What's air duct cleaning?

Air duct cleaning is the process of cleaning the components of the heating and cooling system (HVAC).   Typically, air duct cleaning includes the systems:

• Supply and return
• Air ducts and registers
• Grilles and diffusers
• Heat exchangers
• Heating and cooling coils
• Condensate drain pans (drip pans)
• Fan motor and fan housing
• Air handling unit housing

 

Potomac Services provides a full system air duct cleaning for one flat price.  We won’t nickel and dime you.  It’s just not fair and it’s not our way.  Beware of the $89-$159 whole house cleaning deals.  You will end up paying more with them then you would with us… or end up having to have your HVAC system cleaned again in a year. 

What are some reasons to have air duct cleaning service?

• Air ducts that are not properly installed, maintained or operated may become contaminated with particles of dust, pollen or other debris.
• Air ducts that have moisture in them have the potential for mold growth increase and the spores may be released into air you breathe.
• Contaminants can cause allergic reactions or other illness symptoms if you are exposed to them.
• Cleaning heating and cooling system components (e.g., cooling coils, fans and heat exchangers) may improve the efficiency of your system, resulting in a longer operating life, as well as some energy and maintenance cost savings. ¹

 

When should I be most concern, for health reasons, to have air duct cleaning service?

• You have visible mold inside ducts or other components of your heating and cooling system.
• Air ducts are infested with vermin such as rodents or insects
• Air ducts are clogged with excessive amounts of dust and debris and/or particles that can be released into the air you breathe. ²

 

What are the health benefits of air duct cleaning?

According to the American Lung Association, most people spend about 90% of their time indoors, which has created greater awareness on indoor air quality. Indoor air quality in your home plays a major role in your respiratory health, particularly if you suffer from asthma or allergies. Research by the American Lung Association has shown that a majority of Americans (87%) are not aware that the air inside of most American homes is more polluted than the air outside. ³ Furthermore; poor indoor air quality can lead to other illness symptoms like migraine headaches, flu like symptoms and more.  

While there is no conclusive evidence to support that air duct cleaning can prevent health issues related to indoor air quality, air duct cleaning is becoming one of the ways people with health issues work to improve their overall indoor air quality and quality of life.  

Why air duct cleaning may help health issues related to indoor air quality

• Air ducts that are not properly installed, maintained or operated may become contaminated with particles of dust, pollen or other debris.
• Air ducts that have moisture in them have the potential for mold growth increase and the spores may be released into air you breathe.
• Contaminants can cause allergic reactions or other illness symptoms if you are exposed to them.¹

 

What are some known health issues that may be related to indoor air quality that air duct cleaning can help with?

• Allergies
• Asthma
• Sick Building Syndrome
• Other illness symptoms like headaches and flu symptoms¹

 

Who could benefit from air duct cleaning?

• Newly constructed home or after home remodeling or renovations
• Prior to occupancy of a new home.
• Residents with immune system, asthma or allergies issues
• Homes with airflow issues or dust problems
• Smokers in the household or pets that shed high amounts of hair and dander
• Water contamination or damage to the home or HVAC system¹

 

Are there any industry organizations for air duct cleaning?

• National Air Duct Cleaning Association (NADCA)
• Duct Cleaners Network (DCN)
• Indoor Air Quality Association
• United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

 

Will air duct cleaning help reduce our home energy bills?  

Research conducted by the U.S. EPA has shown air duct cleaning may allow systems to run more efficiently by removing debris from sensitive mechanical components. Clean, efficient systems are less likely to break down, have a longer life span, and generally operate more effectively than dirty systems. ¹ 

How should air duct cleaning be performed?

The most effective way to perform air duct cleaning is to do a “Source Removal methods” of cleaning. This requires an air duct cleaning professional to place the system under negative pressure, through the use of a specialized, powerful vacuum. While the vacuum draws air through the system, devices are inserted into the ducts to dislodge any debris that might be stuck to interior surfaces. The debris can then travel down the ducts to the vacuum, which removes it from the system and the home. ² 

Potomac Services follows the process outlined by NADCA above, but takes it a step further with our Ten Step Process. For more information on the ten step process, click here.     

How often should I have air duct cleaning?   

Frequency of air duct cleaning depends on several factors, not the least of which is the preference of the home owner. Some of the things that may lead a home owner to consider more frequent cleaning include:  

• Smokers in the household. 

• Pets that shed high amounts of hair and dander. 

• Water contamination or damage to the home or HVAC system.

• Residents with allergies or asthma who might benefit from a reduction in the amount of indoor air pollutants in the home’s HVAC system.

• After home renovations or remodeling. 

• Prior to occupancy of a new home. ² 

Potomac Services typically visits our customer’s homes every 3-5 years, unless they have special needs as indicated above.    

What is the normal price range for the air duct cleaning service? 

The Environmental Protection Agency says that “duct cleaning services typically – but not always – range in cost from $450 to $1000 per heating and cooling system, depending on the services offered, the size of the system to be cleaned, system accessibility, climactic region, and level of contamination” and type of duct material.¹ 

Potomac Services believes in the best value for your money.  We will beat any other NADCA certified providers price and will show you why the $89-$159 whole house cleanings will actually end up costing your more than us.  We provide competitive and fair price quote based on your home and your needs.  

When comparing air duct cleaning companies, is there anything to beware of?

• Consumers should beware of air duct cleaning companies that making sweeping claims about the health benefits of duct cleaning – such claims are unsubstantiated.
• Consumers should also beware of “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.
• These companies may also persuade the consumer into unneeded services with and/or without their permission. ²

 

Potomac Services believes in providing the best value for your money.  Many other companies will try to rope you in with gimmick pricing that ends up costing you more and you get less for it. To see how these bait and switch pricing works, click here. 

What criteria should I use in selecting an air duct cleaning company? 

• Make sure the company is a member in good standing of the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA). 
• See if the company has been in business long enough to have adequate experience. 
• Inquire whether the company is in good standing with your local Better Business Bureau. 
• Get proof that the company is properly licensed and adequately insured. 
• Verify that the company is certified by NADCA to perform HVAC system cleaning. 
• Make sure that the company is going to clean and visually inspect all of the air ducts and related system components. 
• Avoid advertisements for "$89 whole house specials" and other sales gimmicks. 
• Ask if the company has the right equipment to effectively perform cleaning, and if the company has done work in homes similar to yours.
• Get references from neighbors if possible.

 

What are sanitizers, and why would they need to be used? 

Sanitizers are anti-microbial chemicals applied to the interior surface of the air ducts, designed to control microbial contamination. Before any sanitizers are used, the system should be thoroughly cleaned. It is critical that any anti-microbial treatment used in your system be EPA registered for the intended use in HVAC systems.  

How long should it an air duct cleaning take? 

Air duct cleaning service time can vary depending on the size of your home, the number of systems, the extent of contamination, and the number of professionals performing the job. 

Potomac Services typically is at your home 2-4 hours in order to do a thorough cleaning. 

How can we determine if the HVAC system cleaning was effective? 

It is important that you are satisfied with your air duct cleaning service, but since your HVAC system is not completely visible to you, the best way to determine if the air duct cleaning was effective is to have a visual inspection of the system before and after cleaning. If any dust or debris can be seen during the visual inspection, the system should not be considered cleaned. While you can perform your own visual inspection using a flash light and mirror, a professional air duct cleaner should be able to allow you better access to system components and perhaps the use of specialized inspection tools. In addition, following this post-cleaning check list can help to ensure a top quality job.

Potomac Services has video inspection equipment that you can view the before and after inspection. 

Why is it important for you to choose a NADCA certified air duct cleaning professional and member? 

NADCA Members have signed a Code of Ethics stating they will do everything possible to protect the consumer, and follow NADCA Standards for cleaning to the best of their ability, for a list of NADCA members near you, click here. Air duct cleaning companies must meet stringent requirements to become a NADCA Member. Among those requirements, all NADCA Members must have certified Air System Cleaning Specialists (ASCS) on staff, which have taken and passed the NADCA Certification Examination. Passing the exam demonstrates extensive knowledge in HVAC design and cleaning methodologies. ASCS's are also required to further their industry education by attending seminars in order to maintain their NADCA certification status.   

Potomac Services is a NADCA certified and member.  We believe and follow the NADCA standards and code of ethics.   

What kind of equipment is best for cleaning-truck mounted vacuums or portable vacuums?

There are two main types of vacuum collection devices truck or trailer mounted vacuums and portable units.  

• Truck/trailer mounted equipment is generally more powerful than portable equipment.
• Portable equipment can often be brought directly into a facility, allowing the vacuum source to be located closer to the ductwork.
• All vacuum units should be attached to a collection device for safe containment prior to disposal.
• A vacuum collection device alone will not get an HVAC system clean. The use of methods and tools designed to agitate debris adhered to the surfaces within the system, in conjunction with the use of the vacuum collection device(s), is required to clean HVAC systems. (For example: brushes, air whips, and “skipper balls.”)

 

Potomac Services combines the expertise of our technicians with the most powerful tools cleaning and our monster truck vacuum system to clean our customer’s ducts.  We are a values based organization and after trying the portable units when we first started, we’d never go back to using just them.  We owe to our customers.   

Thanks to our sources for helping us best answers many of these great customer questions. Their expertise and ethics have been invaluable to us. 
Sources:

1. EPA (2006) US Environmental Protection Agency
2. American Lung Association
3. NADCA (2006) National Air Duct Cleaning Association
4. DCN (2006) Duct Cleaners Network