In general, you only need to clean the ducts if the system operated without a filter or if you used those flat or washable filters that aren't effective. Dust on the grill is a telltale sign that the inside of the duct needs to be cleaned. This is because dust passes through the inside of the duct and is trapped in the grill. But how do you know if air ducts need to be cleaned? In this blog, we'll look at some warning signs that commercial air ducts need to be cleaned.Are you seeing an increase in your energy bill, but there's no explanation for the increase? If so, your HVAC system may be dirty, reducing system efficiency.
The constant increase in energy bills means that there is a blockage or leak in the ducts. For example, when the accumulation of dust and dirt restricts airflow, the system will not be able to effectively circulate hot or cold air throughout the installation. Duct leaks can also cause air conditioning to escape through duct openings, forcing the air conditioning system to run longer and consume more energy. Cleaning commercial air ducts can lower your energy bills.
When the air conditioning system is cleaned and the leaks are fixed, the system doesn't have to work as hard, so it consumes less energy and improves profitability. If you see dust and dirt around the vents, it's likely that your HVAC system has a large amount of contaminants flowing through the air ducts. When this happens, not only will it generate dust in your facility, but your health can be seen negatively affected. Dirty ducts can cause allergy symptoms and other respiratory illnesses.
If you have an older building (10 years or older) and you don't have any record of any previous landlord cleaning the air ducts, it's likely that you've never had this service or that you've spent a lot of time. Just as regular oil changes are important for the efficiency and safety of vehicle operation, cleaning the air ducts is crucial to the continued health of your air conditioning system. As with oil changes, time itself can be a great way to decide if you need to clean your ducts. When was the last time you repaired your HVAC system? Has it been five years? Has it been 10 years? This alone is a warning sign because you're allowing a potential problem to manifest and become much more serious than it should be.
People don't ignore things like oil changes in their cars because they know that they will inevitably cause problems in the future. You should treat indoor air quality with the same care. A thorough visual inspection is the best way to verify the cleanliness of your heating and cooling system. Some service providers use remote photos to document conditions inside pipelines. All parts of the system must be visibly clean; you should not be able to detect any debris with the naked eye.
Show the service provider the consumer checklist after cleaning before work begins. After completing the work, ask the service provider to show you each component of your system to verify that the work has been done in a satisfactory manner. A commercial air duct cleaning technician will be able to identify and fix any mold problem and help prevent it in the future. In normal situations, air ducts do not release visible dust or debris when the heating and cooling system is turned on and air begins to flow through the ducts.
You can also contact professional duct cleaning service providers and ask them about the services they provide. This is because much of the dirt in the air ducts adheres to the duct surfaces and does not necessarily enter the living space. In addition to cleaning air conditioning ducts with mold, technicians will recommend that you invest in a household dehumidifier, since mold and mildew grow in humid areas. This is because much of the dirt that can accumulate inside air ducts adheres to duct surfaces and doesn't necessarily enter the living space.
Regardless of whether or not you decide to clean your home's air ducts, preventing water and dirt from entering the system is the most effective way to prevent pollution (see How to Prevent Duct Contamination). Hospitals also need air duct cleaning services much more regularly, as they are concerned about any type of particle that could pose a risk to patients. However, many modern residential air duct systems are built with fiberglass or sheet metal ducts lined inside with a fiberglass coating. Knowledge about cleaning air ducts is in its early stages, so a general recommendation cannot be offered as to whether you should clean the air ducts in your home.
On the other hand, if a service provider doesn't follow proper duct cleaning procedures, duct cleaning can cause indoor air problems. These products are specifically designed for use in ducts or as actual ducts, and are tested in accordance with standards established by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)). Air duct cleaning service providers can tell you that they must apply a chemical biocide inside the ducts to kill bacteria (germs) and fungi (mold) and prevent future biological growth. The National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) recommends cleaning air ducts every three to five years.
