Duct Cleaning for Air Conditioning and Heating

Air duct cleaning is an important aspect of ventilation, air conditioning and heating. It is usually the bigger buildings and structures that use vents to bring either cold or warm air to the different areas of the building. A centralized system means that one system delivers either warm or cold air to the rooms or areas of the structure from the air conditioning unit or the boiler room. In most residences, the vents are smaller and may not be able to accommodate people while in commercial buildings, the vents are big enough for people to crawl through. These often end in open vents in each area or room with a grate or a louver to allow the air out but prevent rodents and other bigger insects from going in.

Importance of Cleaning

The importance of air duct cleaning lies primarily in keeping them free from debris and dust to provide clean and healthy air for the occupants of the structure. Dust is everywhere and can still permeate areas which are almost inaccessible. The fact that air travels in the ventilation system means that dust can also travel in it even if there are filters in place. Keeping these clean means that workers have to manually do it. For residences with smaller ventilation shafts, cleaners have many apparatuses than can reach in and give it a thorough clean. For bigger shafts, workers can actually travel through these and do the actual wiping, brushing and vacuuming. The actual traversing of the vents by people is not actually encouraged to preserve the integrity of the structure because constant exposure to heavy people can damage the system. It is also dangerous to travel around the shafts and get stuck where it is inaccessible.

Regular duct cleaning helps to prevent sickness and the spread of diseases. Apart from the sanitation aspect, keeping the shafts and vents clean can also help to save the establishment or home owner a lot in the electricity bill. If there are obstructions in the shafts, most likely the engine or the system that provides ether heat or cool air tends to work faster or more. This means it will consume more energy to provide comfort to the occupants of the building or home. Cobwebs, accumulated or caked dust tends to prevent the air from circulating well and can prevent the output of the right temperature or amount. The person receiving the heat or coldness tends to turn up or turn down the temperature in an attempt to reach the desired temperature. Regular air duct cleaning also helps to prevent rust and damage to the shafts, grates, louvers and some other parts of the HVAC. The unit itself might suffer from accumulated dust and debris if it is not cleaned as well. Caked dust encourages the development of rust and damage. If it is not cleaned for years, it can corrode and may need repair or even replacement. Maintaining regular duct cleaning as well as machine maintenance helps to prolong the HVAC unit’s service and life.