When your duct system gets dirty it circulates dust particles and dirt throughout your home.  When the coils of your system get dirty they reduce the efficiency of your furnace. Many people get allergic reactions to the dust that is circulated throughout the home decreasing the indoor air quality.  You should especially have your duct system cleaned right after you remodeled, installed a wood floor or any other project that creates a lot of dust. 

What is the advantage of duct cleaning?

When your ducts are cleaned properly as much dust and debris as is possible will be removed from the duct system to improve the indoor air health of your home.  Your furnace will also be cleaned to improve the energy efficiency of your system. 

What is the best method of duct cleaning?

There are three basic methods of duct cleaning:

1.    The first method is using a small vacuum/brush combo that is brought inside your house and fed down each individual register.  This may remove some of the dust, but it will not remove anything else that is in the duct system such as toys, debris from remodeling, papers or anything else that is caught in the system.  This system is also limited by how long the hose is that is attached to the vacuum.  If the operator comes to a long run and doesn’t have enough hose there is no way for his system to clean it.  I would never recommend you have you ducts cleaned by this method.  

2.    The second method is to use a large vacuum truck.  This is the way that commercial duct systems are cleaned.  It works well, but is an inconvenience that you have to leave your door open to allow the long hoses inside your house to take the dust back out the truck.  This works fine in the summer, but especially in the fall and winter is very inconvenient.  

3.    The third method is to use a powerful portable vacuum and bring it inside the house/garage by the furnace and hook it up to the duct system.  Then an airwhip/brush system is run through each duct from the register back toward the furnace.  This combines the advantages of both of the systems above without as many negatives.  

We use this third system with a high powered 2200 cfm vacuum focused on one duct at a time and an airwhip connected to a powerful compressor.  We realize that there are numerous duct cleaning companies making claims that are impossible to backup. 

Call us now for a free duct cleaning estimate!  503-713-5335.  

 

 Our airwhip coming out of a clean return air duct.  

How often should I clean my duct system?

It really depends on your situation, the condition of your system, how old it is and your lifestyle.  If you have animals in the house we would recommend that you clean it out every few years.  If you have a relatively new system and your house is relatively free from dust you can go longer without cleaning it.

Here are a few steps you can take to see if it needs cleaned:

1.    Open up a floor register and shine a light down the duct.  Try to find one that comes right off a main duct that you can see into.  Is the duct dusty?  Is it dirty?  Does it have any cobwebs in it?  Are their toys, old food or other things inside?  If so it needs cleaned.  
2.    Pull your filter off your furnace.  How dirty is it?  When was the last time that it was changed?  If it is exceptionally dirty or becomes dirty more often than it should you should probably clean the duct system. 

Should I ever get my duct system fogged?

We only recommend fogging the duct system in very rare occasions.  If you have had standing water in the duct system, or you know that there is harmful bacteria in it you should consider fogging it.  However, fogging the system includes putting very strong chemicals in the system that may reduce your indoor air quality and may not be healthy for you.  We don’t recommend it unless there is a known threat that needs to be taken care of in the duct system.