A Duct Cleaning Service Expert Explains What The Duct Cleaning Process Entails | Fort Worth, TX
You might not realize that the air you breathe inside your home or office could be up to five times more polluted than the outside air. That’s right, indoor air pollution is a real issue and can significantly impact your health. The culprit? Your HVAC system’s ductwork can harbor dust, mold, and other harmful contaminants. But don’t worry. There’s a solution: duct cleaning. In this article, we’ll dive into the duct cleaning process, why it’s so important, and what you can expect from a professional duct cleaning service.
What Is Duct Cleaning?
Duct cleaning entails removing various impurities and pollutants from duct systems. These contaminants might include dust, mold, dirt, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and germs. A professional duct cleaning service will often utilize industrial-strength vacuum cleaners to collect and dispose of all the accumulated dirt, dust, and debris to clean air ducts effectively.
Importance of Duct Cleaning
Ducts are an integral part of your HVAC system, allowing conditioned air to be distributed throughout your home. These ducts will, over time, naturally gather dirt, dust, and other debris, all of which can impact the performance of your HVAC system. A filthy HVAC system will have to work more to heat and cool your house, and its performance may suffer. Your utility costs will increase as a direct result of this. Hiring a professional duct cleaning service is the most effective way to avoid this.
Signs Your Air Ducts Need to Be Cleaned
Mold
The presence of mold is not a good sign. It might indicate various problems with your ductwork (including a moisture problem). There are several reasons to deal with mold growth, the most significant being safety. Mold exposure can aggravate respiratory and other health issues. Don’t hesitate to contact our duct cleaning service if you see mold in your ducts.
Dust and Debris
The existence of a dust cloud when the HVAC system is turned on is probably indicative of dirty air ducts. Under normal conditions, when you turn on your HVAC system and the air begins to circulate through the ducts, you won’t see any dust or debris being blown around. Thus, the presence of visible dust means the air ducts are dirty.
Rodent or Insect Infestation
The presence of vermin in your ventilation system is a significant issue. If you have any suspicion of an infestation in your ducts, it is time to call a professional duct cleaning service to inspect and clean your ductwork. Watch for tiny scrapes, bug shells, and rodent poop. Any of these might indicate the presence of uninvited occupants in your vents.
Unpleasant Odor from the Ducts
If your home has a musty odor and you can’t determine the source, the cause may be dirty air ducts. The next time you turn on the air conditioner or heater, pay attention to see whether the odor intensifies.
The heat from the HVAC system can cause dust to burn, releasing a musty odor. The odor you’re experiencing may be from burning dust and filth in your air ducts. This indicates that you should call a duct cleaning service.
Poor Airflow
An HVAC system doesn’t just cool or heat your house. It also provides air circulation. One of the many purposes of your HVAC system is to maintain air circulation and avoid the buildup of stale air. But if your air ducts aren’t clean, you may find that the airflow isn’t as good as it usually is. This is because the buildup of dirt and grime in your air ducts prevents air from circulating.
Take a look at the vents’ grilles. Remove any dirt and filth with a quick wipe. Then call a duct cleaning service to perform a thorough decontamination of the inside of your air ducts.
High Energy Costs
The HVAC system may get clogged by a dirt buildup in the ductwork. Thus, the air conditioner and the furnace must work harder to keep you comfortable. Energy costs will increase due to the additional energy needed to run the air conditioner.
In addition, the HVAC system may supply different temperatures to different rooms or zones. These temperature swings can result in increased energy costs.
Benefits of Air Duct Cleaning
Improved Air Quality
Activities such as cooking and smoking produce air pollutants and toxins, which are sucked into the HVAC system and accumulate in the ductwork. According to the National Air Duct Cleaners Association, unclean air ducts recirculate pollutants and toxins five to seven times daily. By calling a duct cleaning service to remove the dust and debris in the ducts, you’ll get a cleaner HVAC system that can distribute clean air throughout your home or office.
It Will Improve the Efficiency of Your HVAC Unit
Airflow is obstructed when the dust and debris in the ducts reach a specific threshold. This will result in an inefficient flow of conditioned air, leading to uneven temperatures around your home. There won’t be enough warm or cold air circulating, so your HVAC system must work harder. Thus, the utility costs will increase since the device consumes more power. When you call a duct cleaning service to clean your ducts, the HVAC system will function more effectively and use less energy.
Reduced Allergies
Spring is a crucial time for duct cleaning due to the increased pollen and allergens in the air. Pet dander, mold, insects, and rodents might be stuck in the ducts from the winter. Because of this decline in indoor air quality, those allergic to airborne allergens may experience breathing difficulties. The air quality in your house can be enhanced by calling a duct cleaning service.
It Removes Unpleasant Smells and Odors
Several factors, including cooking, painting, cleaning products, smoking, and mildew, can cause household odors. A home’s duct system can act as a reservoir for stale air, recirculating the same smells endlessly. Bad odors can also be produced by mold growth and bacteria in the ducts. When ducts aren’t maintained, animals like rats and mice can get inside and leave their waste behind. Some get caught, perish, and decay, creating a putrid stench.
Odors like that persist even after you’ve opened the windows and used air fresheners. Calling a duct cleaning company to clean the ducts removes impurities and dead animals and deters insects from breeding since they have fewer places to hide. As a result, your home will once again have that pleasant, clean aroma.
Duct Cleaning Can Increase the Lifespan of Your Unit
If your ducts are dirty, your air conditioner must work harder to cool your home. This stresses the system and causes deterioration, ultimately resulting in inconvenient breakdowns during the hot season. This means you’ll have to schedule emergency maintenance calls more frequently. Operating the unit in such a state will put undue stress on the motors and the compressor, leading to their ultimate breakdown and the HVAC system’s failure. The whole thing will break down sooner than intended, and you’ll have to replace it. Your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system will last longer if the air ducts are cleaned more often.
What Does Duct Cleaning Entail?
Cleaning the ducts thoroughly will ensure no part of the system is re-contaminated. In most cases, a duct cleaning service will first use specialized tools to dislodge the debris and then use strong vacuum cleaning equipment to suck them up afterward. Occasionally, the ducts are cut to facilitate tool access and then resealed afterward.
Pre-Inspection
The expert must inspect the ductwork to evaluate its current state and select an appropriate cleaning method. In addition to this, the examination helps detect any damaged parts. The technician may charge extra to fix or replace these parts.
Cleaning
The technician’s first step in duct cleaning will be using a vacuum cleaner to remove debris. They’ll use specialized equipment to clean your ducts, then vacuum any remaining dust and debris. With a length of 20 feet (or more! ), this instrument will surely hit every target.
When the debris has been removed from the ducts, the expert will thoroughly sanitize the interior of your system. The result is a clean environment free of allergies, dust, and germs. As a result, the indoor air quality in your home will improve, and mold development will be prevented within your ductwork.
The HVAC specialist will then change the filters in your system. Otherwise, the air conditioner would pump your freshly cleaned ducts full of dirty air.
Final Walkthrough
Once the professional has finished cleaning the ducts, they must do another examination to ensure everything was thoroughly cleaned. Make sure everything is clean and snug by doing a complete system check.
The air vent registers should be securely reattached to the floors and walls, and the coil fins should be straight, equally spaced, and clean. If you want to ensure you got a good cleaning, you could ask to see before and after pictures.
Preparing for Duct Cleaning
Clear the area surrounding your HVAC system and all vents the morning of (or the night before) your scheduled air duct cleaning. You may need to rearrange some of your furniture and store some of your possessions in different rooms while your ducts are being cleaned.
When the duct cleaning service expert arrives, please ensure all pets and small children are safely out of the room. Throughout the job, pets or children might get in the technician’s way or, worse, come into contact with potentially dangerous equipment. They might be harmed if you’re not careful. Instead of taking that chance, find something else to occupy their time.
After that, you should do everything possible to remain out of the way. The more room the technician has to work, the faster the process will go.
How Long Does Duct Cleaning Take?
The time it takes to clean air ducts ranges from two to five hours. The exact time depends on the size of the HVAC system and your home, the ventilation system in place, the degree of pollution, and the number of workers on the job. When the duct cleaning expert inspects your home, you should inquire how long they anticipate the service taking.
Questions to Ask a Duct Cleaning Company
How Long Have You Been in Business?
A well-established duct cleaning service with relevant experience will have no trouble working with any ductwork. Experts have an understanding of the necessary equipment and supplies.
What Does the Duct Cleaning Quote Include?
The duct cleaning company must clarify if it prices its services based on the vent level or the square foot. Get a quotation for the total price of all duct cleaning services you need. Ensure you get a quote from several duct cleaning services before hiring one.
What Equipment Do You Use?
Some techniques of air duct cleaning are more efficient than others. Duct cleaning service providers should be transparent about the approach they plan to take. You should also check that the firm isn’t using chemical biocides that the EPA does not approve.
Should I Expect Any Other Charges?
There are a lot of different things that go into determining how much air duct cleaning costs. There may be additional fees if the property is outside the company’s normal service area, has a lot of vents, has multiple HVAC systems, or exceeds the standard square footage.
Will Your Technician Check Other Parts of the HVAC System?
Because the air ducts, the furnace, and the air conditioner all operate together, the technician should inspect the other components of the system. If another part of the HVAC system is dirty and only the ductwork is cleaned, it could cause cross-contamination.
Breath Easy: Contact Us Today for Professional Duct Cleaning Services!
Maintaining clean air ducts is essential for the health and well-being of you and your family. With the help of a professional duct cleaning service, you can ensure that the air you breathe is free from harmful contaminants and allergens.
If you’re ready to take the first step towards improving the air quality in your home, contact One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Fort Worth today for expert duct cleaning services. Our experienced professionals will work diligently to provide you with the highest quality service, so you can breathe easily, knowing that your air ducts are in good hands. Don’t wait any longer to prioritize your health and safety. Contact us now to schedule your appointment!
See our most recent blog on this topic here.