If you are looking into having your air ducts cleaned, then you’re probably curious about the process that goes into the cleaning. While every duct cleaning company will be different, there are some basic steps that will be completed to clean your ducts.
Here are the basic steps required for cleaning air ducts:
- Ducts are inspected
- Mold or mildew near duct entrances is removed
- Ducts are vacuumed
- Remaining debris is loosened
- Ducts are vacuumed again
- The rest of the HVAC system is cleaned
- Ducts are resealed
- Everything is cleaned up
Ducts are inspected:
The first step in the process is to determine whether or not your ducts actually need to be cleaned. This can be done by a duct cleaning company or by an HVAC company. The inspection will likely take place in your home, in the attic, and in the crawl space (if your home has one). This will allow the inspector to see all areas of the ductwork and make an accurate decision. If the inspector finds mold or mildew or a lot of dust and debris, they will recommend that your ducts be professionally cleaned.
Once you decide to have your ducts cleaned, you’ll need to hire a duct cleaning company to do the job. There are a lot of duct cleaning companies out there. If you live around Richmond, Virginia, then you can hire Duct Cleaning Solutions for all your duct cleaning needs. Duct Cleaning Solutions is a professional duct cleaning company and has been cleaning Virginia ducts since 2012.
Mold or mildew near ducts is removed:
Mold and mildew should not be growing in your home. A common place for mold and mildew to grow is around duct entrances. If there is mold or mildew growing in your ducts, it will be removed by the duct cleaning company. Mold can be removed using special chemicals and will be scraped away by the contractor.
If there is mold or mildew growing in your ductwork, then the air quality of your home will be poor. Mold spores growing in ducts can then be spread throughout the house by the HVAC system blowing air. These mold spores can affect the health of those living in your home and can aggravate allergies. Mold should be removed anywhere it is found in your home.
Ducts are vacuumed:
Ducts are cleaned using a large, very powerful vacuum. The only cleaning system recognized by the National Air Duct Association and the EPA is the Abatement Technologies Hepa-Aire H2500IV intellivac. This is the system that Duct Cleaning Solutions uses. This means that your ducts will be cleaned by the best of the best when you hire Duct Cleaning Solutions.
The vacuum is effective for sucking dust and debris out of your ductwork. Some companies use larger, truck-mounted vacuums and some use smaller, portable vacuums that work just as well. No matter what method is used, your vents will be cleaned and the end result will be the same.
Remaining debris is loosened:
While the vacuum is pretty effective, there will still be some debris left. This debris is likely stuck to the walls of the ductwork and will need more pressure to be loosened. The cleaners will use a brush to loosen this debris. In order to reach all parts of your duct system, access holes will need to be cut by the cleaners. This will help them to reach all parts and efficiently clean all areas and loosen all debris. Don’t worry, though, because the cleaners will then patch your ductwork and make it seem as though the holes had never been cut through.
Ducts are vacuumed again:
Once all the debris and dust is loosened from the walls of the air ducts, the powerful vacuum will be run again. This will suck up the rest of the particles and make sure that your ducts are spic and span and shiny as can be.
The rest of the HVAC system is cleaned:
Not only do the ducts need to be cleaned, but so does the rest of the HVAC system. This includes the heating/cooling units, coils, filter, fan, and everything else. The duct cleaning company will be able to effectively and efficiently clean all the components and leave you with a like-new, clean system that will work better than ever before. If you have been experiencing problems with your HVAC system, then cleaning may be able to fix those problems, as cleaning will get rid of blockages and your entire system will be checked.
Ducts are resealed:
At the end of the process and once everything is cleaned, your ductwork will be resealed. This is when the access holes that may have been cut will be sealed up and made to blend in and not be seen. The entrances to your ductwork will be given special attention. A sealant may be used around all edges and certain areas to ensure that your ductwork is as efficient as possible and is not losing any air through small cracks or holes in the system. The less air that is lost through the ductwork, the faster your home will heat or cool and the more effective your system will be; not to mention that your energy bills will be lower because less energy will be wasted.
Everything is cleaned up:
Duct cleaning can be a messy process. Before the cleaning begins, the cleaning company should take proper precautions to protect your home. Plastic or cloth will be laid over furniture and carpet so that no dust or debris gets onto them. At the end of the cleaning process, these covers can then be removed and the area cleaned. Any good duct cleaning company should leave your home in excellent condition with no dust or debris to be found from the cleaning.
If you are looking for a duct cleaning company, look no further than Duct Cleaning Solutions. With expert cleaners and quality service, plus affordable prices, you won’t find anyone better in the industry. If you live around Richmond, Virginia, then Duct Cleaning Solutions is the duct cleaning company for you.