Air Duct Cleaning – Myths and Truths
Belleville Air Duct Cleaning professionals are taking the time to provide vital
information to area residents and business owners. This is a guide to determining when air duct
cleaning is truly necessary. There are
several myths related to duct cleaning and sadly, many duct cleaning services
are speaking them as truth to sell their service.
Common Myths Exposed - Truths Revealed by Bellville Air Duct Cleaners
Myth: Duct cleaning is recommended each year to
eliminate airborne contaminants and prevent mold related health problems
Truth: There is no recommended cleaning
schedule; however the NADCA ACR 2006 Standard does have a recommended
inspection schedule which for residential systems is the following:
Air Handling Unit – 1
year
Supply Ductwork – 2
years
Return Ductwork/Exhaust
– 2 years
Myth: Discount duct cleaning companies only charge
between $60 and $100 and the entire procedure is done in just an hour or two
Truth: There is no reputable and qualified duct
cleaning service that can possibly do the job right for this price. This is a bait and switch technique, one of
the most popular air duct cleaning scams being used today.
Air
duct cleaning can cost $450 to $1,000 per HVAC system, depending on the
services needed, size of the HVAC system and the level of contamination. The job can take four to eight hours to
complete.
Myth: Dust mites live in ductwork
Truth: Dust mites do not live in ductwork
When Air Duct Cleaning
is Necessary
Service
by the Bellville Air Duct Cleaning Professional may be necessary in a home with
a lot of dust and mold, but most average homes with modern, well-maintained
furnaces and AC systems will rarely if ever require duct cleaning service. Why would a company who makes a living
cleaning air duct tell you this?
Simple
– we are honest and we know that people will remember us and recommend us for
this one very important characteristic of a reputable service provider.
Bellville Air Duct
Cleaning Service and Inspections
According
to the EPA, if residents are not suffering allergy symptoms and there is not a
large amount of dust under registers and inside ductwork, then professional air
duct cleaning is probably not necessary. If there is noticeable build-up and
mold on the vents then a Bellville air duct cleaning professional should
perform a thorough inspection and evaluation.
The
type of duct work in a home can be a determining factor on deciding if duct
cleaning service is needed. The
traditional bare sheet metal ducts without an insulating duct liner are not
porous and will rarely trap moisture to the point of allowing mold growth. If they should become contaminated, they are
much easier to treat than nonmetal ductwork.
Ducts
made of fiberboard or any type of flexible ductwork with some type of internal
liner is more likely to trap moisture.
Once a fiberglass duct liner is contaminated, there is no EPA-registered
product that can sufficiently treat this problem and prevent regrowth. Wet or moldy fiberglass ductwork should be
replaced.
Professional Duct
Cleaning Services in Bellville
Duct
cleaning services are advertised all over the place. The duct cleaners to watch out for are the
“blow-and-go” contractors who are unlicensed and not members of any trade
association. They will cite ridiculous
myths and claims of EPA certification or approval, which are often bogus. Worse yet, their inadequate equipment and
techniques may cause more problems than they solve. According to the EPA, these substandard jobs
release more dust, dirt and contaminants into the air than simply leaving the
ducts alone. This service is a total
waste of money, no matter how “cheap” it is.
Professional
air duct cleaning, according to the NADCA, is to place the system under negative
pressure with a powerful vacuum and use various brushes and cleaners to
dislodge debris so it can flow into the vacuum.
Duct Sealants and
Sanitizers
Though
the concept sounds good you need to be aware of its flaws. Duct sealants are intended to coat duct
surfaces and prevent dust and dirt from being released into the air.
One
problem is that the coatings sprayed into and operating duct system will not
completely coat the surface. The sealant
could also affect the fire-retarding characteristics of fiberglass-lined ducts
and invalidate the manufacturer’s warranty.
Belleville
Air Duct Cleaning professionals understand the necessity of cleaning heat vents
and air ducts. According to the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), about 40 pounds of dust accumulates in
homes every year. The Bellville air duct cleaning technicians are highly
trained and come with years of experience. We use state-of-the-art equipment
and duct cleaning tools to do a complete cleaning of all the interior surfaces
of your duct system, including main trunk lines to and from the furnace. We are
your solution for clean indoor air.