Air Duct Cleaning 101: How Does It Get Done?
Well, we covered why duct cleaning is a great idea in the last post. Now, we should probably cover how it gets done. About as many air duct cleaning companies as there are, there are that many ways of doing the job. However, you want the most effective and efficient job done for your home or business. Obviously I can only speak effectively about the way we do it at Mr. B’s Air Duct Cleaning, and we truly believe it is the very best way for it to be done.
So, here’s the scoop. There are three main parts to your air duct system; the trunk line, the vent lines and the return line. The trunk line is the main line that comes off of your air conditioning unit. The vent lines branch off of the trunk line. First, the trunk line is located and an access is carefully cut so that the HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter vacuum can be attached. This access also allows lighted visible inspection of the line. Once the vacuum is turned on, all of the vents go to a negative air flow (they breath in). At this point each vent line is cleaned using brushes and a variety of air nozzles to scrub and move any potential airborne debris back to the trunk line.
Once all of the vent lines on that system have been completed, it is time to return to where the vacuum is attached and brushes and air tools are used to bring everything in the trunk line to the vacuum. The cleaning occurs from your living space all the way back to the air conditioning unit. The opening that was made is then closed and sealed. For instance if a 12 inch hole were cut, it is covered with a 13 inch piece of metal, screwed in place and sealed with foil tape. Then the insulation is resealed over that access.
Next, is the return lines, using basically the same method and tools. The line is cleaned from the living space all the way back to the air conditioning unit. There is not customarily a need to cut into a return line, there are other ways to access these.
The tools used should be very versatile allowing one to work forward or backward. Also, allowing one to bend and flex into tight places. This allows customization for all different types of air ducts being used (metal, flex duct and board). The brushes should be made of the same material used in car washes, strong enough to scrub and gentle enough not to damage.
This is a description of the best possible way to clean air ducts in our opinion. We use all of the aforementioned tools and processes. Our results always speak for themselves. If you need more information or are just curious, give us a call or visit our site. Always happy to answer questions and help you make your indoor breathing atmosphere better!
Amanda
May 24, 2016 @ 11:31 am
I’ve never found any studies that say that duct cleaning has been shown to save energy or improve health or provide any benefit. Cleaning and servicing the blower fan will save energy, cleaning the ducts as an energy measure won’t. If it was such a great measure there would be utility rebates for it, and there aren’t.
A study by the EPA a number of years ago found that duct cleaning decreased air quality drastically in homes after they were cleaned because all the materials that had adhered to the ducts were being blown around the house after they were cleaned. If you think about it, particles stuck inside your ducts are not being blown around your house, cleaning them loosens up all that stuff, that can now be blown around your house if it isn’t all removed by HEPA vacuuming. Your ducts may be functioning better as a air filter than your air filter is or there wouldn’t be anything stuck to them in the first place.