DUCT CLEANING

Duct Cleaning Services

Your ducts are the passageway from your HVAC system to each individual vent. Dirty ducts equal dirty air. In a typical home, up to 40 pounds of dust is created annually through everyday living. This is pulled into your system and re-circulated 5 to 7 times per day, on average.

This can cause problems for people with respiratory issues, autoimmune disorders, and environmental allergies.

The IAQM process includes:

1. Remove and wash all supply and return vents

2. Clean all accessible ductwork from the vent all the way to the trunk

3. Clean both the supply and return air trunks, as well as the return pans

4. Clean the air handler cabinet

5. Remove all trash and debris collected from ducts

6. Seal all access ports to assure no leakage and save on energy

We also offer optional services alongside duct cleaning, including:

• Dryer vent cleaning

• Distribution of an anti-microbial, deodorizing fogging agent throughout the system

• Exhaust fan cleaning

All these optional services are provided at a discount if done during the duct cleaning appointment.

Contact Us to book your appointment today.

Indoor Air Quality and Air Duct Systems

Indoor Air Quality is a Growing Concern

Most household dust is made up of mold, pollen, bacteria, human skin, and/or animal dander. These contaminants can be circulated through the HVAC system in your home or business aggravating allergy symptoms. The professionals at IAQM use only proven techniques along with state-of-the-art equipment. IAQM has developed customized commercial grade negative air equipment allowing us to provide truck mount quality with the efficiency of a portable unit. This advanced cleaning equipment brushes and vacuums your ductwork simultaneously at the point of contact while exhausting all contaminants outdoors. You are left with fresh, clean air in your home or office.

IAQM is Licensed, Trained, and Qualified

Since 2001, IAQM has decontaminated millions of cubic air space throughout the US and Puerto Rico. We service residential, commercial, and government clients. Our professionals are properly trained and customer service oriented. We take care of our smallest clients the same way that we do our biggest, national clients.

Why should air ducts be cleaned?

Studies have shown that indoor air can be 2 to 5 times MORE polluted than outside air. Most disposable filters remove about 10% of these pollutants allowing 90% to enter the air system, even during the construction of a new home. The pollutants contain dust, pollen, mold spores, animal dander, and much more. These materials collect in the furnace, air conditioner, and duct surfaces, just as they do on the furniture and floor surfaces. The furniture and floor are cleaned regularly but the duct surfaces are hidden from view and can only be reached by specialized duct cleaning equipment. These pollutants can migrate out into the room again, or become a food source for mold and bacteria, which can thrive in this dark comfortable environment from high humidity or moisture from the air conditioner or humidifiers. Biological growth can release mold spores or toxins into the air system.

How can mold grow in a duct system and what problems can it cause?

Mold spores require a stable temperature, a food source, and moisture to live and reproduce. Dust and dirt that go through the filter are good food sources. The furnace/air conditioner is designed to maintain a comfortable temperature, and moisture is available from humid conditions in the environment, the humidifier in the furnace, or the cooling coils in an air conditioner. Live molds can release spores that will trigger allergic or asthmatic reactions, sometimes severe, in about 10% of the population. Mold can produce toxins that may cause short-term allergic reactions. Long-term exposures to low levels of some mold toxins can result in permanent chemical sensitivity to common compounds in the environment.

Will a dirty air system result in higher energy costs?

Depending on the amount of contamination and its location, energy consumption could be increased.

Which parts of the ducts should be cleaned?

There are 3 major parts to an air system: 1. The supply and return grills; 2. The interior surfaces of the supply and return vents including the plenums; and 3. duct runs All 3 components must be cleaned. If only one or two of the components are cleaned, the contaminants from the 3rd component can contaminate the ones that were cleaned.

How often should I have my air ducts cleaned?

Once an air system is thoroughly cleaned, it should remain clean for 3 to 5 years if properly maintained.

What are sources of air duct contamination?

All inside air was once outside air so all of the dust, chemicals, pollen, insects, and mold spores in the outside air can be pulled into the air system. People shed millions of tiny dead skin cells every hour. Cooking smoke, household insect sprays, and personal care products are also a source of pollutants. Many construction materials, carpets, wood products, and plastics give off pollutants as well. During construction or remodeling activities, many types of dust are produced and find their way into the ductwork. If the duct components were stored outside prior to construction, they may have collected dust, rainwater, and even mold before they were installed in a system.

What does it cost to have a whole air system cleaned?

This can depend on a lot of factors, such as the size of the home, the number of supply ducts, how long since the ducts were cleaned, etc. The whole system should be cleaned and the proper high-efficiency filter installed to keep the system clean longer. A competent duct cleaning company would not be able to do this for less than $300-$400 for a small home or $800-$1000 for a large home. Don’t be fooled by the so-called “blow and go” duct cleaners who advertise cleaning for $6.95 a vent.

Dryer Vent Cleaning – Advanced Warning Signs

Commercial or residential dryer vents need to be cleaned periodically to reduce the risk of fire. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that in 1998, clothes dryers were associated with 15,600 fires, resulting in 20 deaths and 370 injuries. Fires can occur when lint builds up in the dryer or in the exhaust ductwork. Lint can block the flow of air, cause excessive heat build-up, and result in a fire in some dryers.

• Clothes (especially towels or jeans) that take a long time to dry

• Clothes are hotter than usual at the end of the cycle

• The flapper on vent hood doesn’t open when the dryer is on