Homeowners can be shocked by the amount of buildup that can accumulate in their air ducts. From mold, dust and fungus, to pet hair and other debris, the variety of garbage that appears is endless. We spoke with senior technician, Brendan Ryan, from Dave’s Duct Cleaning to learn more about the importance of duct and air filtration cleaning and why this home maintenance job is so crucial.
We first asked Ryan why duct cleaning is an imperative home maintenance task. “The purpose of duct cleaning is to safely remove any dust, dirt, debris, and contaminants from the HVAC system,” he says. “It is important for homeowners to be aware of duct cleaning because when it is done properly it can increase the indoor air quality inside someone’s home, reduce the amount of dust and allergens circulating throughout, as well as keeping the mechanical components [of the HVAC system] clean and functioning properly.”
Every house is different, but as a homeowner, one must be aware that they should get their air ducts cleaned regularly. But how frequently should we really be scheduling a good cleaning? Ryan says, “it’s recommended that the system gets cleaned every 5-7 years. That is depending on how many occupants live in the house and if there are any pets or recent renovations; in which case, the frequency may be slightly more”. The dust from your renovation can build up and cause major blockages in your air ducts. Ryan also suggests that you may want to consider getting your ducts cleaned before all of the windows are shut for the season and the same indoor air is constantly circulating.
Before you call the team at Dave’s Duct Cleaning, you, as the homeowner, should know what to expect. Ryan explains the process him and his team take to ensure your ducts are cleaned properly and the job is done properly and thoroughly.
“When we first arrive at a house, we do a walk through with the homeowner to ensure all vents and ductwork is accessible. We then test the HVAC system to ensure it is working properly before we do any work. We then shut the system off and then cover up every vent in the house with either a magnetic strip or tape to ensure dust does not escape during the cleaning; this also pressurizes the HVAC system when we subject it to negative pressure.”
“From there we attach our vacuum to the main ductwork in the basement, if there are existing access holes from a previous cleaning, we will re-use those. However, it may be necessary to create new holes to properly remove whatever is in the system.”
“Once everything is set up, we then turn the vacuum on to put the system under negative pressure, from there, we start at the vent furthest away from the furnace and apply positive pressure. We apply positive pressure to each vent in the house using different air hoses and agitation tools.”
“After each vent has been cleaned we proceed down to the basement to clean each main duct while taking before and after pictures along the way. Once everything has been completed we seal up any access holes and turn the system back on to ensure it is working properly.”
More than one in six Canadians suffer from hay fever, or seasonal allergic rhinitis. Duct cleaning can help people who suffer from these allergies or other respiratory problems. Along with allergies, cleaning out the air ducts in your home can reduce dust in your home, and provide a fresher and cleaner home.
If you’re looking for a reputable duct cleaning service, contact the team at Dave’s Duct Cleaning for more information.
Explore eieihome.com for more tips and information about duct cleaning and other home improvement topics.
