Use a careful preventative maintenance program to reduce contamination.

• Use the highest efficiency air filters recommended by the manufacturer of your heating and cooling system.
• Change filters regularly; post a schedule for maintenance crews to observe. If they are clogged on inspection, filters may need more frequent changing. The filter holders must fit correctly so air cannot bypass the filters through gaps.
• Heating and cooling system maintenance must include cleaning cooling coils and drain pans.
• During building construction or renovation that produces dust, seal off supply and return registers. Do not operate the heating and cooling system until all dust is cleaned up.
• Operate humidifying systems strictly as recommended by their manufacturer.

To prevent moisture (and mold contamination):

• Repair any leaks or water damage as soon as you find them.
• Make sure condensate pan drains properly.
• Check any insulation near cooling coils for wet spots.
• Make sure ducts are properly sealed and insulated in all non-air-conditioned spaces, such as crawl spaces.

Every two to three years is an average. Some of the things that may lead a homeowner to consider more frequent cleaning include:

• Smokers in the household.
• Pets that shed high amounts of hair and dander.
• Water contamination or damage to the home or HVAC system.
• Residents with allergies or asthma who might benefit from a reduction in the amount of indoor air pollutants in the home’s HVAC system.
• After home renovations.
• Prior to occupancy of a new home.

The following criteria will help you to screen air duct cleaning companies and help you determine if they are who you want to do business with.

Unfortunately there are many bait and switch operators in this business. Air duct cleaning for most homes with a single furnace will be between $300 and $600. If their price is $100 or less – BUYER BEWARE! Charging extra for additional vents or registers is common, but if they limit the number of “trunk lines” or “main lines” and charge additional for more; this is a major red flag. This is an example of how a $49 air duct cleaning special quickly becomes a $449 cleaning.

This is another red flag for un-reputable and dishonest companies. They tend to find mold in the ductwork of virtually every home. They may support their findings with a “swab test”. This is an inappropriate test for mold and is easily manipulated. After they tell you that you have a mold problem, they will offer to “decontaminate” your entire home by “fogging” with a mildicide for several hundred dollars. You probably don’t have a mold problem, but if you did, this is not the right way to diagnose it and it is definitely the wrong way to clean it up.

The correct answer is 2 hours plus. If someone thinks they can do it faster, they are probably not doing a very good job.

Wrong answer: A vacuum hose with a rotating brush on the end. This is a dirtier method and can’t clean the larger ductwork properly. This type of equipment is much less expensive and is often used by carpet cleaners offering air duct cleaning and others that are not serious about their air duct cleaning.

Right answer: We use a negative air machine that puts the entire ductwork under negative vacuum pressure and then we use a mechanical brush or a compressed air tool to brush and clean the surfaces of the ductwork.

If you follow these suggestions, you will avoid 99% of the possible problems you might otherwise invite into your home.

• If you have not had your home or business air ducts cleaned in the last five years, YOU SHOULD!
• Contained in the hundreds of square feet of surface area in your air ducts are years of accumulation of dust, dirt, pollen, hair, spider webs, dead insects, dust mites and other allergens and impurities.
• The impurities and bacteria in your air ducts may contribute to the adverse effects of allergies, sinus problems and other health issues.
• Mold spores and moisture can breed mold growth in contaminated air duct systems.
• A homeowner CANNOT effectively clean their own air ducts. Special equipment and professional training is required. Specially formulated and environmentally friendly solutions can be sprayed into your air ducts to kill mold, bacteria and eliminate odors.
• Duct cleaning can help to keep dust particles out of your home’s air and off of your furniture and counters.

We use a very large vacuum system designed to put your air duct system under negative pressure. We close or seal each vent to maintain this pressure and prevent dust entry into the home. We then clean the interior of the ductwork with special tools that travel through the ductwork to dislodge the debris. Once airborne inside the ductwork, the debris is drawn into the vacuum system by the strong airflow created by the negative pressure. After cleaning the ductwork, we can sanitize or deodorize the system.

Cleaning Method

One of the most overlooked parts of the home is the heating and cooling ductwork. Out of sight, but always working for you, the home ductwork usually contains as much space as an average size room. When was the last time this “room” was cleaned?
The heating and cooling ductwork is a perfect breeding ground for germs and bacteria. Some health experts believe that approximately one in six people who suffer from allergies do so as a direct result of fungi and bacteria in the air duct system.
Health considerations aside, there are other good reasons to have your air ducts cleaned. Dust and dirt in the heating/cooling system are a primary cause of system breakdown and unscheduled service calls. A clean system is also more efficient.
So, as you can see, furnace and air duct cleaning makes the system last longer and conserve energy. Consider having your air ducts cleaned today. We recommend cleaning every 2-3 years, depending on your living circumstances, or annually for homes with allergic patients. Give us a call today for the finest furnace/air duct cleaning available. You’ll be glad you did!

Don’t forget your dryer vents!