Alex Ortiz
More and more people are becoming aware of the duct cleaning process and that it’s something that needs to be done. That’s obviously great news! But while they are aware of the process, there are still some questions that linger…some frequently asked questions.
That’s why we’ve come up with a list of the most commonly asked questions we get about duct cleaning.
As the years go on, your ducts accumulate a build-up of dust, pollen, dirt, mold, and other harmful pollutants. This build-up can be bad news for a number of reasons. First and foremost, that build-up is bad for your ducts, obviously, and should be cleaned out. Secondly, when you turn on your HVAC system, these pollutants are now circulating through the air in your house. If you’re already sensitive to the quality of air surrounding you (i.e. you have allergies or asthma), you can image what this type of air can do to you by re-circulating in your house all day. Thirdly, the build-up is bad for your entire HVAC system. Because the ducts are obstructed, your system needs to work much harder in order to push out cold air. This means you’re paying a higher energy bill and causing undue stress to your HVAC system.
Your ducts are cleaned using specialized tools as well as a large vacuum. The tools are meant to scrape and shake the particles loose, while the vacuum prevents them from escaping back into your duct system and/or your household. Several other steps should be performed during a routine duct cleaning, including air washing air conditioner and furnace components, applying mold inhibiting agents, and vacuuming registers.
Your ducts should be cleaned by professionals. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) recommends using only NADCA (National Air Duct Cleaning Association) certied professionals. Why? Simply because these experts know how to use, and have access to, specialized equipment. They can clean your ducts without damaging them while, at the same time, preventing the pollutants from getting back into your household. They understand industry standards, proper duct cleaning procedures, and environmental concerns.
Absolutely not…provided you use a professional. Professionals understand how to eciently clean your ducts without harming your furnace or or air conditioner. In fact, the exact opposite should happen. You should see your HVAC system’s eciency improve after the duct cleaning.
Yes, in fact, it’s a great time to do it. Bear in mind that though your home is new, it just went through a massive construction process…and construction is messy. Drywall, sawdust, and other bits of particle that were created during the construction process have probably sneaked into your duct work. This will block the airow, trapping dust, and creating a perfect environment for mold.
Yes! Remember, the air from your ducts gets recirculated throughout your home. If you clean the dust and other harmful pollutants out of the duct work, then you should have less dust circulating through your home overall.
Wrong…you still need to clean your ducts. Remember, these are separate entities. While your brand new furnace may be clean as a whistle, your ducts are still dirty. Odds are, that new fan on your furnace is much stronger than the old one, so it’s pushing those dust particles out with even more force…right into your house! As a best practice, you should have your ducts cleaned in conjunction with the installation of any new furnace or air conditioning unit.
Yes! Pollen, dust, and dirt get trapped easily in your ducts. The air from your ducts gets continuously forced through your house and recirculated over and over. Cleaning your ducts will initially reduce the pollen and other irritants down to almost nothing. However, to continually ensure your allergy issues are reduced, you should routinely clean your ducts, as the build-up will continue to develop over time.
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