Poor air quality is a serious concern for many people. Poor air quality can cause lots of health problems which is why you will see it listed on the local news and in the newspaper. In many cities air quality warnings which tell people susceptible to air quality issues to stay indoors are common.
What they may not realize is that the quality of the air indoors may be bad too. Often times it is the very system that is supposed to provide clean, fresh air to the home that is problem. That’s right, your Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system could be ruining the air in your home. Having a clean air filter won’t help if the HVAC system itself is contaminated.
A number of things can contaminate your HVAC system including mold, dust, pet dander, construction dust from building or remodeling the home, fire damage, deterioration of materials due to old age and insects or rodents. Proper air duct cleaning involves cleaning the entire HVAC system, not just the ducts and vents. The mechanical components of your system (the fans, housing, coils, etc.) should be cleaned as well because they too can be contaminated. It is also recommended that all parts be cleaned simultaneously to prevent an uncleaned part from re-contaminating a cleaned part.
Air duct cleaning is frequently performed in response to a specific event, such as a recent home remodel or a family member becoming ill or as part of a routine maintenance program. Routine air duct cleaning is recommended for different purposes depending on where you live and the age and history of your system. For instance, routine air duct cleaning in Phoenix is performed primarily to remove dust and pollen. In an older home air duct cleaning may be recommended to remove debris associated with the deterioration of the system itself or because of prior water damage.
Cleaning the mechanical components is also a proven way to improve the efficiency of you system if it has years of built up dust and dirt on it. If you think your air ducts or HVAC need cleaning consult a qualified air duct cleaning contractor. A reputable contractor should not tell you your system needs cleaning without first inspecting it and shouldn’t quote a price without first inspecting the system.
Many HVAC services can clean the mechanical components of your system but do not have the proper equipment to clean the duct work and as mentioned above, it is highly recommended that all parts of your system be cleaned simultaneously. The recommended method for cleaning an HVAC system requires special high powered vacuums which place your system under negative pressure while special tools remove debris. If all of the debris is not removed you could end up with worse air quality than before.
To avoid doing additional damage to your system, choose an air duct cleaning contractor carefully. If you live in Phoenix, you can download a free consumer guide to hiring a Phoenix air duct cleaning contractor at AirDuctCleaning-Phoenix.com