Residential Duct Cleaning

What are the steps to residential air duct cleaning?

Residential air duct cleaning can happen in as little as a day when you contact a professional technician to help you with your ducts. If you are interested in learning more about the cleaning process, continue reading for a full breakdown of what we do!

Signs You Need Air Duct Cleaning

Before we head into the process, it’s important to recognize when you need your air ducts cleaned in your home. There are many different signs to look out for that will tell you the right time to call a technician. However, you can always call us to make an appointment and we will be happy to inspect your air ducts ourselves. Some things to look out for include:

• You have not changed your air filter in a couple of months
• The registers and vent covers have visible dust
• You detect mold in or around your HVAC system
• Airflow is not consistent from room to room
• You can hear noises in the ductwork

The Technician Arrives

Our trained technician will arrive at your home in a van or with a trailer, which contains a large portable vacuum cleaner.

The First Steps

The hose from the vacuum unit is tied into the air duct system near the furnace, so the first step will be to remove all the heat vents and cold air return covers and wash them in a mild, soapy, solution.

Preliminary Brushing

The next step is brushing—each opening is individually brushed and vacuumed in order to make sure you are getting every section of the duct cleaned. Special brushes are run through all the main truck lines (these are the big ducts in the lower level) and it is important to break dirt loose especially on the return side. To gain access to the main truck lines, small holes may have to be cut and then replaced with new sheet metal and sheet metal screws. However, the replacement will be beneficial because, in the end, you’ll have clean ducts.

The Main Event

After brushing, the main process will begin. To tap into the system with the hose to our vacuum we need to cut an 8″ hole in the main duct and attach the hose. During the process, we also need to make several smaller cuts in the ductwork (by the return which is the dirtiest part of the ductwork) so we can get our brushes in there and clean the returns thoroughly. When we’re done we replace all the sheet metal we cut with new sheet metal, sheet metal screws, and seal it. We make access panels that can be used in any subsequent air duct cleanings.

Now the high-powered vacuum is turned on and will start pulling the dirt out of the ducts. While the vacuum is running, the technician goes through your home with a high-powered blower which is put down over each of the openings, forcing everything down to where the main vacuum is pulling it out.

Last, But Not Least…

The final step is to brush and vacuum the furnace fan and fan cage area. This entire process will take about 3 hours. All work is guaranteed and our company is fully insured for your protection.