Air duct cleaning refers to cleaning the air ducts leading to your air conditioner or furnace. However, duct cleaning is not a DIY process. You should hire a professional to clean the air ducts on your behalf. The duct cleaning service providers use specialized tools and equipment for cleaning the air ducts to remove any mold or dust that might be present. The professionals can clean even the hard-to-reach areas using this equipment and tools.
Have you ever had a duct cleaning before but left unsatisfied by the results and the suspiciously short period that the “professional” took? Then you aren’t alone. There are many fraudsters out there, swindling unsuspecting homeowners of their money. To curb this behavior, NADCA was created. Through this agency, there is now a standard method for duct cleaning. The duct cleaning process is probably the most effective and best way of removing dust, debris, and other contaminants from the air. In this article, you will learn the process most professionals go through to clean air ducts. You will also learn the tools they use to affect the cleaning. Below is the process your duct cleaning technician will most likely use:
Inspect the Ducts
Before anything else, the technician should inspect the air ducts leading to the supply and return registers. So, when the duct cleaning service provider comes to your home, they should begin with inspecting the air ducts. This will help in ensuring that they know what they are dealing with. The last thing you want is for the technician to blow mold all over your home because they didn’t know it was there in the first place. To inspect the air ducts, the technician may use a duct inspection camera before they take any other step. The professional then will commence the repair of any problems that they see with the air ducts. If there are any leaks, the technician will seal them, straighten any kinks and even replace any damage they notice on the air ducts.
Create Negative Pressure
Your heating and air conditioning technician uses a vacuum system installed in the furnace. This powerful HEPA (high-efficiency particulate Air) vacuum creates negative pressure in your air ducts and vents. The professional hooks the vacuum device’s hose to the air ducts closer to your air handler. After this, they will cut an access hole into your air ducts and apply a tight sealing. This will prevent dust, mold, or dirt from flowing into the furnace unit. The duct cleaning service provider then closes all the supply registers to maximize the negative pressure. They then turn on the vacuum device to begin cleaning each duct once at a time.
Agitate the Dust
Your technician will use some strong vacuuming gear to clean the ducts as they go through the duct cleaning procedure vent by vent. This equipment for moving settled dust includes revolving brushes and pressurized agitation air-whipping instruments. Your specialist will clean both the supply side ducts and return vents. This will move accumulated dust into the main lines, where the vacuum can easily suck it up. Hence, if your technician looks about, sprays, and leaves during a duct cleaning service visit, that is a red flag, and you might have fallen victim to a scam.
Cleaning Remaining Part of the System
After cleaning the vents and ducts, the duct cleaning service provider will inspect the rest of the heating and air conditioning systems. They will check the blower motor, furnace, heat exchanger, drain pan, evaporator coils, and other components that are prone to damage. The technician will clean up the evaporator coils of dirt and debris and thaw any frost or ice that might have formed over them. They will clean after themselves while ensuring they do not dirty other parts of your Arlington, TX home. After all is complete, the professional should take you through what they have just done and present evidence that the ducts have been cleaned.
Tools Used
Inspection Tools
As mentioned above, inspection is the first step to a good drain cleaning service. The technician needs to know the contaminant they are dealing with. The professionals visually inspect the interior part of the air ducts. Although these parts are hard for the eye to reach, they will use adjustable mirrors, digital periscopes, and digital cameras.
Accessing Tools
The air ducts are, at times, hard to reach. The ductwork access pints are normally small and narrow, meaning they aren’t welcoming for inspection or cleaning. For this reason, the duct cleaning service provider uses specialized tools such as long-hosed vacuums and the ladder.
Cleaning Tools
Upon accessing the HVAC system, the technician removes the contaminants from the air ducts. Several tools are used for this purpose. These tools are called hand-based cleaning tools, including a manual brush, powder brush, air skippers, air whips, and blow guns. The choice of the cleaning tool is the most critical as there are different air ducts, each requiring a different cleaning tool. For instance, fiberglass ducts shouldn’t be cleaned with aggressive tools. Hence, ensure that the technician uses the right tool when they come for a duct cleaning service.
Debris and Dust Collection Tools
Upon accessing and cleaning the air ducts, the debris, mold, and dirt need to be removed from your Arlington, TX home. This allows a better containment of these contaminants’ spread. Duct cleaning service providers use vacuums to suck the trash and the particles from the air ducts. The technician may use a portable vacuum mounted on the wheels of one that is carried like a backpack.
Professional Duct Cleaning
Ducts can have all manner of contaminants. Unfortunately, these contaminants can find their way into your home, resulting in allergic inflammation and asthma flare-ups. When was the last time you had a duct cleaning service? If you need help remembering, contact us at Minuteman Heating & Air, your reliable duct cleaning company in Arlington, TX. We will keep your ducts clean and clear.