Why are Short Air Ducts preferred?
The longer the air ducts, the less efficient the HVAC unit will be. When air travels through long ducts, there’s a higher chance to escape from tiny holes. At the same time, you must make sure they are not branching in a very complex way because air duct cleaning will be harder if they are intersected.
What could cause a lowering of my Indoor Air quality?
Indoor air quality can be affected by one or more of a few things: The levels of buildup of dirt and obstructive residue in the vents, the condition of the air filter in the system, the levels of dust in the home after any renovations and how adequately the vents and ducts are sealed. If you are unsure, then opting for a licensed industrial hygienist to come and test can help determine if there is a problem.
What happens when substances accumulate in my HVAC system?
There are times when you just do not seem to bother to check on your HVAC system. When this happens you are running the risk of dust, dirt, pollutants, allergens and other harmful substances to accumulate in your HVAC system especially in the air ducts, filters and vents. Aside from affecting the efficiency of your heating and cooling units, you are also putting your health in danger.
The amount of time it takes to clean a residential HVAC system depends on many variables such as the size of the home, location of the units, the number of systems, the extent of the contamination and the number of HVAC cleaners performing the job. On average a single system home with two technicians takes between three to four hours to perform a thorough cleaning. On an average two system home with two technicians it can take five to eight hours.
Antimicrobial chemicals are applied by some companies to the interior surface of the air ducts, to treat microbial contamination such as fungi (mold), viruses or bacteria. Before any antimicrobial chemicals are used, the system should be thoroughly cleaned. It is critical that any antimicrobial treatment used in your system be registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency specifically for use in HVAC systems. The use of antimicrobial chemicals is an additional service that is not part of a typical air duct cleaning project.
What criteria should I use when selecting an HVAC system cleaner?
• Avoid advertisements for “$99 whole house specials” and other sales gimmicks.
The Environmental Protection Agency says that “duct cleaning services typically – but not always – range in cost from $450 to $1000 per heating and cooling system, depending on the services offered, the size of the system to be cleaned, system accessibility, climactic region, and level of contamination” and type of duct material.
Consumers should beware of air duct cleaning companies that making sweeping claims about the health benefits of duct cleaning – such claims are unsubstantiated. Consumers should also beware of “blow-and-go” air duct cleaning companies. These companies often charge a nominal fee and do a poor job of cleaning the heating and cooling system. These companies may also persuade the consumer into unneeded services with and/or without their permission.
What kind of equipment is best for cleaning truck mounted vacuums or portable vacuums?
NADCA Members have signed a Code of Ethics stating they will do everything possible to protect the consumer, and follow NADCA Standards for cleaning to the best of their ability, for a list of NADCA members near you, click here. Air duct cleaning companies must meet stringent requirements to become a NADCA Member. Among those requirements, all NADCA Members must have certified Air System Cleaning Specialists (ASCS) on staff, who have taken and passed the NADCA Certification Examination. Passing the exam demonstrates extensive knowledge in HVAC design and cleaning methodologies. ASCSs are also required to further their industry education by attending seminars in order to maintain their NADCA certification status.
An enormous waste of energy occurs when cooled air escapes from supply ducts or when hot attic air leaks into return ducts. Recent studies indicate that 10% to 30% of the conditioning air in an average central air conditioning system escapes from the ducts. For central air conditioning to be efficient, ducts must be air tight. Hiring a licensed service technician to detect and correct duct leaks is a good investment, since leaky ducts may be difficult to find without experience and test equipment.
The old standby of duct tape is ineffective for sealing ducts. Obstructions can impair the efficiency of a duct system almost as much as leaks. You should be careful not to obstruct the flow of air from supply or return registers with furniture, drapes, or tightly fitted interior doors. The large temperature difference between attics and dusts make heat conduction through ducts almost as big a problem as air leakage and obstructions. Ducts in attics should be insulated heavily in addition to being made airtight.
Is Duct Cleaning a Waste of Money?
The short answer is no, Duct cleaning is not a waste of money, but if you pick the wrong service provider it might ending up being a waste of money. See our article on Is Duct Cleaning is a Waste of Money?