DUCT CLEANING 101: THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CLEANING & PREVENTING DIRTY DUCTS
Even though every home is unique, they all have one thing in common: an HVAC system. Your HVAC system is responsible for heating your home in the winter and cooling it in the summer, as well as providing a comfortable and livable environment throughout the year. As with anything else, HVAC systems require regular maintenance and care. A critical part of HVAC system maintenance is duct cleaning, which is often overlooked. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about air duct cleaning in Union City.
Why is Air Duct Cleaning Important?
As part of your HVAC system, air ducts are essential to the flow of cold and hot air throughout your home. In time, the ducts will naturally gather dirt, dust, and other types of debris, affecting the performance of your HVAC system. Your system will work harder to heat and cool your home when it becomes too dirty resulting in higher utility bills. Cleaning HVAC ducts or hiring someone to do it is the easiest way to avoid this happening.
Benefits of HVAC Duct Cleaning
As with any other cleaning, there are a number of significant benefits to scheduling routine duct cleanings for your HVAC system. These include:
More Energy Savings
According to the United States Department of Energy, approximately 25% to 40% of the energy used in heating and cooling a home is actually wasted, which can again be attributed to contaminants in air ducts of your HVAC system. As the ducts become dirty over time, they struggle to perform their functions, forcing them to work harder to heat and cool your home than necessary. It is estimated that duct cleaning will reduce the work your HVAC system has to perform, and you will save money on utility bills as well.
Improved Indoor Air Quality
As described by the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA), the HVAC system in your home draws in contaminants created by humans, pets, and everything around us, and recirculates them over and over again. Because of this, these contaminants are released into the air you breathe, posing health risks even though it may not be unhealthy. Air duct cleaning will allow you to remove these contaminants, resulting in cleaner air for your home.
Keep Your HVAC Working Longer
A lack of proper cleaning and maintenance is one of the leading causes of HVAC system failures. To avoid having to buy a whole new system, it is easiest to maintain the one you already have. An important part of this includes scheduling air duct cleaning services on a regular basis.
When to Consider Air Duct Cleaning
As per the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), air duct cleaning should be performed as needed. It’s time to clean your HVAC ducts if you notice the following signs:
- It is important to schedule air duct cleaning services if you notice substantial and visible mold growth in sheet metal or other hard surface ducts. Also, if you notice any mold growing on the HVAC system itself. Because HVAC systems and air ducts are situated in such a way that all parts are difficult to see, it is essential to hire a professional air duct cleaning company to perform an inspection for mold growth.
- Having rodents or insects infest your ducts is a sign of vermin infestation and in this case, duct cleaning is a must.
- You’ll also need to hire duct cleaning services if your air ducts are clogged due to excessive amounts of dust and debris.
DIY Air Duct Cleaning
You have two options once you determine that you need HVAC duct cleaning. One is to do a do-it-yourself duct cleaning, which many choose to save money. However, if you choose to DIY, you should be aware of the following points. To begin with, it is imperative that you conduct thorough research before you begin. A DIY air duct cleaning is a challenging task, and it requires proper preparation to ensure it is effective and does not damage your air ducts or HVAC system. Additionally, you need to keep in mind that you do not have the same air duct cleaning equipment as professional companies do.
You must be aware of all the things you may encounter during duct-work cleaning, including mold, animal, and insect droppings, as well as potentially dead rodents, which make the job more challenging and time consuming. The removal of mold is not a job for the faint of heart. If you encounter it, you should contact a professional immediately to ensure that it is removed in a safe and effective manner, reducing the likelihood that it will recur. In spite of the fact that DIY air duct cleaning seems like a great way to save money, you may end up spending much more on your HVAC duct cleaning than you intended because ducts can be damaged, or duct cleaning may not be effective.
Finding an HVAC Duct Cleaning Service
As duct cleaning can be difficult, it is more effective to hire a professional HVAC duct cleaning company. You can find a service provider by checking your local listings for duct cleaning in Union City. However, you can also seek recommendations from the NADCA.
Furthermore, it is important that you are aware of certain claims made by air duct cleaning services. Air duct cleaning companies are not endorsed, certified, or approved by the EPA, so claims of “EPA approval” are completely false. In order to be sure, you are hiring a trustworthy HVAC duct cleaning company, you should verify that the company is in good standing with the Better Business Bureau.
Working With an HVAC Duct Cleaning Service
There are several advantages to choosing professional duct cleaning over DIY duct cleaning. One of them is their highly effective air duct cleaning equipment, which makes the cleaning process much more efficient. To ensure there are no asbestos-containing materials in the ducts before they even begin, the company will conduct a thorough inspection of them before they start cleaning them. After this, they will proceed to clean the ducts by vacuuming and brushing them carefully to ensure they are free of dirt and debris.
Air Duct Cleaning Cost
There are a number of factors that determine the cost of air duct cleaning in Union City, including the size of the house, the number and the configuration of the ducts.
In spite of the fact that you may find companies offering great deals on HVAC duct cleaning, the general rule is that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. The less-than-reputable duct cleaning companies may offer that price in order to get your attention, but then charge you much more, possibly even thousands of dollars, leaving you in a worse position than what you were in. A reliable, honest air duct cleaning company may be able to provide duct cleaning services for an average home for anywhere between $300 and $500, according to Angie’s List. There is no denying that HVAC duct cleaning is a worthwhile investment, regardless of how high the cost may be. However, if you are receiving quality duct cleaning services from a reputable company, it is reasonable.
Air Duct Cleaning Union City
Using the services of a professional duct cleaning company will allow your HVAC system to operate more efficiently, resulting in a reduction in your utility bills. You can also rest assured that the job will be done right the first time if you hire a professional air duct cleaning service.
As a team with years of experience and specialized training, we are qualified to deliver excellent service whether it’s traditional HVAC work or heating and cooling brownstones, prewar buildings, and other types of buildings with quirks. Call us at (973) 922-0195 to request a free quote for air duct cleaning in Union City. We serve Philadelphia and New Jersey.
