Carrara Companies Cleaning & Restoration Services Blog

Air Duct Cleaning Will Change the Way You Breathe - Part 2

Now you know the reasons why you should have your air ducts cleaned regularly, below are some helpful reminders on whom do you find to do the work.

How do you choose an air duct service company?

A word of caution if you make your decision based on price. The national average price to clean ducts for a medium size home will range from $400-$1,000. If you come across a company who can clean your ducts for an amount significantly less, then you are not getting a quality company and their process may leave you “breathless”. Properly cleaning your HVAC and duct system can’t be done for $100 or even $200. These companies are referred as “blow-and-go” air duct cleaning companies. These companies often charge a nominal fee and do a poor job of cleaning the heating and cooling system.

Ask for a description of their cleaning process. The top cleaning companies will use a rotary brush which will scour and clean the duct while using negative air pressure and a powerful vacuum to suck up the debris before it gets airborne.

You should also do your due diligence and research the companies you are calling. Go to their website (if they don’t have one that could be a red flag), are they part of the Better Business Bureau and are they a member of the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA).

Find out if you can be involved in the cleaning process by looking at your system before they start cleaning and after they are done. Ask them to show you the debris that was in your system. If they won’t/can’t show you the duct work before and after, you should be waiving another red flag. If you are not going to be home during the cleaning, demand before and after pictures so you can feel comfortable the work was actually done and your investment was worth it.

Finally, asking for references and referrals which will solidify you made the right contractor choice.

Points to Remember

1. Don’t make your choice strictly on price. All good companies are going to be in the same ballpark. Cheaper is never better and if it’s too good to be true, it is.
2. Ask about the cleaning process and confirm they are using negative air and a vacuum system.
3. Do your research, website, BBB, NADCA, references.
4. Get involved in the cleaning process to protect your investment.

Air Duct Cleaning Will Change the Way You Breathe - Part 1

As we spend more time indoors during this time of the year, breathing clean air is even more critical, especially for those with respiratory disorders. Many people spend countless hours cleaning their homes, vacuuming, dusting etc. only to ignore their central air system and have their contaminated air blowing throughout their home.

As you prepare to make the investment in having your central air system and duct system cleaned, there are many questions you should ask.

Can having our system cleaned REALLY improve our indoor air quality?

Bacteria, fungi, mold and small particles of dust collect in your HVAC (Heating, ventilation and air conditioning system) and have potential to cause health problems. You can improve your indoor air quality (IAQ) by removing these contaminants.

How often should I have my air ducts cleaned?

There is not a right or wrong answer, the homeowner needs to make their own decision taking into consideration the following factors:

• Recent renovations or remodeling in the home
• Pets in the home
• Water or smoke in the HVAC system
• Anyone with respiratory challenges who would benefit from improved air quality
• Smokers in the home
• Visible mold growth in the duct work
• Ducts clogged with dust or debris

Proper Air Duct Cleaning Can Prevent SBS

Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is not a term you often hear, but can be a major problem for any building occupant—either residential or commercial.

SBS is defined as a combination of ailments in which building occupants experience acute health and comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a building, but no specific illness or cause can be identified.

There are more than 50 possible known symptoms including, but not limited to: headaches, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, dry cough, and eye, nose, or throat irritation.

The possibility exists for multiple persons to report anyone of the symptoms, and may be dismissed without investigation, whether or not they are connected. The key indicator is if these symptoms are reported within a short time frame of several weeks.

There are potentially multiple causes for SBS, with possibly no single reason as the culprit. One of the major causes, however, is inadequate ventilation. Heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems must effectively distribute airflow to people throughout a building. Failure of this system, or lack of maintenance, may cause indoor or outdoor air pollutants to buildup. Chemical and biological contaminants may also become trapped and linger in areas, causing people to experience these symptoms.

The best way to combat this issue is with proper and frequent maintenance of HVAC systems. A building investigation should be conducted to test the Indoor Air Quality, to ensure all systems are operating as intended. Additionally, air sampling for airborne contaminates should be monitored frequently.

The use of chemicals such as paints, solvents, and pesticides should be used in well-ventilated areas and when no one else is around.

Removal of any pollutants such as toxic mold or other microbial contamination should also be considered and conducted by trained professionals.

Preventing A Fire With Proper Air Duct Cleaning

According to the U.S. Fire Administration clothes dryer fires account for approximately 15,600 structural fires, 15 deaths, and over $99 million dollars in damages annually. The leading factor contributing to the clothes dryer fire is "failure to clean".  Surprisingly, the majority of these fires could be prevented with a simple phone call to a professional air duct cleaning company. Annual cleanings of your dryer vent allows proper airflow from the dryer to the outside of the home. If lint and debris are blocking the pathway the hot air has nowhere to escape.

The following are some other helpful tips for your dryer:

• Install metal dryer ducts rather than foil or plastic ducts which may sag and collect lint easier. Also, if a fire were to start in the duct, metal is more likely to contain the fire than the foil or plastic.
• If your clothes are going through two or three cycles to dry you should call a professional air duct cleaning company to come out and rid your dryer vent of the built up lint and debris.
• Clean under and around your dryer to get rid of any lint that has accumulated.
• Clean the lint filter after every dryer cycle.
• If you have clothing with volatile chemicals (gasoline, cooking oils, cleaning agents) wash the clothing more than once to minimize the amount of the chemicals on the clothing and line dry them rather than placing them in the dryer.
• Do not operate the dryer without being home.

If you have any questions, or if you would like to have someone look at your dryer vent call your professional air duct cleaning company.

Frequency of Air Duct Cleaning Services

As one of the most important systems in the home or office building, the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is also the central point for the collection of a variety of contaminants, which can affect the occupant's health. One important aspect considered in improving indoor air quality, is the removal of pollutants such as mold, fungi, hair, pollen, and bacteria.

While there is no set timeframe on when to have air ducts cleaned, several factors must be taken into consideration not the least of which is the preference of the homeowner or building superintendent. Some of the more frequent factors include:

• Smokers in the home or building.
• Pets/animals, which shed high amounts of hair and dander.
• Water contamination, or damage to the home/building or ventilation system.
• Occupants with allergies or asthma who might benefit from a reduction in the amount of indoor air pollutants in the HVAC system.
• After home/building renovations or remolding.
• Prior to occupancy of a new home or building.

Depending on the size of the home or building, the number of systems, the extent of the contamination, and how many persons are conducting the cleaning determines the amount of time it will take to clean the HVAC system. The most beneficial way to ensure the cleaning was effective is through a visual inspection. If any dust or debris can be seen, then the system should not be considered cleaned.

The Quality of Indoor Air

Over the years, people have been spending more and more of their time indoors. Approximately 90 percent of America's population is spent indoors, while 65 percent of that is spent in the home. Because of this, people are more exposed to indoor air pollutants, and those most susceptible are children, the elderly, pregnant women, and persons whom are sick.

The sources of these pollutants vary from chemicals in simply cleaning products and pesticides, to basic activities such as cooking, bathing, and heating/cooling the home. There are some easy ways for anyone to take to reduce the potential for indoor air pollution and to improve the quality of their air.

Control the source of the pollutant. Instead of increasing energy costs by increasing ventilation, it is best to find where the source of the pollutants are coming from and test accordingly. Having your vents professionally cleaned will also help eliminate some of the airborne threats. Be sure to consult your state or local health department or professionals who have experience in solving indoor air quality problems.

Immediate effects may show up after a single exposure or repeated exposures. These include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. Such immediate effects are usually short-term and treatable. Sometimes the treatment is simply eliminating the person's exposure to the source of the pollution, if it can be identified. Symptoms of some diseases, including asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and humidifier fever, may also show up soon after exposure to some indoor air pollutants.

Winterize your Home with Proper Air Duct Cleaning

With the colder months approaching, many of us will spend the majority of our time indoors. But, the indoor air we breathe is often more polluted than the air outdoors.

So when opening windows for fresh air is not an option, air duct cleaning can be an important home-winterizing approach to keep clean air circulating during these next couple of months.

Though no study has proven contaminated air ducts cause health problems, air ducts filled with dust, pollen, animal dander and microbes can circulate these harmful spores throughout your home or office, contributing to allergies or illness.

What’s more, air duct cleaning has been shown by NADCA (National Air Duct Cleaning Association) to improve efficiency and, therefore, heating savings, by 10-30 percent. Dirt — the No. 1 cause for failing heating systems — not only absorbs heat, but also restricts airflow.

To determine whether or not your air ducts need cleaning, check out the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) checklist.

Once you’ve detected a contaminated system — you’ve inspected your air duct for visible spores, mold and dust — what should you look for in an air duct cleaning company?

•    First, be sure to evaluate their process. Proper cleaning services should include cleaning of all registers, the interior of the ducting, the furnace fan and the interior of the heating and ventilating system. It is extremely important that all components are properly cleaned or else the entire system can be exposed to recontamination.
•    Then, be sure the company uses a high-efficiency filtration system, such as HEPA, to protect your carpet and furniture from the extracted contaminants.
•    Lastly, to be sure your air duct received proper cleaning, review the EPA’s Post Cleaning Consumer Checklist. 

Lyndsey Walker is a PR 20/20 Internet Marketing Consultant and content developer for Carrara Companies.