HVAC Cleaning
In addition to normal accumulations of dust and dirt found in all homes through regular use, there are several other factors that can increase the need for air duct cleaning;
- Pets
- Occupants with allergies or asthma
- Cigarette or cigar smoke
- Water contamination or damage to the home / HVAC system
- Home renovation or remodeling projects
Some occupants are more sensitive to these contaminants than others. Allergy and asthma sufferers, as well as young children and the elderly tend to be more susceptible to the types of poor indoor air quality that air duct cleaning can help to address.
Determining HVAC System Cleanliness
HVAC system cleanliness should be evaluated by visual inspection or an approved vacuum test from the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA). An HVAC interior surface is considered visibly clean when it is free of non-adhered debris; visible problems would include microbiological contamination, significant amounts of particulate debris coming out of supply ducts, or deteriorated fiberglass insulation that was contaminating the supply air. In all cases, the source or cause of particulate contamination or microbiological proliferation must be determined and corrected prior to system cleaning. Vacuum test methods include visual surface comparison of “clean” areas before and after vacuuming as well as sampling a known surface area to determine the net weight of debris per area sampled to compare to an acceptable NADCA level.
System Maintenance
There are a few things that you can do to maintain the cleanliness and efficiency of your HVAC system:
- Get good filters
- Clean/change the filters as needed (at least every two months)
- Have your system inspected every two years to determine whether your system needs to be cleaned again.
