How to Keep Air Ducts Clean After Professional Cleaning

As a professional air duct cleaning company and ac cleaning service, we’ve always stressed enough to keep your ducts clean and schedule regular air duct cleaning to keep your HVAC system in good shape. However, even after doing so, there are certain things you must do to ensure that your HVAC duct cleaning remains effective for years to come. Today we’re going to explore how you can keep your air duct clean for a longer period.

Maintaining Clean Ducts for a Longer Time

Your indoor air is filled with numerous perilous particles that can harm you and your system in multiple ways. Air filters do a promising job by trapping dust particles and cleaning your indoor air. The good thing is that these filters are easy to install and don’t require technical expertise. The thickness of the air filter determines the frequency at which it should be replaced. Usually, you should change it every three months.

Generally, you get one month out of each inch of filter thickness. The filter should be changed every three months if it is three inches thick. You can also ask the manufacturer about high-efficiency air filters. To date, HEPA filters have turned out to be the most effective tool for purifying indoor air against any airborne particles.

1. Vacuum and Dust More

Even though dust is everywhere, you can make your house cleaner by getting rid of as much as you can. Your ductwork will be less likely to get clogged with dust if you remove it from the environment.

• Invest In an IAQ System

The best way to protect your air conditioning and your health is with an Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) System. Three main pollutants are removed from the air through an IAQ system, so they can’t spread through the house and collect in your ductwork. Contaminants include:

• It’s dust, pollen, dander, hair, etc.
• Bacteria, viruses, and other infectious agents
• Gases and odors that contain chemicals such as formaldehyde and benzene.

In addition to easing allergy symptoms, IAQ also reduces cold and flu symptoms. In a nutshell, invest in any reliable system that helps maximize your HVAC system’s efficiency, prolong its lifespan, and protect your health.

• HVAC Duct Cleaning Every 1-3 Years

Duct cleaning intervals depend on how many people live in your house. If you have kids or pets, you’ll have to clean your ducts more often. You can work out a schedule with your duct cleaning services provider.

Types of Duct Systems

What is the basic function of the air duct? In its simplest form, air gets distributed to different areas of your home through ductwork. It is the heart of your HVAC system. The absence of ductwork in a house would mean different temperatures in every room. That’ll definitely create an uncomfortable indoor environment.

Ductwork allows us to save more energy by being more efficient. The higher efficiency of your HVAC system depends on the frequency of air conditioner repair, air duct cleaning, and other regular maintenance. Lack of maintenance and sealing can cause ducts to leak. That means higher energy costs and uneven temperatures in rooms.

Your ductwork needs to be inspected regularly for air leaks and other issues so that your HVAC performs at its best. You should hire an HVAC professional who knows how to install ductwork if your ducts need replacing or repairing. In addition to knowing what kind of insulation and sealing work best in your area, a professional knows what type of material to use. Keeping your home comfortable all year means keeping your system running at peak efficiency.

HVAC systems perform based on the shape of their ducts. Flexibility, rigidity, and semi-rigidity are the three types of ducting. The materials used in duct systems vary depending on the application. Having a trained professional install, repair, and maintain your HVAC system is a good idea. Incorrect ducting and materials can result in poor indoor air quality, high energy bills, and even damage to equipment.

1. Flexible Ductwork

When choosing ductwork for your home, homeowners must consider the location where they intend to install it. The different types of ductwork allow installation at specific places. For example, ductwork like this is perfect for hard-to-reach areas. It’s easier to adjust flexible ductwork, however, you have to be careful when installing flexible ducts.

Flexible ductwork works well when it’s secured and adjusted correctly. In addition to being easy to install, flexible ductwork is cheaper, but poor installation can be a real pain. Sagging, snakes, and kinks are common problems with flexible ductwork. Energy bills go up, and equipment has to be repaired more often because of these problems.

• Rigid Ductwork

It usually describes insulated fixed pieces that come in a variety of sizes and materials. Like plumbing pipes, these pieces are joined with bends. You can’t beat rigid ducts for durability and efficiency. Apart from that, it’s lightweight and strong. It comes in sheet metal, fiberglass, and fiberboard. This way efficiency and lifespan are maximized.

1. Sheet metal

Most ductwork is made from galvanized steel or aluminum. Ducts are very durable due to their thick, solid walls. Dust and other particles tend to stick to the interior, but it’s easy to clean. To keep your ducts healthy, it’s a good idea to get them professionally cleaned every once in a while if you have sheet metal in your home. Also, because they’re non-porous, mold won’t grow on them.

• Fiberboard

These ducts are made from fiberglass strands and resin. The exterior is insulated with foil. Those fiberglass strands give the interior surface a texture that traps dust and debris. That could affect long-term air quality and efficiency. Fiberboard ducts cost less than sheet metal. Fiberboard has the benefit of being constructed to fit in places where other duct materials could find it challenging. Mildew and mold can grow in this duct in humid climates.

• Fiberglass

This kind has a sheet metal duct-like design with additional fiberglass lining to reduce heat loss. The sealed interior lining makes fiberglass ducts less durable because they require intense cleaning. Fiberglass lining is popular in offices and commercial buildings because it can reduce HVAC noise. Mold can also infect this material.

The downside is that it’s a pain to plan and install rigid ductwork because it doesn’t bend. You need a professional with relevant experience for its installation, but that would definitely cost you more.

• Semi-Rigid Ductwork

Semi-rigid ductwork is considered the most reliable air duct system when installed properly and provides zero leakage. Installation costs are lower with semi-rigid ducts. The performance of some semi-rigid ducts can be modified from round to oval without sacrificing efficiency. Installations with height restrictions are also made easier by this quality.

Professionals Arrive: What to Do

Many homeowners think that calling duct cleaning services for ac cleaning service is enough and hand over their systems to professionals. However, that’s not the right thing to do. There are a few things that you should do once the team arrives:

• Let them take a look around your house or office. Make sure they know which vents and registers you want clean. Maybe the technician will even point out things you missed.
• Consider drop cloths and corner guards’ placement as well as how the building will be protected.
• After the technician finishes, tell them where to drop off the keys to keep your home safe.

Don’t forget to ask questions. This service will cost you, so you need to know what they intend to do with your HVAC system. Remember, the professionals are happy to answer your questions as they’ve got the knowledge and expertise. Scam duct cleaning services won’t encourage you to ask questions.

Getting Air Ducts Cleaned: What to Expect

Contaminated indoor air exacerbates allergies and respiratory conditions. But with cleaner air after duct cleaning, there are fewer chances for you to experience allergic reactions. Your kids’ allergies will likely get better once those ducts are cleaned if they’ve been repeatedly suffering from one allergy. Improvement in the health of your family members is a sign that you’ve got air duct cleaning right, and that’s what you should expect from ac cleaning service.

1. Vibrant and Healthy

Air duct cleaning will make your whole family feel better. Breathing clean air and dust-free oxygen is incredibly beneficial for your health. The whole family will appear better, have better skin, hair, and nails, and have a more positive attitude. Cleaning the air ducts might make the family feel better if they’ve been cranky without any apparent reason. Dirty air ducts can have germs, fur, hair, and bacteria.

• Air Duct Cleaning and Long Duct Life Span

Regular air duct cleaning won’t just make your family happier, it’ll make your system last longer. Keeping air ducts clean will prolong system’s life, just as other appliances. The circulation rate of 1 cubic foot of air per minute is reduced by up to half if dirt is not removed. Having your air ducts cleaned regularly also involves a regular inspection. Air duct damage will thus be revealed if there is any. Getting your air duct fixed early prevents more grave issues.

• Home Dust-Free

There’s a lot of correlation between your home dust and how clean your air ducts are. If you notice that you are constantly cleaning your home for dust, this means that you’ve got dirty ducts that are recirculating dusty air inside. After air duct cleaning, you’ll observe a gigantic difference in the amount of dust found in your home. Dusty debris that is blown into every surface of your home by clogged air ducts makes cleaning your home more time-consuming and challenging. Clean ducts require less dusting.

Ductwork Cleaning: What Not To Expect?

While duct cleaning can improve various aspects of your home, it’s important to note that it may not completely solve all issues. Here are a few things that should not be expected from duct cleaning:

• Don’t expect duct cleaning to take care of everything. Just less dust than usual—you’ll still have dust in your house. Besides that, bathrooms have a lot more dust and lint because of the fine dust coming from toilet paper.
• Expect your allergies to stay the same. The ducts in your home are cleaned so allergens don’t circulate through them. Your home is still yours. The movement of people brings in allergens from the outdoors, which cling to clothing. It is recommended that you schedule duct cleaning every couple of years if you suffer from allergies.

Equipment for Air Duct Cleaning

When duct cleaning companies come to your building to clean your ducts, they can use two types of equipment to improve air quality. Most commercial duct cleaning projects use rotary brush units and push/pull vacuum systems. Cleaning ducts with rotary brushes or vacuums is the most common method. There’s a vacuum unit and a rotary brush in a rotary brush system.

They’re used to get rid of dust and other stuff from your ductwork. Using negative air pressure, they get rid of them. Brushes are usually linked to vacuum units by flexible pipes.

You can move the brush through various twists and turns inside your vents. It’s best to use a rotary brush if you haven’t cleaned your ducts in a while. This might work if you’ve got really tough layers of dirt and debris. Due to its handheld nature, this system is usually perfect for small offices and homes.

You must know that as legislation and insurance providers get more and more demanding, duct cleaning without documentation and certification is useless. The duct management process needs to keep accurate records of cleaning and maintenance. Furthermore, any duct cleaning and maintenance must be done by someone qualified. Qualified here refers to a person who has the relevant skills and expertise to inspect and handle your HVAC system.

HVAC Duct Cleaning Process

The Right Way

It’s essential to use certain methods during duct cleaning, no matter what equipment is used. By using these methods, you can be sure that your ducts are 100% clean, and that no contaminants get into your house.

1. Getting Contaminants Out

Air duct cleaning doesn’t merely refer to cleaning the ducts extensively from the inside. It is equally important to identify the source of contamination so that the ducts don’t get repeatedly infected with dust or debris.

To loosen contaminants, duct cleaning services use one or more agitating devices to scrape them off the ductwork. Brushes, compressed air, and air whips are also used during the cleaning process. You can also get rid of contaminants and debris by hand brushing or vacuuming.

• Collecting Contaminants

To control the spread of airborne particles (dust, pet hair, etc.), negative pressure is used during duct cleaning. As fine particles become airborne, the constant negative pressure allows them to leave the system, preventing them from being released when the system is turned on again.

• System Access

The HVAC structure and installation vary from building to building. Each building or house has its own HVAC system, and each one is a little bit different. This makes it a bit challenging to enter the ducts and begin the cleaning process. To get inside your air ducts with cleaning tools, a technician will cut access holes in the ductwork and use supply registers, cold air returns, and other registers to get inside.

However, it is important to note that a professional’s training and craftsmanship are needed to create these service openings. Without this specific training, the technician won’t be able to penetrate the ducts and may end up damaging your ductwork. This is why you must be very careful while selecting professional duct cleaning services and allowing them to access your HVAC duct system.

Air Duct Cleaning- Positives and Downsides

Positives

1. Boosts Your HVAC’s Efficiency and Lifespan

If you go through our blogs regularly, then you must have memorized this up until now because time and again we discuss how regular ac cleaning service and air conditioner repair maximize your HVAC system efficiency and boost its life span.

Dust and debris can build up in your air ducts, making your HVAC system work harder. Because of this, the system won’t be able to reach the temperature you want because the air can’t flow smoothly. It’ll take more work for your HVAC system to get air through the dirt. Also, your energy and maintenance bills could go up because your HVAC is working too much. Cleaning your air ducts will extend the life of your HVAC, saving you money otherwise spent on costly repairs.

• Keeps Dangerous Diseases At Bay

Infesting your HVAC system with rodents or insects can be dangerous to your health and that of your family. Hantavirus, or Leptospirosis, can be caught if you breathe in those particles. Keep your air ducts clean to avoid all this. Call a pro right away, and he’ll clean your air ducts and eliminate the infestation as well.

Other advantages include:

• Allergen-free environment
• Put an end to unpleasant odors
• Spending every year isn’t necessary.

Downsides

1. It Is Not Possible To Inspect Visually

You can maintain your HVAC systems and change your filters, but not your air ducts that way. It’s rare to see air duct problems because they’re usually invisible.

Every time you need work done, you’ll have to hire a contractor. The technicians will have access to cameras, mirrors, and devices to inspect and fix the problem.

• Replacement May Be Needed

Various reasons may lead to insulated air ducts. Mold growth inside insulated ducts cannot be eliminated by maintenance.

The contractor must replace it all if this happens. Spending more money is a downside, but mold spores floating in your house are worse.

• A Filter Change

In the case of high levels of dust outside your house, you might only need to change your filters more often if your air ducts don’t have excessive mold growth. Your ducts are protected from dust accumulation by a filter.

Just check your filters if you’re seeing a lot of dust. Filters can sometimes be cleaned, but if they stop working, they’ll need to be replaced.

Final Thoughts

Sometimes we don’t realize how crucial HVAC duct cleaning is for keeping our system in good health and ensuring the health and wellbeing of our family members. Dirty air ducts can harm you in multiple ways that can go from bad to worse. Breathing contaminated air will only exacerbate allergies and respiratory issues.

Not only do you need to have regular air duct cleaning and air conditioning service, but you should also take measures to keep your ductwork clean for a long time. The cleaner your ducts are, the safer you are!