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Duct Cleaning 101: The Ultimate Guide to Cleaning & Preventing Dirty Ducts

Aeroseal Commercial, Aeroseal Residential
While every house may be different, they all have one thing in common: an HVAC system. This powerhouse of a system is responsible for heating your home during the winter, cooling it during the summer, and generally helping to make your home a comfortable, livable space. However, like with anything, an HVAC system requires regular maintenance and care. One critical part of caring for an HVAC system, that is often overlooked, is duct cleaning. Here is everything you need to know about duct cleaning for your HVAC system.

Why is Air Duct Cleaning Important?

Air ducts are an essential part of your HVAC system, as they help the hot and cold air travel through the system and into different parts of your home. Over time, these ducts will naturally accumulate dirt, dust, and other types of debris which can affect the way your HVAC system performs. If the system becomes too dirty, then it will have to work harder to heat and cool your home and may do a poor job. As a result, this will end up costing you more on your utility bills. The easiest way to prevent this from happening is to perform or hire someone to do an HVAC duct cleaning.

3 Benefits of HVAC Duct Cleaning

Many people ask the question, “Is duct cleaning a waste of money?” The answer is absolutely not! It is definitely beneficial to perform routine duct cleaning for your HVAC system. In fact, here are three significant benefits to air conditioning duct cleaning:

1. Improved Indoor Air Quality

According to the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA), your home’s HVAC system sucks in the contaminants created by us, our pets, and everything around us, and then re-circulates them multiple times a day. As a result, these contaminants are released back into the air you breathe. While it may not be unhealthy air, there is still the potential for it to cause health issues. An air duct cleaning will help remove these contaminants, leaving you with cleaner, fresher air.

2. More Energy Savings

The U.S. Department of Energy states that around 25 to 40 person of the energy used to heat and cool a home is actually wasted. This is, again, due to contaminants in your HVAC’s air ducts. Over time, these ducts can get so dirty, they struggle to do their job, forcing them to work harder than necessary to heat and cool your home. By performing duct cleaning, your HVAC system will not have to work so hard, and you will save lots of money on your utility bill.

3. Keep Your HVAC Working Longer

The number one reason why HVAC systems fail is due to a lack of proper cleaning and maintenance. If you do not want to spend thousands of dollars on a whole new system, the easiest thing you can do is invest in the maintenance of the one you have. A large part of this includes scheduling air duct cleaning services as needed.

When to Explore Air Duct Cleaning

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that air conditioning duct cleaning is something to do on an as-needed basis. If you notice any of the following in your home, then it is time for HVAC duct cleaning services: • If you find substantial and visible mold growth inside sheet metal or other hard surface ducts. Additionally, if there is any mold on the HVAC system itself, it is critical to schedule air duct cleaning services. Because of the placement of HVAC systems and air ducts, all the parts may be challenging to see. Therefore it is best to find reliable air duct cleaning companies to perform an inspection for mold growth. • If your ducts are infested with some kind of vermin, such as rodents or insects. • And, of course, if your air ducts are clogged due to excessive amounts of dust and debris, it is time to find and hire duct cleaning services.  

DIY Air Duct Cleaning

Once you have determined that you need an HVAC duct cleaning, there are two main ways to get it done. The first option is to perform a DIY duct cleaning. Many choose to go with an air duct cleaning do-it-yourself method to save on costs. However, there are some things to know before you choose to DIY. First, it is essential to do your research before you even start. DIY air duct cleaning is no easy job, and you need to do it properly for it to be effective and not damage your air ducts or HVAC system. Second, you need to realize that you do not have all the same air duct cleaning equipment that a professional company does. This fact alone makes the job much harder and more time consuming, and you also have to consider all the things you may encounter during duct-work cleaning: mold, animal and insect droppings, and even potentially dead rodents. It is not a job for the faint of heart. If you do encounter mold, it is best to call a professional to take care of the removal immediately, as they will be able to do it safely and effectively, eliminating the chance of it coming back. While DIY air duct cleaning seems like it can save you money, the truth is that you may end up with a much higher air duct cleaning cost than what you started with because ducts can get damaged and your HVAC duct cleaning may not be effective.

Finding an HVAC Duct Cleaning Service

Because of the difficulty that often comes with a DIY duct cleaning attempt, you are better off hiring professional HVAC duct cleaning services. These specialized cleaning companies have teams of highly trained professionals to perform thorough HVAC duct cleaning services for their customers. One way to find a duct cleaning service provider is to check your local listings for duct cleaning services. However, you can also check with the NADCA for their recommendations for duct cleaning as well. You also need to be aware of certain claims that air duct cleaning services may try to tell you. For example, that they are EPA-approved, The EPA doesn’t certify, endorse, or approve air duct cleaning companies, so claims of “EPA Approval” are entirely false. You should also verify that the HVAC duct cleaning service is in good standing with the Better Business Bureau so that you can be sure you are hiring a trustworthy company.

Working With an HVAC Duct Cleaning Service

One of the great benefits of choosing professional duct cleaning services over a DIY duct cleaning is the fact that they have highly efficient air duct cleaning equipment that helps the job go much quicker. You can expect the company to do a thorough heating duct cleaning job by first inspecting the ducts before they even begin to ensure there are no asbestos-containing materials. Once they have done that, they will move on to the actual duct cleaning, by vacuuming and carefully brushing the ducts free of dirt and debris.

Finishing an HVAC Cleaning Service

Once the central part of the duct work cleaning is done, all that is left is for the technician to apply a sealant to close any potential air leaks within the ductwork. To seal air ducts after an air conditioning duct cleaning, many companies use the product Aeroseal. This product is very unique and works much differently than the mastic and HVAC tape commonly used in DIY air duct cleaning. With Aeroseal, the technician will use a computerized system to find all of the air leaks within your ductwork. Once the leaks have been identified, they will apply Aeroseal into the ducting, where it will automatically find and fill any leaks your system may have. Not only will sealing your air ducts make your HVAC system work more efficiently, but it will also help make the duct cleaning last a lot longer.

Air Duct Cleaning Cost

While professional HVAC duct cleaning is the best option, many are concerned with the duct cleaning cost. HVAC duct cleaning costs can vary based on several different factors: the size of the home, the number of ducts, and the duct configuration. Additionally, companies tend to charge for each air vent in the home. While you may find companies that offer great deals on HVAC duct cleaning, the rule of thumb is that if it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. These less-than-reputable duct cleaning services will give that price just to get you in their grasp, and then end up charging you much more, potentially even thousands of dollars, and could potentially leave you with an even worse situation to deal with. According to Angie’s List, honest, trustworthy air duct cleaning may offer furnace duct cleaning services for the average home at anywhere between $300 to $500. While this may sound like a high cost, it is reasonable, especially if it means you are getting good duct cleaning services from a reputable company. There is no denying that HVAC duct cleaning is a good investment. By utilizing the services of a professional duct cleaning company, you are keeping your ducts clean, which allows your HVAC system to work more efficiently, saving you money on your utility bills. Also, by hiring a professional air duct cleaning service, you can rest assured that the job is done right the first time. Thanks to efficient, time-saving products like Aeroseal, you know that duct will remain clean, and you will save money on your utility bill.

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