Breathe Easier With an Air Duct Cleaning
Did you know: on any given day the entire volume of air in your home circulates through your ductwork five to seven times? This air is exposed to outdoor dust, particles, and debris, as well as indoor pets, pests, and more. If you’re not sure whether or not you should have your air ducts cleaned, you can check them yourself for signs of gunk and grime. Start by observing the vents. If they have dust bunnies and cobwebs clinging to the vent when it’s blowing, then that probably exists throughout the whole system. Also, if you remove a vent and find mold, dirt, or debris like rodent droppings or dead bugs, you probably need cleaning.
Why Bother Cleaning Air Ducts
Health Concerns
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) dust and mold in ductwork can cause respiratory distress to individuals with asthma, allergies, or COPD, as well as young children and the elderly.
Indoor Pollutants
The air circulates through the home and ductwork continuously, picking up any pollutants that exist indoors. These can include cleaning materials, asbestos, water-damaged materials, dust, tobacco smoke, even vapors or exhaust from appliances.
Less Efficient System
An inefficient AC system can likely be caused by leaky air ducts. It’s estimated that 40% of the air-conditioned air is lost due to leaky air ducts, bringing efficiency down substantially. In California, before 2008, homes weren’t required to have sealed air ducts, so if you haven’t had yours serviced since 2008, you should not only have your air ducts cleaned, but sealed.
Foul Odors
If your AC kicks on and you smell a foul odor coming from your ventilation system, you might have a problem. Ducts can be a great place for mold to grow and thrive, causing stinky air ducts. It can also become a habitat for critters and rodents. Carcasses and droppings left in the ductwork can cause persistent odors. These types of situations call for immediate action. Mold, dead animals, and animal droppings can all cause your air ducts to circulate toxins through your home. If you notice a foul odor coming from your vent, call a professional and have it checked out. Better safe than sorry, as the saying goes.
What White Glove Can Do For You
Duct Testing - Our professional HVAC technicians use a “duct blaster” to measure air loss in your system. White Glove professionals are certified duct-sealers and Building Performance Institute (BPI) analysts, so we know how to detect a leak and correct it.
Duct Cleaning - There are two types of duct cleaning, and a White Glove professional will choose which, according to the size and needs of the building. Contact cleaning uses a rotary brush to clean the walls with a high-powered vacuum that reduces the amount of particle pollution released from vacuum exhaust. Negative Air Cleaning uses a spin brush and air whips to loosen debris along with a powerful vacuum to remove the debris and dust together.
AC Coil and Heat Exchanger Cleaning - Cleaning the AC coil and heat exchanger raise the efficiency of the air conditioning system substantially.
Air Filter Change - White Glove uses electrostatic air filters with a forever warranty. This means you need only wash the filter and reuse it continuously. We do recommend purchasing a second one, though, so that you have one to use while the other is being cleaned. It’s never a good idea to leave the filter out of the system even for a short time.
White Glove is trained and experienced in air duct cleaning and is standing by to offer a quote. Call us at 530-924-3164 to schedule an appointment today!