AIR DUCT CLEANING

Your HVAC system propagates cooled or heated air to all parts of your home. Accumulated dust around your vents or your HVAC emitting strange odors might be an indicator for air duct cleaning.

In a typical year, the average household generates 40 pounds of dust, made up of plant pollen, clothing fibers and dead skin cells. Other activities that inject additional particulates into the air include:

cigarette or wood burning ashes
pet dander
construction debris from remodeling or restorations
removal of old carpets or furniture

The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) guidance on duct cleaning is mixed. Paraphrasing from their website:

"Knowledge about air duct cleaning is in its early stages, so a blanket recommendation cannot be offered. Studies [do not] conclusively demonstrate that particle levels in homes increase because of dirty air ducts". Duct cleaning has [not] been shown to actually prevent health problems...Air ducts will get dirty over time and should be occasionally cleaned. No evidence suggests that such cleaning would be detrimental."

Routine usage and replacement of air filters should provide years of worry-free HVAC operation. However, if moisture enters your system, it may promote mold. Insects or vermin might nest after an extended period of lapsed usage. Using incorrect or no filters obviates the benefits of that safety precaution.

Rather than hoping for the best, eliminate guesswork. Have your air ducts cleaned and then perform routine maintenance on your HVAC system to banish this worry.

Unless you require mold remediation, extermination or odor removal, most clean ups should not need chemicals. If a specialty application or equipment is needed, your technician should be able to explain why or answer your questions. Additionally, your duct cleaning provider should be able to provide guidance through any insurance claim process.

Hire a duct cleaner who is a knowledgeable and licensed HVAC contractor who can detect leaks, poor cooling coils, ineffective blowers or other matters that cause your system to operate poorly.

The cost and the time to clean your air ducts will be influenced by:

the length of your ductwork
accessibility of your system
the complexity of the required remediation
scheduling impacted by time of year or urgency of repair

Once your ductwork is cleaned, inspect it visually. Ask for images of remote portions or certification that each part, including the supply branches, plenum and coils were addressed.

If you have additional questions about duct cleaning, in addition to the EPA, other organizations that provide guidance include NADCA, NAIMA and the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA).

Your checklist should include tapping into these resources, as well as considering other possible sources of indoor air pollution (say an inadequate cooktop fan). You are best served by filtering providers based on reviews, certifications, references, licenses and insurance. Get multiple quotes, at least three, in writing. Feel free to ask us questions by calling us at (914) 909-4108 or if you need an evaluation, book an appointment.

CALL US TODAY (914) 909-4108