Air Duct Cleaning FAQ

Kozy Services > Energy Efficiency > Air Ducts > Air Duct Cleaning Frequently Asked Questions

Health Benefits from Air Duct Cleaning

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems have been shown to act as a collection source for a variety of contaminants that have the potential to affect health, such as mold, fungi, bacteria, and very small particles of dust. The removal of such contaminants from the HVAC system and home should be considered as one component in an overall plan to improve indoor air quality.

Will duct cleaning reduce our energy bills?

Research by the U.S. EPA has demonstrated that HVAC system cleaning will allow systems to run more efficiently by removing debris from sensitive mechanical components. Clean, efficient systems are less likely to break down, have a longer life span, and generally operate more effectively than dirty systems.

How should air ducts and ventilation systems be cleaned?

The most effective way to clean air ducts and ventilation systems is to employ Source Removal methods of cleaning. This requires a contractor to place the system under negative pressure, through the use of a specialized, powerful vacuum. While the vacuum draws air through the system, devices are inserted into the ducts to dislodge any debris that might be stuck to interior surfaces. The debris can then travel down the ducts to the vacuum, which removes it from the system and the home.

When should air ducts need cleaning and why?

• If you lack records indicating the last cleaning of the system in question.
• If you have excessive dust, fibers or other contaminants on furniture and horizontal surfaces. Take a look behind the return air grill of your HVAC system. One glimpse into the air ducts provides all the evidence needed to initiate a thorough cleaning.
• Helps reduce energy and maintenance costs while preserving the life of the equipment.
• The American College of Allergists compiled statistics that indicate that 50% of all illnesses are either caused or aggravated by polluted indoor air.
• The EPA discloses that scientific evidence has indicated that air within homes and other buildings can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air in even the largest and most industrialized cities.

How often should air ducts be cleaned?

Frequency of duct cleaning depends on several factors, not the least of which is the preference of the home owner. Some of the things that may lead a home owner to consider more frequent cleaning include:

• Smokers in the household.
• Pets that shed high amounts of hair and dander.
• Water contamination or damage to the home or HVAC system.
• Residents with allergies or asthma who might benefit from a reduction in the amount of indoor air pollutants in the home's HVAC system.
• After home renovations or remodeling.

How long should it take to clean a typical residential HVAC system?

The amount of time it takes to clean a residential HVAC system depends on many variables such as the size of the home, the number of systems and the extent of the contamination. Our duct cleaning process on a medium sized home usually takes 4-5 hours to clean the ducts the Correct Way.

What is the normal price range for the air duct cleaning service?

The Environmental Protection Agency says that "duct cleaning services typically - but not always - range in cost from $450 to $1000 per heating and cooling system, depending on the services offered, the size of the system to be cleaned, system accessibility, climactic region, and level of contamination" and type of duct material.

Consumers should beware of air duct cleaning companies that make sweeping claims about the health benefits of duct cleaning - such claims are unsubstantiated. Consumers should also beware of "blow-and-go" air duct cleaning companies. These companies often charge a nominal fee and do a poor job of cleaning the heating and cooling system. These companies may also persuade the consumer into unneeded services with and/or without their permission.

(If you have knowledge of a practicing "blow-and-go" air duct cleaner, contact your local Better Business Bureau to report the company, and your local, federal, and state elected officials to demand legislation.)

Do you get what you pay for with air duct cleaning?

Almost all of our duct cleaning competitors charge less than we do, and this is why:

• The reason is simple, lack of quality and they are doing less.
• Their work is often subcontracted and the depth of their work is shallow and sparse.
• The main goal of these duct cleaning companies is to operate at the lowest cost and provide the bare minimum while doing whatever to just get in and out in the least amount of time possible.
• They HOPE that the consumer will never check their duct work after they are finished. Our technicians do whatever it takes to clean your ductwork. We are never on any type of time constraint.
• Our technicians are experienced in duct cleaning and go through rigorous training. We also NEVER subcontract our work. We use state of the art power vacuum equipment that provides the needed suction to correctly clean duct work. HEPA vacuums and shop vacuums don't allow the airflow needed to properly clean ductwork.
• We will NEVER use a "rotary-brush duct cleaning machine" (a brush with a specialized shop vacuum attached to it) this tool is not only ineffective; it will leave your ductwork more contaminated then what you started with.
• After reading our duct cleaning process, you will see why our solution is best available.

Call us today at (972) 276-2544 for a free estimate for our air duct cleaning services.