How Clean Is the Air In Your Home?
Did you know the air in your home is re-circulated 5 to 7 times per day, on average. Over time, this re-circulation causes a build-up of contaminants in the duct work. Allergy and asthma sufferers, as well as young children and the elderly tend to be more susceptible to poor indoor air quality. This video explains more:
Are there any health benefits that come from HVAC system cleaning?
HVAC systems have been shown to collect a variety of contaminants such as mold, fungi, bacteria and very small particles of dust that have the potential to affect overall health. The removal of such contaminants from the HVAC system and home should be considered one component in an overall plan to improve indoor air quality.
How often should residential HVAC systems be cleaned?
Frequency of cleaning depends on several factors, not the least of which is the preference of the homeowner. Some of these factors may 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 prior to occupancy of a new home.
How should a residential HVAC system 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.
What are antimicrobial chemicals and why would they need to be used?
Antimicrobial chemicals are applied by some companies to the interior surface of the air ducts to treat microbial contamination such as fungi (mold), viruses or bacteria. Before any antimicrobial chemicals are used, the system should be thoroughly cleaned. It is critical that any antimicrobial treatment used in your system be registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency specifically for use in HVAC systems. The use of antimicrobial chemicals is an additional service that is not part of a typical air duct cleaning project.
Will HVAC system cleaning reduce our home energy bills?
Research by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has demonstrated that HVAC system cleaning may 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.
Is my home and HVAC system properly sealed?
Truth be told, many Vancouver Island Homes are improperly sealed. We will inspect your ductwork and HVAC system and if needed, recommend properly sealing the unit to make it work to its optimal potential. Does this really work? Well, on a recent new built home before we sealed the unit, the furnace took over 17 minutes to get to temperature. After properly sealing the system, we reduced that time down to only 6 minutes. That’s a 11 minute improvement and over an average year, that’s a huge boost in efficiency and energy savings.
What about my Dryer Vent – Should this be cleaned too?
Definitely! Clogged dryer vents can become serious fire hazards! Even partially blocked vents can be worrisome and will delay drying times due to limited airflow. So if your laundry loads used to dry in say 35-40 mins but now take over an hour it’s likely time to clean that vent!