What exactly is air duct cleaning and how long does it take?
If you have a heating or cooling system, you have ducts running throughout your business or house. The HVAC system is a closed system which pulls air from inside the home or business, cools the air, and then distributes the cooled air throughout. Air duct cleaning is just like any other home maintenance process, similar to cleaning out your dryer vent. If you let it go too long, it can become a much bigger issue.
The air duct cleaning process will start with putting the system under negative pressure and blocking the coil off to ensure nothing is pulled through it. Putting the system under negative pressure with HEPA filtered equipment is vital to ensure no dust or debris can be distributed throughout the home or business. Once the system is under negative pressure the ductwork is cleaned using compressed air and whips that snake through the ductwork to knock the dust free from the walls of the ducts. Sanitation is used on non-porous surfaces after the surface has been cleaned. The sanitation is an odor eliminator and helps prevent microbial growth.
How often should the duct system be cleaned?
Generally we recommend cleaning air ducts every three to five years. If you have pets, a lot of foot traffic through the home or business, renovating or remodeling, it may be necessary to clean the ductwork more often. Cleaning the air ducts would be beneficial if purchasing a home or business that has dirty ducts from not being properly maintained. The National Air Duct Cleaners Association recommends to inspect residential properties once every two years, commercial business properties are to be inspected once annually.
How long should it take to clean the air ducts in a residential home?
A proper air duct cleaning should take an estimate of two to four hours to clean the entire duct system. Normally there will be two technicians depending on the size of the home. Another factor that may affect the amount of time it takes to clean the ducts is how dirty the ductwork is.
Is there chemicals used during the process of duct cleaning?
During the process of source removal, the ductwork is cleaned of dust and debris. Once the air ducts have been cleaned the sanitation process can then be performed. Sanitation helps remove odors, as well as kills and prevents a percentage of microbial growth.
