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What is Duct Cleaning?
Most people are now aware that indoor air polution is an issue of growing concern and increased visibility. Many companies are making products and offering services intended to improve the quality of your indoor air, and you have probabilly seen advertisements, received a coupon in the mail, or been approached directly by a compony offering to clean your air ducts as a means of improving your home's heating and cooling system. These services typically - but not always - range in cost from $450.00 to $1000.00 per heating and cooling system, depending on the system size, system accessibility, services offered and level of contamination.
Important Notes:
The EPA does not license, certify or endorse and duct cleaning companies or procedures, BUT Texas does require duct cleaning companies/individuals must be licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation and carry liability insurance.Ask to see that license and insurance certificate.
Use caution if a duct cleaning company tells you they can remove mold from your ducts. Mold Remediation requires special equipment, employee protection, room area segregation and licensing separate from a Texas State Air Conditioning and Heating Contractors License.
The EPA does not recomment that air ducts be cleaned except on an as-needed basis because of the continuing uncertainty about the benefits of duct cleaning under most circumstances. It is important to keep in mind that dirty air ducts are only one of many possible sources of particulate contamination that are present in homes. When an older system, say 10 years or more, is replaced it may be beneficial to include duct cleaning as part of that replacement, just so everything starts clean. The cost for this cleaning is usually minimal, since the entire system is open for the replacement.
The most common source of indoor contamination is from air conditioning and heating systems that are not "sealed", permitting dirt, dust and other contaminants to enter the duct system. easy checks to perform yourself; if your heater is in a closet, you can easily remove the filter in your heater and with a flash light look underneath to see the 2 x 4's. If you see them- your return air is not sealed. This permits dust and dirt to be pulled in by the blower from everywhere including your attic. You can look at the ducts in your attic to see if they are "sealed". This is something relatively new and is now a Code requirement (2003). Proper sealing of a new or replaced heating unit now requires a paste like substance called Mastic be used to seal any duck leaks where the ducts connect to the heater. Check your filter, does is fit 'snug' in the filter compartment? If it can move around or lift up then contaminated air will get around it and into your system, the ducts and your home. Duct and return air systems that are not sealed will increase your utilty usage.
Duct cleaning is not considered to be a necessary part of yearly maintenance of your heating and cooling system, which consists of regular cleaning of drain pans and heating and cooling coils, regular filter changes and yearly inspections of heating equipment.
A company that offers to just clean the ducts and registers for a very low price will probably not do a complete job. You will have clean ducts, but the dirt and debris will still be in the other parts of the system and blow right back into the ducts. Just cleaning the ducts without cleaning the rest of the system is like changing socks without washing your feet.
What is involved in duct cleaning?
Proper duct cleaning generally refers to the cleaning of various heating and cooling system components of forced air systems, including the supply and return air ducts and registers, grills and diffusers, heat exchangers, heating and cooling coils, condensate drain pans (drip pans), fan motor and fan housing, heat strips, the air handler unit housing, supply and return plenums and return air housings. A good contractor will also include checking the primary and secondary drain lines for obstructions.
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