Even with routine HVAC tune-ups and regular cleaning of your home, dust and other particulates will accumulate in your ducts. The solution to remove that buildup is professional duct cleaning. The National Air Duct Cleaners Association recommends annual inspections for commercial locations and semiannual inspections for homes. You can then opt for duct cleaning as needed. For the average home, you’ll typically require it every three to five years.
Prepping Your Home or Business
Duct cleaners will need convenient access to all HVAC supply and return vents. They may be able to move small and lightweight furniture as needed. If you have any large or heavy furniture obstructing your ducts, consider moving those out of the way ahead of time.
Cleaning and Covering Your Vents
The first step in duct cleaning is prepping the vents. Our duct cleaner will check and clean the vents inside and out. We’ll then cover the vents. Vent covers prevent any dust from blowing into the home during the inspection process. Duct cleaning covers typically also have ports that let the cleaners connect equipment to vacuum those cavities if needed.
Video Camera Inspection
Our team member will bring a portable camera scope into your home. It may be a mounted or handheld system. It will have a reel of semi-rigid cable. That cable will have a high-definition camera on one end and attach to a monitor on the other. Our duct cleaner will snake that cable through all sections of the duct network. This will reveal the dust buildup and any other issues.
Our duct cleaner will show you the dust accumulation. You can use that visual evidence to decide whether to proceed with the cleaning. We can also provide you with professional guidance as needed. Our cleaner may also show you other problems. This can include worn duct seals and punctures in the duct walls. In rare cases, it can include moisture or pests. You can then explore how you want to proceed.
The Duct Cleaning Process
Duct cleaning service involves the use of a high-powered vacuuming system. Our cleaners may use a portable system that they bring into the home. There are also truck-mounted systems that are even more powerful. Which type the cleaners use will depend on the size of the home and the scope of the required cleaning.
These vacuums have a long hose that the cleaner can snake through the ducts. The hose will often have a wide brush at the end that helps to free the accumulated dust. If the dust has been in there a while, there can be stubborn deposits. In that case, our cleaner may use various brushes, air nozzles, and other tools to loosen the dust.
Duct vacuuming systems create negative air pressure. This ensures dust doesn’t flow out of the ducts and into the home. The vent covers are just there as a second line of defense. Your cleaner may also attach the hose to the vent covers to clean the end sections more thoroughly. These systems also have a filtration system. The filter ensures the system traps all the dust and doesn’t recirculate anything.
We may use cleaning agents if the ducts are particularly dirty. You may also choose to have our cleaner sanitize the ducts. This provides peace of mind for air quality and may be necessary if you had a moisture or pest problem at one point.
Final Inspection
We will check your HVAC filter and may recommend replacing or upgrading it. Note that duct cleaning services typically don’t include filter replacement. After completing the cleaning process, our cleaner will perform a second camera inspection to ensure a thorough job. The cleaner will also show you the results so that you can compare the before and after. We’ll then remove the vent covers and any other equipment we’ve brought in. Our team will then clean all work areas before leaving.
Scheduling a Professional Duct Cleaning in Madera
Brian’s Heating & Cooling has served homeowners and businesses in Madera, CA, and throughout the surrounding areas since 2005. We offer a full range of ductwork-related services, including duct cleaning and duct sealing. Our HVAC technicians install, maintain, and repair all ducted and ductless heating and cooling systems. We install and service tankless water heaters too. Our team performs home energy audits that will reveal where your energy losses occur. We install and service ventilation systems. Our team can also help you improve your indoor air quality with germicidal lights, air purifiers, humidifiers, and dehumidifiers. If you have questions or would like to schedule an appointment, call today, or contact us online.
