Ductwork Cleaning
People who have allergies will do anything to keep their symptoms at bay. They dust, vacuum, keep pets clean and don’t buy flowers or down pillows. Yet, they may still suffer from sneezing, itchy eyes, a runny nose, and even hives.
But their problem may have migrated to their home’s ventilation system, meaning mold, dirt, dust, bacteria, and fungus could be lurking in the HVAC vents. To understand how ductwork gets dirty, a little background can be helpful.
How ducts become contaminated
An air conditioning unit produces a bit of moisture. As the system loses efficiency, it may begin to grow a bit of mold in those moist areas which needs to be cleaned. But, there are other circumstances, as well. Here are a few of them:
1. Your HVAC is old or running poorly, or you’ve used improperly fitting filters
2. You had a roof leak or pipe burst, and water got into the vent work.
3. You had a grease fire in your kitchen or had some remodeling done
4. You smell a distinctly musty scent or smell the mold
5. You’ve had bats, birds, or small rodents living or nesting in your ventilation system.
6. You can see mold on the register or in the vent when you remove the vent cover.
7. You have a new home or recently built edition onto your home.
8. You have pets that shed or have dander or a smoker lives/lived in the home.
9. You see dust blowing out of your vents when the HVAC system turns on.
10. It has been 3-5 years since the last time you had the vents cleaned, especially for people with respiratory issues.
Hire experts
Doing it yourself isn’t a wise option unless you have the right equipment and knowledge. That means you have to start looking for a skilled-someone to do the job for you. Do you think that guy who offers to do it for $50 is going to brush the foreign matter off the vents and vacuum it out properly?
No. Crazy-low prices are only offered by a duct cleaning service so they can ‘find’ mold in your system, who tells you your system needs extensive cleaning or needs some other ‘special’ repair or product. Ventilation systems that are improperly cleaned can be damaged, resulting in expensive repairs.
The NADCA
National Air Duct Cleaners Association has a website. They are a not-for-profit trade association that serves the HVAC inspection, maintenance, and restoration industry.
NADCA’s website offers a checklist for the homeowner, and other interesting information, including an Inside Edition segment of a duct cleaning scammer, caught on video. NADCA guidelines demand that every component that air passes over be addressed, not just the ducts, themselves. This process involves two or more technicians, specialized equipment and several hours. One can see why $50 isn’t a realistic price.
Cost: cheaper is not better
The cost for an average duct cleaning process depends on the number of vents and trunk lines in your system. The more vents and trunks, the higher the price. A negative pressure vacuum collection and other equipment which will remove the debris from your home entirely, not just blow it out the ducts into your home. Some are handheld and others are truck mounted. While the truck-mounted units are more powerful, the handheld ones are more portable. A variety of pneumatic equipment, mirrors, drones, and other items are used to help the process.
Additives can be harmful
Sometimes a duct cleaning service will recommend chemical biocides or ozone into the ductwork if mold, bacteria or future growth of these organisms in your system. However, the EPA does not recognize the effectiveness of these products, some of which can cause adverse reactions in certain people. The EPA does not recommend that air ducts be cleaned routinely, but only as needed — such as when mold, pests or excessive debris clutter the system. Cleaning dirty coils and blowers can increase efficiency by as much as 40 percent, which is a substantial amount of money for any homeowner.
While there is no proof that routine cleaning your air ducts will prevent health issues or improve air quality, many people report the benefits of having their ductwork cleaned. For people with allergies, any respite, regardless of whether it’s been scientifically proven or not, is a welcome relief.
Modern Air Conditioning & Heating is a Boulder City-based HVAC company offering 15 years of experience in residential and commercial HVAC services for all makes and models. You can also call us directly at (702) 919-4365.
