Air duct cleaning process and equipment

Now that you've chosen a professional to clean your air ducts, preferably one with a lot of experience and certified by the National Association of Air Duct Cleaners (NADCA), you may be wondering what the process will entail. Will this company drag a lot of heavy equipment into your home? Should things move? How long will the process take? These are good questions, and you will find the answers below.

First step: evaluation

A NADCA certified professional will first want to take a good look at your ducts and HVAC system to assess the type of cleaning required. This may involve removing the vent caps, inserting a camera and / or a mirror, and even taking samples of debris and / or accumulation from your ducts. What you find will depend on the lives of the inhabitants of your home (including unwanted inhabitants, such as rodents), as well as the condition of the ducts and the HVAC system.

Particles like dust and pollen, mold that grew during the last heavy rain when the roof leaked into ducts, and allergens and fur from family pets or unwanted rodents are commonly found in air ducts. Depending on the extent and type of debris, the professional will determine how to clean your ducts. For example, layered debris and contaminants may require alkaline cleaning agents, mold may require a special EPA-registered remediation protocol and cleaning agents, and dust may require only scrubbing and vacuuming. Your air duct cleaning professional should be able to explain what you found and how you plan to clean it.

Cleaning equipment

Generally speaking, the equipment required to clean your air ducts shouldn't impose too much on your work or living space. Cleaning equipment may include air hoses, brushes, special cleaning agents, filtration systems, and vacuum cleaners. Most companies use trucks or gas vacuums parked outside to power these tools. Cleaning the path to the air vents is likely to be all the adjustment necessary to prepare for cleaning.

If the evaluation reveals past or present moisture, and the professional suspects mold or bacteria, the air duct cleaning Houston company may also bring sample collection kits (samples of debris and / or air in your ducts) for analysis. from laboratory. If a laboratory analysis is needed, cleanup may be delayed until the type of contaminant and the appropriate cleaning agent are determined.

The cleaning process

A NADCA certified professional will first clean your vents and ducts with special air hoses and brushes. Loose debris and dust will move into the vacuum system and become trapped outside the home. The application of special cleaners, biocides, mold preventives and / or sealants will require additional steps and will be used in specific cases.

Then, depending on the action plan that you and the professional have developed to prevent future contamination of the air ducts, for example, a plan to prevent moisture intrusion, high humidity, or mold growth, the professional may install a better filtration. system, ultraviolet lights and / or a dehumidifier.

Several variables determine how long the cleaning process will take: variables including the number of HVAC units and ducts, the number of workers performing the job, and the degree of cleaning required. In general, cleaning the ducts in an average single family home with an HVAC unit takes approximately three to four hours. Larger homes or businesses with multiple HVAC units, or homes whose ducts have been contaminated with mold, bacteria, or other toxic particles, may require a full day of cleaning or more, depending on the repair protocol. In rare cases, the professional may recommend replacement of all or part of damaged or contaminated air ducts. This process may require several days and additional installation.