The Process of Duct Cleaning

Have you ever asked yourself how we go about cleaning your ducts? If the answer is yes, you’re in luck. At Art Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electric we want you to be as informed about your home and AC system as possible, which is why we want you to exactly how we clean your ducts and what the duct cleaning process entails.

First Things First: When Should You Get Your Ducts Cleaned?

Before analyzing the duct cleaning process, you need to know when to clean your ducts and why they need to be cleaned in the first place.

Your ducts see a lot of dirt in their lifetime, including dust, pet dander, skin follicles and hair of all types. They work hard to provide you with clean, cold air while simultaneously keeping your air quality high.

You should have your ducts cleaned as soon as possible if you notice any of the following:

• There is visible mold in your HVAC system. Spores are sometimes hard to kill off and require professional cleaning services to remove properly.
• You have a rodent infestation. Even if the infestation has been dealt with, it is very possible that the rodents left droppings in your ducts that are contaminating your air.
• You have recently renovated, or the amount of dust in your home has substantially increased for some reason.

Although duct cleaning is a relatively contentious topic, it makes sense that, over time, things get dirty. Just like dust accumulates on surfaces in your home, so too does it accumulate in your ductwork.

How Does Art Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electric Clean Ducts Like Yours?

We here at Art Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electric go about cleaning your ducts the same way we do anything: thoroughly. Accessing and cleaning the dustiest parts of your ducts usually involves the following:

1. Before starting work cleaning your ducts, one of our HVAC technicians will cover up all of the supply registers in your home. Simply speaking, the supply registers are the grills through which conditioned air flows into a room. By covering the supply registers, we ensure that none of the dust cleaned out of your ducts finds its way into the rest of your home.
2. After covering the supply registers, it’s a good idea to turn on your HVAC fan (not the heating or cooling system, just the fan). This will push the dust towards the end of the ducts.
3. Once the supply registers are covered, we will start to check the other components of your HVAC system. In particular, our technicians will look at your filter to ensure that it isn’t broken or damaged. This is an important step, as the filter will ensure that none of the dust expelled from your HVAC during the cleaning process gets stuck in your fan motor.
4. Step 4 involves loosening the dust in the ducts. This is where specialized duct cleaning equipment comes into play. While your typical DIY site recommends using something similar to a hard-bristle paintbrush, at Art Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electric we use specialized brushes that get rid of dust while ensuring that your ductwork isn’t damaged.
5. Once the visible dust has been loosened from the ducts, it is easy to suck at a large amount of the remaining dust using a vacuum cleaner.
6. Once the air registers and return air registers have been cleaned, we simply turn the fan off and clean out the blower compartment.

The main portions of your ductwork that aren’t accessible using the above method don’t get as dirty, but we will always make sure they are just as meticulously cleaned as the rest of your ductwork. This usually involves taking the caps off of rectangular ducts and sliding a special vacuum cleaning inside the ducts themselves to suck up all the dirt and debris.

Don’t waste time with online debates of whether or not you should clean your ducts, call in a professional from Art Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electric to get a proper assessment – contact us at 1-800-475-1504.