As your home’s air ducts get older, more dust and dirt can settle in them. If you’ve been thinking about hiring someone to clean them out but aren’t sure where to start, read this article to catch up on the basics of what professional air duct cleaning entails.
What is Your Home’s Air Ducts?
The average home has at least one air duct. Air ducts are tubes that carry warm or cold air from your furnace, air conditioner, or other heating and cooling equipment to rooms in your home.
Ducts can become dirty over time, which can affect the air quality in your home. Dirty ducts can also cause problems with your heating and cooling equipment. Professional help is required to clean your home’s air ducts correctly.
Here are some tips on how to clean your home’s air ducts yourself:
- Check the condition of the ducts. If they’re dirty, you’ll have to clean them before you can use them.
- Remove any debris that’s blocking the ducts. This includes leaves, branches, insulation, dust, and dirt.
- Use a hose to wash down the entire length of the ducts. Make sure to get into all corners and crevices.
- Use a vacuum cleaner to clean up any residual water and debris.
- Blow out the lines of the ducts with a compressed air hose to remove any dust and debris that may have settled inside.
- Apply a sealant or coating to the outside of the ducts to prevent future dust and debris accumulation.
How to Clean Your Home’s Air Ducts
If you’re like most homeowners, you probably take for granted the importance of keeping your home’s air ducts clean. But if you don’t keep them clean, not only will you be contributing to a sickly indoor environment, but also your air conditioning and heating systems may not function as efficiently as they could.
That’s why it’s important to get professional help when it comes to cleaning your home’s air ducts. A professional HVAC contractor can use specialized equipment and procedures to clean your ducts effectively and prevent them from becoming clogged again. Here are a few tips on how to clean your own ducts:
- Start by determining the extent of the damage. If you see dust or dirt in any areas that shouldn’t be there (like near the registers), then there’s a good chance your ducts are contaminated and need to be cleaned by a professional.
- Use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter if possible. This will help trap all the particles that need to be removed from the ducts.
- Use a hose with a high-pressure nozzle if necessary. Using this method will force water through the ducts and loosen up any debris that has built up .
- Use a mixture of hot water and vinegar to clean the ducts. This mixture will help to break down the dirt and grime, and it will also kill any bacteria that might be present.
- Rinse the ducts thoroughly with fresh water once the cleaning has been completed.
Who Should Clean a Home’s Air Ducts?
If you have asthma or any other respiratory illness, your home’s air ducts may be a source of irritation and health problems. A professional air duct cleaning company can clean your ducts to improve your health and reduce the chance of illness.
If you’re not sure if your home needs duct cleaning, ask a qualified HVAC contractor. He or she can inspect your system and recommend the best course of action for your specific situation.
There are a few things you should keep in mind when hiring an air duct cleaning company:
- Make sure the company has the proper equipment and training to clean your ducts.
- Schedule the cleaning as soon as possible, since dirty air ducts can cause serious health issues.
What To Look For
If you’re thinking of hiring a professional to clean your home’s air ducts, there are a few things you’ll want to be aware of.
The first thing to keep in mind is that not all duct cleaning services are created equal. Some will simply use a blower-type vacuum to clear the ducts, while others may use more sophisticated equipment that can remove dust, bacteria, and other pollutants.
Another important factor to consider is the specialist’s qualifications. Make sure the company you select has experience cleaning air ducts, as this type of work can be tricky and require special skills.
Finally, it’s important to remember that not all air ducts are created equal. Some are much larger and more intricate than others, meaning they may require more attention from a professional cleaner. If you’re unsure about which type of service your duct needs, ask your contractor or home inspector for recommendations.
Costs of Professional Air Duct Cleaning Services
If you’re like most people, you probably don’t think much about your home’s air ducts. But if you’re suffering from asthma or other respiratory problems, you should definitely take a closer look.
A2006 study by the EPA found that homes with poorly maintained air ducts are three times as likely to have poor indoor air quality. That means that poor duct maintenance can increase your risk of asthma symptoms, coughs, and other respiratory issues.
So if you want to avoid these problems, it’s important to get professional air duct cleaning services. Here are some facts about the costs of this type of cleaning:
The average cost of duct cleaning is $1,200 per room.
This includes both the cost of the professional service and the cost of the equipment needed to clean the ducts.
Keep in mind that this price may vary depending on the size and condition of your ducts.
If you’re looking for a quick and affordable way to improve your home’s air quality, professional air duct cleaning is an excellent option.
Conclusion
If you’re like most homeowners, you probably struggle to keep up with the cleaning on your own. But air duct cleaning isn’t just a seasonal task — it’s something that should be done on an annual or even bi-annual basis to ensure your home’s air quality is at its best. If you’re looking for professional help with this chore, check out our selection of air duct cleaners and choose one that fits your needs. From there, all you need to do is schedule a time for them to come and take care of the job!
