Eko Fresh Cleaning: January 2011

Knowledge regarding air duct cleaning is not yet fully grasped by individuals which is why it is important for them to learn as much as they can about air ducts to understand why they would need to get them cleaned on a regular basis. According to the EPA, there has never been a study to show if duct cleaning can actually prevent any health problems.

There have also not been any studies which demonstrate that high particle levels at home can increase because of air ducts that have not been cleaned. This is because of the fact that quite a lot of dirt inside the air ducts would remain on the surfaces and might not enter the home. However, it is important to remember that air ducts which have not been cleaned are one of the sources from where the dust and other particles do enter a home. The pollutants that enter our home can also be because of smoking, dusting and cooking.

When to get your air ducts professionally checked?
You should get the air ducts professionally cleaned when:

There is a visible growth of mold inside the hard surface like the sheet metal on any components of cooling or heating systems. There are quite a lot of other points also which you would need to understand about mold detection for these systems. Quite a lot of cooling and heating system sections would not be visible for inspection so if you have a professional team visit your home, ask them to show you that mold.
You should also know that there are quite a lot of substances which might look quite like mold but can be determined only through analysis in a laboratory for the final detection. Again, if there is mold on the insulation or air ducts, it would not be completely removed and you should only get it replaced with new. The mold will only continue to recur if the source of moisture is not dealt with first.
You should get the air ducts cleaned if they have been infested with insects or rodents.
Ducts should also be cleaned if they are jammed with large amount of debris or dust or if the particles are getting released inside your home through the supply registers.

If any of the above described conditions exist, then it suggests that there could be underlying causes. Before cleaning and replacing your ducts, you should first correct the cause for it since the problem would otherwise continue to occur.

Getting your cooling and heating systems cleaned would reduce maintenance costs
Quite a lot of research studies indicate that the components of the cooling and heating systems like the heat exchangers, fans and cooling coils would improve the system’s efficiency and can have a longer operating life when cleaned. There would also be fewer maintenance cost and energy bills. However, there is no evidence to support the fact that getting only the air ducts cleaned would provide efficiency results.

You should get your air ducts cleaned with the simple logic that over time, they would tend to get dirty and would need to get cleaned occasionally. If the cleaning job is done the right way, there would not be many problems with it later. If you decide to get the air ducts cleaned, you would also have to take a few precautions when you select the company to which the job would be assigned to check their reliability as well as competence.

Using sealants or chemicals for cleaning
Some of the cleaning companies might tell you that they would need to use chemical biocide in order to kill the bacteria as well as fungi inside the ducts and prevent any future growth. They might also recommend the use of sealants to prevent any dirt and dust particles from being released inside your home and to seal the air leaks. Invest some time to understand the advantages and disadvantages of using these materials before allowing the company to do so. While use of sealants and chemical biocides might be useful under a few circumstances, they might not be suitable for use every time the duct is cleaned.

Also, whether or not you decide to get the air ducts cleaned, it is important to prevent any dirt or water from entering your system since it is the best way to prevent any contamination.

Understanding air duct cleaning
Indoor air pollution today is a topic that most people are aware about and how it is affects our health. There are quite a lot of companies that market their services and products to improve the indoor air quality of your home. The services that are provided by the companies can range from $450 to around $1000 for the cooling or heating system depending on the type of service they are offering, the contamination level, system accessibility as well as the size of the system that has to be cleaned.

If you want to get your cooling and heating systems cleaned, it would be important for you to ensure that the company cleans all the components of the system and also that it is licensed and qualified for the job.

Getting every component cleaned is necessary
Air duct cleaning normally refers to the process of cleaning the cooling and heating system components which will include the fan housing, fan motor, drip pans, cooling and heating coils, heat exchangers, diffusers, grilles, registers, return and supply air ducts etc. If these components are not properly operated, maintained and installed, then they might become contaminated over time with debris, pollen and dust. If there is any moisture present, then there could also be growth of mold and spores which can be released in the home. Some of these can cause allergies as well as asthma. When you decide to get your cooling and the heating systems cleaned, it is important to ensure that all of the components are cleaned.

Even if one component is not cleaned, the system can get re-contaminated again which will negate all the benefits of getting it professionally cleaned. The methods which are used for duct cleaning vary through companies. However, there have been certain standards that the industry associations have established. Normally, a company would use special tools which would dislodge the debris and the dirt in the ducts and then vacuum it all out using a vacuum cleaner or high power.

Use chemicals only when necessary
Chemical biocides might have to be used to kill any microbiological contaminants inside the duct work or any other components. Some of the service providers would also suggest using encapsulants or sealants to cover the surface inside the air ducts and the equipment in order to control the growth of mold and to decrease the chances of the particles being released in the air. However, you would have to know the benefits and disadvantages of using these sealants well before allowing them to use it. Even if they are used, they should be only applied once the system has been cleaned properly.

Selecting an air duct cleaning company
In order to find a company that provides good quality cleaning services, you can check yellow pages or even contact NADCA to get information about the companies in your city. Not all air duct cleaning companies would have equal knowledge and they would not even provide the same quality services to their clients. You should talk to various different companies as well as get quotes and written estimates from at least 3 companies before deciding which company to assign the job to. Ask the company representative to show the mold growth or the contamination before you allow them to clean the air ducts.

Important tips on choosing a cleaning company

Do not assign the job to any company just because they claim that their services would be able to make the indoor air quality better or that their services would provide health benefits. Instead, duct cleaning should be a part of the cleaning routine, just as any other part of your home.
Unless you completely understand the advantages and the disadvantages of chemical treatments and biocides, do not let the company to use it in your home.
Check the references of the companies and talk to other customers who have tried their services before making a decision about which company to pick.
You can also check with BBB or a local consumer affairs office to see if there have been any complaints against the company in the past.
Interview the company to make sure that they have enough experience in providing duct cleaning services and that they have worked on similar systems like yours. Ensure that you fully understand that the systems and the process that they would use would not cause any harm to your family or your home. Also ensure that they follow the cleaning standards established by NADCA. If your air ducts are fibre glass or have been insulated with duct liner made from fibre glass, then the right recommendations have to be followed.
Check if they have the relevant license from the state. There are quite a lot of states in which the air duct cleaning companies need to have special licenses.
If the charges are going to be charged per hour, then ask for an estimate based on the amount of time they would take to get the job done and if there would be any breaks in between. Before assigning the job, get a written estimate.

What should you expect from a cleaning company?
If you have decided to get the air ducts cleaned, then you should expect the following services from the cleaning company:

Open the doors and the access ports so that the system can be inspected and cleaned.
The system should be inspected before cleaning to make sure that there are absolutely no asbestos materials inside in the system. The materials which contain asbestos would require different procedures for cleaning and must not be removed or disturbed unless it is by a specially equipped and trained contractor.
The company must use vacuum machines which would be able to exhaust the particles outside your home and only use HEPA machines if the vacuum would be exhausting inside your home.
Protect your household furniture and carpets when the systems are being cleaned.
Make sure the company uses brushing on the surface along with vacuum cleaning so that the dust and dirt would be dislodged.
For fibreglass duct and metal ducts which are lined internally with fibreglass, only soft bristle brush should be used.
Ensure that the cleaning company would take proper care for protecting your duct work which will include sealing, re-insulating any of the access holes which might have been created for cleaning so that they would be airtight.
Follow the standards established by NADCA for cleaning and the recommendations so that he job would be done effectively.

How to make sure that the cleaning company has done an efficient job?
One of the best ways to check if the cooling and heating systems have been cleaned effectively is visual inspection. Quite a lot of companies today use photography and videos to document the condition before and after cleaning. Once cleaned, all parts of your system should look clean visually and there must not be any visible debris or dust. Once the job is done, you can also ask the company to show you the components of the system to check that the work has been done satisfactorily. If there are any deficiencies in the job, you can ask the company to clean it again.

Preventing duct contamination
Along with getting the air ducts cleaned at home, it is important to follow a preventive and a regular maintenance program to ensure that duct contamination is minimized. In order to prevent the dirt and dust from entering your system, you can follow the tips that have been given below:

Use a highly efficient air filter as would be recommended by your cooling and heating system manufacturer.
Change the filters that you use regularly.
If you think that the filter is clogged, then you would need to change it more regularly.
Ensure that there are no missing filters so that the air would not be able to bypass the filters through any gaps between the filer holder.
When you get your cooling and heating systems checked or repaired, ask the technician to clean the drain pans and the cooling coils.
If there is any renovation or construction work which might produce dust, seal the supply and the return registers off and do not use the cooling and heating system until the work is completed.
Dust your home and vacuum it on a regular basis. Use a HEPA vacuum cleaner with efficient filter bags.
If the heating system you use includes an in-duct humidification, ensure that it is used and maintained only as per the instructions of your manufacturer.

With these tips and maintenance guidelines, you would be able to keep duct contamination to the minimum.

Prevent moisture from entering the ducts
There should be no moisture inside the ducts. One of the best ways to prevent the growth of mold and any other biological growth inside is by controlling the moisture in the ducts. Moisture would enter the system if it has not been properly serviced or installed or if there are any leaks in the system. According to research, condensation near or on the cooling coils of the unit is the main reason why moisture contamination takes place in the duct system. High humidity or condensation is the indicator for potential growth of mold in the duct. It might be difficult to control moisture but a few of the steps given below can be quite helpful.

Tips for preventing moisture from contaminating your systems

If there has been any water damage or leaks, get them repaired promptly. Ensure that these are repaired the right way since the problem might just resurface again after a few days.
You should also ensure that proper attention is paid to the cooling coils that have been designed for removing the water from surrounding air. This can be the main source for moisture contamination in the system and can easily lead to the growth of mold inside the duct work. Ensure that the condensation pan is able to drain out properly. If there is substantial amount of debris or standing water, then it is an indicator that there is a problem which would need to be solved and repaired immediately. Check the insulation close to the cooling coils to see if there are any wet spots.
For all spaces like crawl spaces and attics where no air conditioning is present, ensure that the ducts have been insulated and sealed well. This step will ensure that there is no moisture entering the system because of condensation. This will also ensure that the system functions efficiently. In order to prevent condensation, the cooling and heating system would have to be insulated well.
When you replace the system for air conditioning, ensure that you use the right sized unit according to your needs. Also ensure that the ducts are all sealed properly at the joints. Any unit which is too big will only cycle off and on frequently which will result in improper moisture removal in area where there is high humidity. Make sure that the new system that you use has been designed so that it can manage condensation well.