Air Duct Cleaning Process 101

Typically, every part of your home is easy to service and maintain due to its accessibility, whether it is changing the filters in your furnace or winterizing your central air conditioner. Yet the one aspect that is often overlooked inside a home is your air duct system. Air ducts allow for temperature-controlled air to flow throughout your home. However, dust, grime, mold and even vermin can enter the system. Properly cleaning your air ducts ensures that your home is preserved and that good air quality can enter to keep occupants more comfortable and less impacted by airborne contaminants.

Learn more about the air duct cleaning process and how our professionals at Dynasty Ducts can provide your Atlanta home with trusted and valuable services.

What Is Air Duct Cleaning?

Air duct cleaning involves inspecting the entire HVAC system and removing any particulates that may have accumulated inside that could be causing poor air quality. While it sounds like a simple process, the main problem often encountered is that dust will adhere to the surface of ducts. So simply placing a regular vacuum hose near a vent will not properly dislodge the dust from the inside surfaces. The dust needs to be scrubbed off and efficiently collected so that it is not blown to other areas of the home.

Also, professional air duct cleaning can also help homeowners discover hidden issues with their air duct system. By providing an inspection, our technicians may locate dislodged ducts or openings that is preventing the full force of conditioned air from reaching certain areas of the home.

What is Included in the Process of Air Duct Cleaning?

Air duct cleaning focuses on 5 main processes: Inspection, Identification, Cleaning, Deodorizing, and Servicing & Repairs.

1. Inspection

The entire HVAC system will be inspected to determine whether it is dirty and needs to be cleaned. This inspection will focus on the supply vents, return vents, and plenum boxes. In addition, air filters should also be inspected by the professional to ensure that they are installed correctly and to check whether they need to be replaced.

2. Identification

Older homes may have asbestos-containing elements in their HVAC system such as in insulation and register duct boots. Here at Dynasty Ducts, we can inform homeowners about this issue if we discover that these asbestos-containing materials are present as only trained contractors should remove the asbestos.

Air duct cleaning services can also help to identify whether there is bacteria or mold inside your ducts. Sometimes, water and moisture can penetrate insulation, leading to mold spore growth. We can help homeowners identify the location and cause of the mold growth so that the underlying problem can be fixed.

3. Cleaning

The cleaning process for ducts involves creating a negative pressure inside the system and using brushes to knock the dirt and grime from off inside surfaces. Our technicians will follow these procedures.

Lower AC temperatures to make it 5 degrees to 6 degrees cooler in the room
Shut off the AC system
Connect the HEPA-filtered vacuum to the AC's main trunk to create the negative pressure
Install airbag to block dirt and dust
Use brushes to push the dirt and dust to the vacuum
Remove mold spores using a UVC light system

We work on each return and exhaust vent one-by-one to ensure a thorough cleaning. The continuous negative pressure allows our vacuum to pull out the dust once it becomes dislodged from the duct surfaces.

4. Deodorizing

After thoroughly removing the dust and mold from the air duct system, we move on to a deodorizing treatment. This process helps to control unsavory odors as well as addresses microbial contamination that may have been present in the duct system.

An organic agent, sanitizer or disinfectant for nonporous surfaces that is safe for your family as well as your pets is used. Before performing this deodorizing treatment, a professional duct cleaning company should inquire on whether anyone in your family may be allergic to the active or inactive ingredients in the disinfectant or sanitizer.

5. Service & Repairs

Some ducts can be difficult to reach to provide proper cleaning. Air duct cleaning companies will try using already existing ports such as return grills, supply diffusers, service openings and duct end caps. However, there will be times where technicians will have to cut into the duct work to make new access openings to clean out the dirt and grime.

A trusted and professional air duct service company will properly close and repair access holes after the cleaning process is completed.

When to start the Air Duct Cleaning Process

How Often Should You Be Having Your Air Ducts Cleaned?

Our recommended cleaning schedule is based on where your main air duct system is located. For floor duct systems, cleaning should be performed every three to five years. If your air ducts are in the ceiling, services should be done every five to seven years.

While duct cleaning isn't a yearly process, air filters should be serviced and changed periodically. If the air filters are not changed, then air duct cleaning may need to be performed more frequently. In addition, there may be certain times when air duct cleaning will need to be done sooner, such as when getting interior construction or renovation work that produces a lot of saw dust and grime.

Find Out More About Us!

Here at Dynasty Ducts, we work to optimize your entire heating, cooling and ventilation system by providing expert cleaning services at a great value. Find out more about our air duct cleaning services.