Although many homeowners love to do their own projects, you should never attempt to clean your air ducts on your own. This is a complex process that requires advanced knowledge of HVAC systems and special tools. This is definitely better left to the professionals!
The most effective way to clean an HVAC system is to remove the source, accumulated dirt and debris. This requires a professional contractor to vacuum the system using a dedicated and efficient HEPA vacuum to create negative air pressure. As the vacuum draws air through the system, brushes and compressed air snakes are put through the air ducts to remove debris stuck to the interior surfaces. The debris then passes through the air ducts into a HEPA vacuum system to be removed without making a mess in your home.
The result? Cleaner, fresher indoor air and a more efficient HVAC system, lower energy costs, and a longer system life.
Basics of Professional Air Duct Cleaning
Actually, duct cleaning is a bit of a misnomer because the entire HVAC system needs cleaning, and not cleaning all parts of the system can lead to recontamination of the entire system, reducing the benefits of cleaning.
Just like wouldn’t mop only half of your kitchen floor, you shouldn’t just clean part of your HVAC system. NADCA recommends cleaning the entire HVAC system, including the following components:
air ducts
coils
drain pan
registers
grills
air plenum
blower motor and assembly
heat exchanger
air filter
air cleaner
The overall cleaning process has two main components:
Breaking contaminants loose
Collecting those contaminants in a HEPA filtered vacuum
Properly cleaning HVAC systems requires removal of all sources of pollution. Source removal begins with the use of one or more agitation devices designed to remove contaminants from the surfaces from heating and air conditioning surfaces. These agitation devices include brushes and compressed air snakes. Agitation can also be done with hand-brushing and contact vacuuming.
During cleaning, the entire HVAC system is placed under constant negative pressure (using a special HEPA vacuum) to prevent the spread of contaminants. The constant negative pressure allows very small particles to be removed from the system when they become airborne, ensuring that these particles do not enter the living space when the system is restarted after cleaning. This negative pressure also helps remove loose contaminants, which are then collected and removed from the home.
HVAC cleaning professionals have a wide variety of specialized equipment available, including portable HEPA vacuums that can be used to remove contaminants and clean the system to NADCA professional standards.
In some cases, HVAC systems may have antimicrobial chemicals applied to non-porous surfaces such as disinfectants, mists, and deodorizers to combat to address microbial contamination and odors. However, only US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registered chemicals should be used. These products should only be considered after mechanical cleaning of the surface has been performed and the need for such treatment has been judged necessary. We adapt these products to their standards and the situation in your home.
Remember that just as the surfaces in your home get dirty over time, so do your air ducts. Through simple everyday life, our homes produce all kinds of dirt and air pollution such as pet dander, dust, mold, and chemicals. And all of these pollutants are put into your home’s HVAC system and recycled an average of 5-7 times a day! Dirty air ducts can cause all kinds of health problems, especially in high-risk people with respiratory issues, auto-immune diseases, asthma, or allergies. Cleaning the air ducts cleaned can significantly improve your indoor air quality and reduce health problems.
When you are ready to handle the air ducts, be sure to choose a qualified contractor to do the job right. DNA Air Duct Cleaning is a licensed (CMC1249790), insured, and bonded family business, with trained professionals ready to take your call!
tel: 941-256-9017 www.dnaduct.com
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