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Is duct cleaning a money-waster? Although we are not able to say conclusively that cleaning air ducts is money down the drain, we can say that cleaning air ducts is not a routine maintenance procedure. Most of the cleaning companies tend to make claims that ducts are cleaned by using special vacuum equipment and thus enhancing the quality of air in a home, but this is not fully true.
Gradually, dust and other debris will be deposited in the ductwork and cleaning the ducts is useful and even essential in certain situations. The Environmental Protection Agency, however, disagrees and asserts that cleaning the ducts may be of no consequence when the duct system has no serious problem. According to ComfortClean, duct cleaning may compromise your air quality and your residential HVAC system in certain instances.
The 5 Things to Pay Attention to Before Having Your Air Ducts Cleaned
You are not supposed to clean your ducts or schedule a cleaning until you have taken into consideration these points.
1. There Are Numerous Air Duct Cleaning Frauds
Fraudsters frequently doorstep and mail their coupons and flyers with deals on duct cleaning of less than 100 dollars in order to attract customers. After employment, they occasionally complain that they have discovered mold in the ducts and require additional compensation to get rid of it. Professional air duct cleaning companies and HVAC providers would charge between $500 and $1500 to clean the ducts of the house, based on the size of the house.
Here are a few tips to help you avoid falling into scammers’ traps:
- Research at least three firms and take estimates.
- Check the membership of each company in the National Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) or any other professional HVAC association on the phone.
- Send a request with evidence that needs to get your ducts cleaned.
- Do not choose a firm that makes unsustainable claims regarding the health advantages of duct cleaning, or that says it is certified, endorsed or approved by the EPA.
Request a written contract on the work to be done and the overall expense.
2. The Duct Cleaning May Fail to Avoid Health Problems
The accumulations of dirt, dust, pet dander, pollen and particle collections of the home construction projects are collected in the ductwork, but the collections are not significantly moved about by the passing air. Cleaning ducts may be only useful in case a resident is allergic to dust.
There are other household cleaning activities that may be even more severe to your air quality. Dust in carpets, curtains, upholstery and bedding is commonly present in high quantities, which individuals within the house stir up. Wash and vacuum textiles on a regular basis to eliminate dust in the house. Preparation of foods, smoking, and harsh cleaning products destroy the air of your household more than the dust adhesions in the ducts.
3. The Discovery of Dust Accumulation on Registers Does Not Imply That Dust Accumulation Exists in The Ducts
The layers of dust often cover cold air return registers. The registers have grates or air filters behind the registers that prevent most of it from being passed to the ducts.
It is important to clean the registers with a brush attachment regularly and wipe them with a wet rag. In case your registers have filters, replace them frequently.
4. Poor Duct-Cleaning Just Adds to ProblemsÂ
Lack of training and proper equipment used by untrained technicians in duct cleaning can ultimately result in the release of dust sediments in your home and deterioration of your air. They may also hurt your ducts, which will adversely impact the functionality of the HVAC system and cause expensive repairs.
Technicians with appropriate qualifications will ensure a safe and careful process of cleaning the ducts and removing the air in the vacuum outside the home.
5. Think Twice Before Opting for a DIYÂ
Your attempt to vacuum your ducts can result in you damaging your ducts and releasing contaminants in your home. The high-end roto-brush machines with HEPA filters are used by professionals, and the vacuums are vented out of houses. They begin with cleaning the duct that is the farthest away and repeat the process with the equipment in the ducts.
It is possible to remove the floor registers and vacuum the dirt and debris that is visible below the register. Limit the length of the vacuum hose in the ducts to eight to ten inches.
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