The Importance of Air Duct and Vent Cleaning

Out of sight, out of mind, and if it works properly leave it alone. Those may be true statements, but simply don’t apply to the air ducts or vent cleaning. Many homeowners have no idea when their air ducts and vents were last cleaned, if ever. Many others have no idea why they even need cleaning because they are in a closed system.

So why do the job yourself, or pay for someone else to do it.

There are good reasons why the vents and ducts need regular cleaning. Now we aren’t talking about weekly or even monthly cleaning, but once a year or every other year may be advisable according to the experts. They have found harmful molds, fungus and other microbes in infected systems. It is also a fact that cleaning the vents and ducts regularly will not harm your system.

There are a couple of ways to clean the vents and ducts. They connect one system to the ducts to provide suction and a high-pressure air hose is passed through the ducting that provides suction. The other system uses a special vacuum attached to a hose and brushes through the ducting.

That isn’t all, a proper cleaning should also include: cleaning the registers, and the interior of the heating and ventilating system. The furnace fan and the coils should be cleaned thoroughly. They often put a disinfectant into the system to eliminate any mold, bacteria and/or dust mites that remain in the system.

After your system is clean, the quality of air in your home should improve, and for homes where people with asthma and sinus problems live, the job of cleaning the vents and air ducts becomes absolutely necessary. Pets who share the living space within a home is another reason to keep the air clean. The mold, bacteria and dust mites can make the system life threatening for those with breathing problems.

Proper cleaning of the entire system should take between three to five hours, but it depends on the size of the home. Of course when there is more than one unit or the unit is on the roof, the charge of $90 to $125 will be higher, and the hours it takes to get the job done will increase as well.

When a company gives you a price to clean the entire unit that should include a thorough cleaning of the inside of all the ductwork, the fans, coils, and registers. Be sure to check out the prices and cleaning structure before you hire them.

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