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Top 5 Air Duct Cleaning Q&A

Do you, like most homeowners, have more questions about air duct cleaning than you do of answers? This may help you understand air duct cleaning a little better. Here are 5 top question I hear and the answer to them for your better understanding.

1.)  What is air duct cleaning? 

One thing it isn’t is cleaning of only air ducts. There are more components that are inspected and clean during an air duct cleaning. For example during the process the blower is cleaned and inspected. The air filters are cleaned and replaced. All the registers of the home is also clean including inside of the duct work immediately beneath them. Also, the furnace heating and cooling systems are inspected and cleaned such as the grilles, the heating and cooling coils and any other component like the summer turn off switch for the heating system.

2.)  How long do I have to wait for the cleaning of my air ducts?

The time it takes to clean the duct work of heating and cooling system is dependent upon the type and condition of your current system. If you have a lot of buildup of contaminants and a system covering 3 levels you will experience a longer time and also a higher costs. The National Air Duct Cleaners Association, (NADCA), says an average 1-furnace system usually can be cleaned with a crew of two workers in about 3-5 hours.

3.)  How often should clean my air ducts?

If you are in an area where you have high levels of mold and you see excessive debris in your duct work then the frequency should be more than in an average home. Both EPA and NADCA you should at least have your system inspected every two years and if you prefer to have your air ducts cleaned after the inspection then you should do so.

4.)  What should I look for or what causes me to clean my air ducts more often?

Most people know already if they need to be concern about pollution in their air ducts. They already suffer from allergies and usually need some form of air purification system already installed into their homes. The big things that can happen that would call for an air duct cleaning would be big construction project on the home the stirs up a lot of dust and debris. Also if you have experienced a water intrusion into your home it’s a good idea to get all moisture out of your systems so as to not provide an environment for mold to grow.

5.)  How can I be sure I am getting the proper job done when I have my air ducts cleaned?

The easiest way is to get a checklist from either EPA or NADCA as they have them on their websites to help you before, during, and after the work is performed. The easiest way I have found is to “inspect what you expect” or do your own visual inspection and see if you have a clean system. Watching the workers too helps, but stay out of their way because they are working. For copies of a checklist go to http://EPA.com or http://NADCA.com they also have tips on how to pick a technician to do you air duct cleaning along with details on antimicrobial and other chemical treatments.