Cleaning and maintenance of pre-insulated HVAC ducts

The air ducts in your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, or HVAC, system are responsible for producing acceptable indoor air quality. While most commonly attributed to being a source of ventilation, these ducts also serve a primary purpose in air conditioning through thermal insulation. As a bonus, they also help improve energy efficiency.

Why you should clean your air ducts

With these important roles and perks, it’s important to make sure they stay in top quality. Most HVAC air ducts rarely need cleaning. In fact, the US Environmental Protection Agency sees no need to clean air ducts unless no one in the home is suffering from unexplained symptoms, illnesses or allergies, or unless there are clear indications that the ducts are already clean. dirty and polluted.

However, it is still necessary to keep air ducts clean even before such health hazards are already present. It is not just about guaranteeing thermal comfort in your home; it is also about ensuring the safety of everyone at home. Your entire family breathes the same air that comes from your HVAC system, and it’s far better to prevent any damage than to put your family’s life at risk because you’ve neglected to properly maintain your air ducts.

But how do you know if it’s time for you to clean them? Here are some telltale signs:

• You sweep and dust the house more often than usual because you find it more difficult to get rid of the dust. Even after cleaning, there is still some visible dust seen floating in the air.
• People at home experience sinus problems, nasal congestion, and headaches during or after sleep.
• There is very little or no air coming from the vents in the rooms of your house.
• People at home are constantly getting sick or experiencing allergies more often than usual.
• People at home experience signs of illness such as sneezing, a runny or stuffy nose, fatigue, nausea, or a dry, burning sensation in the eyes, nose, or throat.
• When you turn on the air conditioner or furnace, a musty or musty smell comes out.

Cleaning of pre-insulated HVAC ducts

As with other types of ductwork, pre-insulated HVAC duct liners and duct boards can be easily cleaned with special non-metallic bristles. However, to prevent any damage from mishandling, a thorough cleaning should be done by a professional duct cleaner. You’ll be able to get rid of all the dust, cobwebs, calcium deposits, debris, hair, and anything else that shouldn’t be inside.

As a general rule of thumb, ductwork should be inspected (and cleaned if necessary) every 1-2 years.