Before the technicians arrive, ensure that all vents, ducts, and returns are easily accessible. Move any furniture, rugs, or large items that may block their way. By clearing these areas, the cleaning professionals can quickly get to work without needing to move things themselves.
Yes, you can remain at home during professional duct cleaning service. However, you should be prepared for noise from the cleaning equipment, and you may need to avoid areas where cleaning is actively happening. Air duct cleaning involves cleaning the entire air duct system.
Most air duct cleanings take 3 to 5 hours to complete for a 1 system home. If you are worried your pet will escape, please have them in a secure area that they won't be able to escape. A door to the home will be open for those 3 to 5 hours.
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.
If You Have Pets
Pets bring joy and companionship, but they also contribute to more frequent air duct cleaning needs. Pet dander and hair can accumulate in your air ducts over time, contributing to poorer air quality and potential allergies. If you have pets, consider cleaning your air ducts every two to three years.
Provided the job's done right, duct cleaning should not blow dust into your living space, and there is no evidence to suggest that a professional duct cleaning is detrimental to your indoor air quality.
The best times to have your ducts cleaned is either in the spring or in the early fall, after you have stopped using your HVAC system to cool or heat your property and before you need to start using it again. You have likely experienced that dusty or musty smell when turning on your HVAC system.
The offer price is most likely per vent pricing and does not factor in the cost of the entire cleaning. While it may seem like a money-saving deal, the final price tag will probably be closer to that $450-$1000 range.
How Long Does Air Duct Cleaning Service Take? Air duct cleaning takes anywhere between an hour and a full day (or more, in commercial HVAC systems cleaning). A standard air duct cleaning would be two to three hours and would cover the HVAC unit, the main return, the vents in the rooms and the air ducts themselves.
It's not necessary to tip your air duct cleaner. You can show appreciation in other ways, like offering a cold bottled water. If you're happy with the job, leaving a positive online review for the company is always nice. You can also share referrals with friends and neighbors looking to have their air ducts cleaned.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average cost for properly cleaning an entire air duct system in an average-sized home ranges from $450 to $1,000.
Duct cleaning can produce moderate noise levels, akin to everyday household sounds like vacuuming. The noise level during duct cleaning typically ranges between 60 and 80 decibels (dB), which is not considered excessively loud or intrusive.
Duct cleaning generally refers to the cleaning of various heating and cooling system components of forced air systems, including the 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, and the air ...
Clean Up Clutter Around Vents and Registers
If you have furniture, clutter, or anything else around the vents and registers in your home, move it out of the way or store it in another area before the cleaning specialists arrive. Make sure you check every room in the house.
While the debate about the value of periodic duct cleaning continues, no evidence suggests that such cleaning would be detrimental, provided that it is done properly. On the other hand, if a service provider fails to follow proper duct cleaning procedures, duct cleaning can cause indoor air problems.
It's normal to smell a burning odor for a short time after your ducts have been cleaned and your furnace is turned back on. The smell is just the burn off from the cleaning.
Consider the influence of unclean ducts on the HVAC system's efficiency and health. A more significant amount of pollutants jeopardizes the air quality and impacts the performance of your HVAC systems. In addition, not having ducts cleaned leads to the unit's shorter lifespan.
Clean ducts ensure smoother airflow, reducing energy costs. Extended System Life: Regular cleaning minimizes wear and tear on your HVAC system, potentially saving you substantial money on future repairs or the need for early replacement.
The time it takes to clean air ducts will vary depending on the size of your home, the type of ventilation system you have, and how dirty the ducts are. However, on average, it usually takes between two and four hours to clean all the air ducts in a typical home.
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.