Frequently Asked Questions About HVAC Duct Cleaning

Your HVAC system cannot provide your home with clean, climate-controlled air without its network of ducts. Unfortunately, these ducts can get clogged with dirt and other debris, potentially circulating contaminants and allergens throughout your home. Professional duct cleaning services can eliminate this unhealthy problem.

Whether you have a respiratory issue to worry about or you simply don't like all the dust that seems to accumulate in your residence, you can benefit from a greater understanding of HVAC duct cleaning services. Start by examining the answers to these frequently asked questions.

How Do HVAC Duct Systems Work?

HVAC duct systems guide cooled or heated air along preset pathways to various rooms of your home. The main duct trunk connects directly to the HVAC unit containing the evaporator and blower assembly. It branches out into separate ducts that empty into rooms through openings called registers.

In addition to the registers that send treated air into your living spaces, your HVAC system also has return registers that pull air from the living spaces into a box called a plenum. The blower then draws this air through the system again for fresh heating or cooling.

Why Do HVAC Ducts Require Cleaning?

HVAC ducts tend to collect whatever airborne debris your household air may contain. Some types of duct materials, such as fiberglass and fiberboard, have special problems in this regard. Fiberglass ducts can actually release fiberglass into your air, while fiberboard can foster mold relatively easily.

Your home's HVAC system most likely uses a combination of sheet metal for the rigid ducts and flexible, insulated plastic for places where the ducts must bend. However, even these materials can accumulate dust, dirt, pet dander, hair, mites, and pollen over time.

Dirty HVAC ducts can cause numerous problems for homeowners. A system clogged with debris cannot operate as efficiently as it once did, potentially raising your utility bills and forcing you to work the system overly hard. The extra burden on the HVAC system may then shorten its lifespan.

Debris in your HVAC system can also harm you or your loved ones. If you have trouble with allergies, asthma, or lung disease, you may suffer from serious health problems from the allergens and dust blowing through your ducts. The extra dust also makes house cleaning a more exhausting project.

How Frequently Should You Have Your HVAC Ducts Cleaned?

Different homes may need HVAC duct cleaning at different intervals. A household whose members suffer from breathing problems, for instance, may need relatively frequent duct cleaning. As a general rule of thumb, you should count on having your HVAC ductwork and registers cleaned every three to five years.

You may also schedule an HVAC duct inspection and cleaning whenever your system starts to show obvious signs of trouble. Watch for mold accumulation on vents, an increase in household dust, pests hanging around registers, or an unexplained spike in your heating or cooling expenses.

What Duct Cleaning Steps Do HVAC Professionals Take?

Duct cleaning usually calls for professional skills, tools, and procedures. Not only can the dirt and debris hide in areas impossible for non-technicians to reach, but the close-range exposure to mold and other toxins could also damage your health. You might even damage the ducts in your efforts to clean them.

Your HVAC technicians will first inspect the entire duct network with special cameras. They will then attach a vacuum machine to the system, seal off all the registers, and employ suction power to pull dirt and contaminants out of the ducts. In addition to cleaning each duct, the technicians may also clean other HVAC components.

Preferred Mechanical Services can serve as your all-in-one solution for HVAC issues as well as plumbing concerns, both at home and in your commercial facility. Contact us today to request professional duct inspection and cleaning.