Many people don’t think of it until it’s too late, but there are many risks involved with air duct cleaning. While the process is relatively inexpensive and simple to accomplish, some homeowners aren’t aware of the potential risks, and so they don’t do it, or they hire unqualified professionals. Here’s a rundown of the dangers associated with the cleaning process.
The number one threat posed by improper cleaning is that unqualified contractors can actually worsen existing air quality conditions, instead of improving it. By removing the filters and allowing the air to come into your home, they can put more contaminants inside the system. By doing this, they can inadvertently upset dust and other inert particles in your home, forcing them to be moved to other occupied areas.
As previously mentioned, an unqualified contractor may remove the air filter from the ductwork and then leave it there. While leaving the filters in place, he will also likely install new filters that do not block the ducts. Unfortunately, these new filters are often poorly designed and therefore are even more hazardous. This means that if you leave these filters in place, they are causing problems for everyone in your home, including you and your family.
If you do get someone to clean your ducts, make sure that you hire a trained professional at Air Duct Cleaning who has experience doing air duct cleaning. It’s important to know exactly what you want done, as well as how much time and effort you’re willing to put into the project. It’s also important to make sure that you’ve chosen a company that is licensed and insured, since accidents can occur when you’re not prepared for them.
When you decide to clean the ducts yourself, be sure that you have the proper equipment. Make sure that you have vacuum cleaners that are specially made for cleaning air duct systems. These will make the cleaning process easier and less dangerous, since you won’t have to worry about damaging the ductwork.
Cleaning your ducts can also cause problems for the building itself. For example, if you have a home office, it’s not a good idea to clean the ducts during the day, as it will create humidity in the office that can affect the working environment. In addition, make sure that you have a dedicated air filter on the ducts during the evening to prevent dust from settling down into the filter, which can cause air to become dirty.
Before doing the cleaning, make sure you check your air filter to make sure that it isn’t clogged. If it is clogged, replace it with a new one. Clogged filters can cause air to become polluted, so it’s important to remove all of the debris so that you can get a fresh, clean air to flow into your home. After you’ve cleaned the ducts, make sure that you clear out the area where they are located before opening up the doors and windows.
Don’t forget to use a dehumidifier to help keep the cleaning process running smoothly. This is especially true in the summer when the heat is a major concern. If you choose to do your own air duct cleaning, make sure that you get it done before the summer, when the heat is high and humidity is high. Doing the work right the first time around, will prevent any potential problems for the future.
If your air duct cleaning is going to be done by a professional, he or she will give you a list of the items that you’ll need to clean the ducts with. These items may include an air compressor, vacuum cleaner, wire brush, a power source, a vacuum cleaner hose, and a spray bottle of cleaning solution. You’ll also want to get some masking tape to cover the edges of the ducts. You may also want to buy some duct tape that you can cut to size to fit around the edges of the ducts.
Before you begin cleaning the ducts, turn on your vacuum cleaner and make sure that you are standing away from the walls to avoid any possible damage to the ductwork. When you have everything in place and are ready, set the cleaning solution on the compressor and turn it on. The cleaning solution will suck up the dirt, debris, and moisture from inside the ducts.
Once the solution has been applied, the vacuum cleaner will be used to suck up any dirt or debris that may still be stuck to the sides of the ducts. It will be pushed into the ducts through a hose. Cleaning a large area at once can be a little time consuming, but it will ensure that the ducts are properly maintained. Once the cleaning is finished, you can remove the masking tape, dry the areas thoroughly with a towel and place back the ducts back where they belong.