in your home?
Here’s a quick way to check:
Remove A vent cover, and use a mirror and flashlight to look inside.
or use a small digital camera to take a picture of the inside of your duct.
If your ducks look neglected and dirty. it’s time to call a professional constructor.
make sure to check that the company you are looking to hire will comply with International cleaning standards as well as their code of ethics.
they must have general liability insurance and maintain at least one Certified Air systems cleaning specialist on staff at all times.
The air systems cleaning specialist certification verifies that they have successfully completed rigorous testing on heating and cooling system components and cleaning techniques.
So that was an overview of the cleaning process!
Spending a little time maintaining your home’s heating and cooling system will help keep your home and family comfortable and healthy!
Thanks for reading and we hope you found this article informative!