Extra care must be taken to be sure that the insulation is not damaged during the cleaning. Proper equipment must be used to dislodge any debris adhered to the surface. Once dislodged, the debris also become airborne and must be removed using the proper vacuuming equipment.
If you have insulated air ducts and the insulation gets wet or moldy it cannot be effectively cleaned and should be removed and replaced.
Properly installed and well-maintained sheet metal, PVC, or insulated ducts can last 20 to 30 years, while flexible ducts have a shorter lifespan of 10 to 15 years.
The simple answer is, you cannot clean it yourself. It require special tools as well as skills to cleat it. There are robots and special cleaning mechanisms for duct cleaning.
Fiberglass or any other insulation material that is wet or visibly moldy should be removed and replaced by a qualified HVAC system contractor. The same action should be taken if an unacceptable odor is present. Steam cleaning, or other methods involving moisture, should not be used on any kind of ductwork.
How can fiberglass affect my health? Exposure to fiberglass can cause irritation in the eyes, nose, or throat. It may also cause itching and irritation when the fibers get stuck in the skin. These effects are temporary and go away after exposure ends.
Based on that report and other independent research, the EPA's official advisory on duct cleaning concludes: “Duct cleaning has never been shown to actually prevent health problems. Neither do studies conclusively demonstrate that particle (e.g. dust) levels in homes increase because of dirty air ducts.
EPA does not recommend that the air ducts be cleaned routinely, but only as needed. EPA does, however, recommend that if you have a fuel burning furnace, stove or fireplace, they be inspected for proper functioning and serviced before each heating season to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning.
Experts advise having your air ducts cleaned every 2 to 3 years to prevent many maintenance and health problems before they start. However, homes with pets or children with allergies should have their air ducts professionally cleaned more frequently than the recommended average.
Ducts that leak heated air into unheated spaces can add hundreds of dollars a year to your heating and cooling bills, but you can reduce that loss by sealing and insulating your ducts. Insulating ducts in unconditioned spaces is usually very cost-effective.
Duct replacement costs typically range from around $20–$60 per linear foot, based on our team's market research. For example, if your home has 100 feet of ductwork, a complete replacement can cost between $2,000 and $6,000.
How long should ductwork last? You should replace your ductwork every 15 years because the materials deteriorate over time, impacting HVAC performance and indoor air quality.
It's absolutely not a waste of money, as long as it's not performed too frequently. Homeowners usually only need to consider air duct cleaning when visible signs of dust buildup are present, if they've noticed a change in respiratory or allergy symptoms, or if it's been several years since the last duct cleaning.
Not only does insulation provide a nominal level of protection to the ducting, but it also helps the ducting to maintain a consistent temperature throughout to prevent condensation.
Use a brush to loosen any buildup of dust in the ductwork. Lift register and insert vacuum hose as far into the piping as it can go. Turn the vacuum on to capture as much dust as possible that the fan is pushing through the ductwork.
Moisture accumulation: If moisture is introduced into the ductwork during cleaning and not properly removed, it can lead to mold growth, which poses health risks and can further deteriorate the ductwork.
Factors Influencing Air Duct Cleaning Costs
Size of Home/HVAC System: Larger homes with more ductwork naturally require more time and effort to clean, leading to higher costs.
Duct cleaning can make a mess if not done professionally. Remember, cleaning your ducts involves removing the dirt from the ductwork and directing it to another place for safe disposal. If the process is done professionally, air pollutants accumulated in your air ducts will be disposed of properly.
Removal of Contaminants: Regular duct cleaning eliminates accumulated dust, allergens, and other pollutants from the duct system, reducing the potential for these contaminants to circulate throughout the indoor environment.
glass fibers do not appear to increase the risk of respiratory system cancer." In 2001, the International Agency for Research on Cancer said that "glass wool", which is a form of fiberglass, is not classifiable as a human carcinogen.
Dirty air ducts can cause a number of health problems, including allergies, asthma, and even respiratory infections. Dust, dirt, and other allergens can build up in your air ducts over time and eventually be released into the air that you breathe.
Because fiber glass insulation is used as a component of the duct work in the majority of air han- dling systems installed today, it is sometimes targeted when IEQ complaints arise. However, the air being distributed through the ducts contains contaminates that are unrelated to the insulation.