Clean ductwork is vital for a smoothly-operating HVAC system. Since ducts are generally hidden from view, they’re not something business owners often consider. Ducts are the veins of your HVAC system: air travels throughout them to heat or cool rooms within your building, and they need to be free of debris to allow that to happen. Choosing the right commercial duct cleaner can keep your business’s heating and cooling systems running at peak efficiency.
As ducts age and dirt begins to build up within them, airflow is impacted, and your system becomes less efficient. If mold starts to grow in neglected ductwork, it disperses into the air, affecting the health of those breathing it in. Dust mites live off particles of organic matter, and they thrive in dirty HVAC systems. In high concentrations, they can cause breathing problems and allergic reactions. Any ductwork that hasn’t been adequately maintained can even shorten the life of your HVAC system due to increased strain to compensate for the lack of airflow.
When Do Ducts Need Cleaning?
HVAC cleaning doesn’t need to be a long or involved process, especially if you do routine maintenance yourself. Small efforts such as using high-quality air filters and keeping them changed regularly can go a long way towards prolonging the life of your system and cutting down on energy bills. Duct cleaning, however, should always be done by a professional. Different ductwork needs cleaning in different ways, and it’s often difficult to access. Someone not trained correctly in how to do this work could easily miss clearing out buildup that will clog vents and possibly even cause major components of your system, such as the compressor, to fail. If that happens, you could very well end up paying for costly repairs that would be far more expensive than paying someone to maintain the ducts in the first place.
Generally, there’s no hard and fast rule on when your ducts should be cleaned, but it’s a good idea to have them inspected every one to two years – sooner if you know that debris is clogging your ducts. Here are a few rules of thumb to keep in mind for deciding if it’s time to get your ductwork looked at:
According to the National Air Duct Cleaners’ Association, cigarette smoke, water damage, and home renovation projects kick up more dust and contaminants than average, which merits having your HVAC system cleaned more often.
- If your business regularly hosts children or the elderly, they can be more susceptible to air quality issues caused by dust, mold, or mites.
- If you start seeing thick coatings of dust on your furniture, vents or air registers, this could mean that your ducts have buildup that needs clearing.
- Are you seeing higher-than-normal utility bills? If you’ve been changing the air filters as discussed above, but your utility bills keep growing, your ducts might be clogged and operating at lower efficiency.
Any of these situations are indications that you need to have your ducts inspected before a small problem becomes a large one. If you’re not sure, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Call a licensed professional to look and see if your building’s ductwork needs to be cleared out.
How Does Commercial Duct Cleaning Work?
Once a professional technician checks out the state of your heating and cooling system and verifies if it needs cleaning or not, they will remove vent grates and other coverings to access your ducts. Then they’ll use a variety of specialized equipment to clear the dust and debris from every corner of the ductwork. Robust brushes loosen the contaminants from the ducts, and vacuums collect them, along with any other airborne particles. If mold is present, environmentally-friendly sanitizers can be used on any nonporous surface in the HVAC system to kill the mold and prevent it from returning.
Choose an Experienced Contractor for Commercial Duct Cleaning
Duct cleaning is an essential service and should only be performed by professionally-licensed contractors. Choose a commercial duct cleaner who has a valid C-20 license. This license means the contractor has a minimum of four years of journeyman level experience and has successfully passed a rigorous exam covering all areas of HVAC installation and maintenance. Because of the time and money they’ve invested, licensed contractors can be trusted to have the knowledge and experience to work with any ductwork configuration they come across. Their thoroughness allows them to see small-but-important issues that a less-experienced contractor could miss, and in turn, save you money in the long-run. Always ensure that the business you choose is respected in your area. Search for online reviews and testimonials for a company before you hire them so that you’re aware of how they treat their customers regarding communication and their quality of work.
If you arrange for commercial duct cleaning services, your reward will be a more efficient HVAC system that provides you and your customers with cleaner, healthier air. Call a professional today to assess the condition of your ductwork.