 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| Duct Cleaning |
| With our cleaning system you are sure not to be left in the dust ! |
Most homeowners have no idea what goes on inside their
home's air duct. But the fact is, they can become littered
with years of accumulated dirt, debris and allergens like
pollen, dust and pet dander.
Industry standards recommend that you have your air
ducts checked out by a professional every two years and
cleaned every five to seven years. However every house
will vary in the condition of its ducts.
By having your ducts cleaned regularly, you will have
improved the efficiency of your heating and cooling unit
and the air quality in your home. This will also cut down
on allergies that you may have.
Our technicians use the most powerful and effective air
duct machine on the market today. You can count on that
with our cleaning system that you will not be left in the
dust!
home's air duct. But the fact is, they can become littered
with years of accumulated dirt, debris and allergens like
pollen, dust and pet dander.
Industry standards recommend that you have your air
ducts checked out by a professional every two years and
cleaned every five to seven years. However every house
will vary in the condition of its ducts.
By having your ducts cleaned regularly, you will have
improved the efficiency of your heating and cooling unit
and the air quality in your home. This will also cut down
on allergies that you may have.
Our technicians use the most powerful and effective air
duct machine on the market today. You can count on that
with our cleaning system that you will not be left in the
dust!
| Could you be breathing this in? |
How we clean the system.
How we clean your system is we cut an access hole in
the main ductwork, and attach a 8 inch hose that pulls
a vacuum through the duct work. Remove the vent
covers in the home, cleaning each one thoroughly.
We then turn on the vacuum and go to the vent
register. Then an agitator is introduced into the opening
to dislodge all debris from the walls of the ductwork.
After agitating, an air sweep or an air snake is fed into
the ductwork. (this is a hose with a vented ball on the
end of it with tubes the swing back and forth as air is
passed through the tubes) this air snake pushes all
debris towards the vacuum while the vacuum is pulling.
The return duct is cleaned in mostly the same way.
However, often times the return ductwork is wide
enough to allow us to use hand brushes and vacuums
in addition to agitation. Then we replace all vent covers,
and close any access cuts. Access cuts are closed with
prefabricated sheet metal, which are attached with
self-tapping screws then foil tape. This leaves a
convenient access door for future ductwork
maintenance and will not affect air-flow.
the main ductwork, and attach a 8 inch hose that pulls
a vacuum through the duct work. Remove the vent
covers in the home, cleaning each one thoroughly.
We then turn on the vacuum and go to the vent
register. Then an agitator is introduced into the opening
to dislodge all debris from the walls of the ductwork.
After agitating, an air sweep or an air snake is fed into
the ductwork. (this is a hose with a vented ball on the
end of it with tubes the swing back and forth as air is
passed through the tubes) this air snake pushes all
debris towards the vacuum while the vacuum is pulling.
The return duct is cleaned in mostly the same way.
However, often times the return ductwork is wide
enough to allow us to use hand brushes and vacuums
in addition to agitation. Then we replace all vent covers,
and close any access cuts. Access cuts are closed with
prefabricated sheet metal, which are attached with
self-tapping screws then foil tape. This leaves a
convenient access door for future ductwork
maintenance and will not affect air-flow.
| Facts about Sanitizers and Sealants |
the air. However there are some flaws in the concept.
One is that coatings sprayed into an operating duct system do not completely coat the duct surfaces.
Another is that sealants might affect the fire-retarding characteristics of fiberglass-lined ducts and could
invalidate the manufacturer's warranty. Yet another is that aging sealants could detach from the ducts and
contribute to the amount of particles that need to be cleaned.
Sealants should never be used on wet duct liners or as a stopgap measure to cover actively growing mold or
to encase debris in the ducts.
Because of these and other questions about safety and overall effectiveness, most organizations concerned
with duct cleaning do not currently recommend the routine use of sealants in any type of duct. The
organizations include the EPA, NADCA, the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association
(NAIMA) and the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA).
On the other hand, sanitizers containing chemicals that retard microbial growth - mainly mold - can be
applied to the interior surfaces of ducts. However, most duct systems do not require them. If yours does, the
system should be throughly cleaned before the sanitizer is applied.
Bear in mind that while there are EPA-registered biocides (sanitizers) recommended for bare metal, there are
not any recommended for duct systems with porous surfaces such as fiberglass.
One is that coatings sprayed into an operating duct system do not completely coat the duct surfaces.
Another is that sealants might affect the fire-retarding characteristics of fiberglass-lined ducts and could
invalidate the manufacturer's warranty. Yet another is that aging sealants could detach from the ducts and
contribute to the amount of particles that need to be cleaned.
Sealants should never be used on wet duct liners or as a stopgap measure to cover actively growing mold or
to encase debris in the ducts.
Because of these and other questions about safety and overall effectiveness, most organizations concerned
with duct cleaning do not currently recommend the routine use of sealants in any type of duct. The
organizations include the EPA, NADCA, the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association
(NAIMA) and the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA).
On the other hand, sanitizers containing chemicals that retard microbial growth - mainly mold - can be
applied to the interior surfaces of ducts. However, most duct systems do not require them. If yours does, the
system should be throughly cleaned before the sanitizer is applied.
Bear in mind that while there are EPA-registered biocides (sanitizers) recommended for bare metal, there are
not any recommended for duct systems with porous surfaces such as fiberglass.
| Blue Ridge Heating & Air, Inc. |
| Before |
| After |