About A/C Duct Cleaning

If someone in your household suffers from allergies, you may want to consider having your duct work cleaned.

Cleaning your air conditioning duct system in your home may be beneficial to you and your family. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that indoor air may be up to 70 times more polluted than outdoor air. Air conditioning duct cleaning may remove many of the pollutants and allergens that circulate in our home.

Function

The air condition system in most homes consists of two parts. The first part is the air handling unit. These are the mechanical parts that cool the air, as well as the fan and motor that circulates the air. The second part is the duct work. This is all of the ducts that distribute the air throughout the home. AC duct cleaning, if done correctly, would involve both the air conditioning unit and the duct work.

Pollutants

Indoor air pollution is a serious health hazard that affects many people. The air conditioning unit and duct work is the ideal environment for bacteria and fungi to thrive because it tends to be moist and temperate. This polluted air is then circulated throughout the home when the air conditioning is turned on. There are many pollutants in the home. Dust, debris and mold are commonly found in the duct work of a home. Air conditioning duct cleaning removes these pollutants from the home. The EPA recommends that you have your ducts cleaned if there is a substantial amount of mold growth, the ducts are clogged with an excess amount of dust, or they are infested with insects or rodents.

Types

There are two ways or methods to clean the air conditioning duct work. The first is a portable duct cleaning device. This is a powerful HEPA-filtered vacuum that uses long tubes to vacuum and clean the ducts. Brushes are attached to the end of the vacuum to scrape dirt, debris and mold from the duct work. The second type is a truck-mounted vacuum system. This is where the vacuum itself is mounted on the truck ,and then long hoses are run inside the home and through the duct work. Truck-mounted duct cleaners work the same way as the portable units but are much more powerful then the portable devices. Air conditioning duct cleaning should also include the air handling unit. Otherwise, the unit may harbor dirt and mold, which will be introduced into the clean duct work.

Costs

According to the EPA, the cost of air conditioning duct cleaning can range from $450 to $1,000, depending on the size of the house and time that it takes to clean it. You should have your ducts cleaned every 5 to 10 years. Some of the factors to consider are whether there is a smoker in the house, if there are pets that shed hair and dander, or if someone suffers from allergies or asthma in the home.

Considerations

If you are considering get your air conditioning ducts cleaned, you should choose a company certified by the National Air Duct Cleaning Association (NADCA). Don't assume that all duct cleaning service providers are equally knowledgeable and responsible.

References

• EPA: Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned?
• Dirty Ducts Cleaning: Duct Cleaning
• Duct Busters: Your Family's Prescription to Cleaner Living