Frequently Asked Questions
From water contamination, allergies, and asthma to poor quality of indoor air at your business, commercial and residential air duct cleaning comes with many questions. Below, we have listed the most common questions that we receive from our clients.
Of course, if we have failed to list your question, contact Dirti Ducts today or call (602) 733-6536. We would be happy to answer all of your questions about how to clean the air in your home or business.
What is Air Duct Cleaning?
Air duct cleaning refers to cleaning the inside of a ventilation system inside a home, office, commercial, or industrial building. There are several types of air ducts varying in size as well as materials used that span throughout the building, delivering heating and cooling year-round.
Are there any health benefits that come from HVAC system cleaning?
HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems have been shown to act as a collection source for a variety of contaminants that have the potential to negatively affect health, such as mold, bacteria, fungi, and very small particulates of dust. The removal of such contaminants from the HVAC system and home should be considered a top priority in improving indoor air quality.
Why should I have my air ducts cleaned?
Over time, molds, dust, dirt, dander, and allergens gather in your HVAC system and continue to circulate. Cleaning your system will produce clean, healthy air circulating inside your home or commercial building. Besides breathing cleaner air, you will also save energy and have your AC system and furnace last longer with fewer breakdowns. Finally, reducing dirt and dust will help keep your home or building cleaner.
How often should I have my HVAC system cleaned?
The U.S. Department of Energy recommends you check and/or clean your blower motor and air conditioning coils once a year. Dirti Ducts suggests cleaning your entire HVAC system air handler, evaporator coil, condenser coil, air ducts, and exhaust ducts and unit once every three to five years depending on how many inhabitants there are in the home, including pets.
A homeowner should also consider the following, as you may want to have your air ducts cleaned more frequently if you have...
- 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 number of indoor air pollutants in the home’s HVAC system
- Just renovated or remodeled your home
- Just bought a new home
What does it cost to clean air ducts in a house?
At Dirti Ducts, we don’t use gimmicks or “bait and switch” with our air duct cleaning costs. We have set rates on residential homes based on square footage and the number of air conditioning systems.
For commercial businesses, we perform an on-site walk-through after which we submit a bid to clean your HVAC system.
How long does it take to have ductwork cleaned?
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, the extent of the contamination, and the number of HVAC cleaners performing the job.
Dirti Ducts is one of the most thorough and time-efficient duct cleaning companies in the business. Because of the power of our equipment and the experience of our technicians, we can get large amounts of work done quickly and efficiently.
Even so, your standard residential air duct cleaning project will generally take between three to six hours to complete. Commercial projects can sometimes take several weeks to complete. Our customers appreciate our efficiency as it limits any inconvenience or downtime.
Do I need to wait all day, or do you give time frames for my appointment?
We will give you a one-hour time frame to arrive at your home. We value and appreciate your time, and being punctual is very important to us.
How can I be sure that you really cleaned my air ducts?
To ensure our commitment to leaving your home safer, cleaner, and more energy-efficient, we take before and after pictures of each air duct and dryer vent that we clean. Providing the images allows you to see the difference Dirti Ducts has made to the quality of the air that you breathe as well as the safety of your home.
How skilled or trained is your HVAC cleaning staff?
All of our professional HVAC cleaners have had training that exceeds NADCA standards.
What is NADCA?
The National Air Duct Cleaners Association was formed in 1989 to institute industry standards and credentialing programs for the HVAC industry.
The need for industry standards was addressed in 1992 with the adoption of performance-based standards that Dirti Ducts works to not only meet, but also exceed.
What is an air handling unit?
In Arizona, the air handling unit is located inside the house. In commercial buildings, the air handler can be on the roof or in a mechanical room.
The air handler consists of the evaporator coil, the blower, the drain pans, the heat exchangers, the filters, the burners, and all the electrical components.
All the components of an air handler need to be cleaned regularly and thoroughly to ensure safety, ensure peak performance, and improve indoor air quality.
Why should I have my air conditioning evaporator coils cleaned?
Your air conditioning evaporator coil sits behind a filter and looks a lot like a radiator that air passes through. Eventually, dirt and grime clog the coil.
The dirt and grime cause the air conditioning unit to run less efficiently, and the unit uses more energy. This places more pressure on the system which in turn causes mechanical breakdowns.
Do most duct cleaning companies clean the air conditioning coils in your system?
Air duct cleaning companies generally do not clean your furnace and air conditioning coils. Most do not even have the equipment, certifications, or training to do so.
Some companies that do address coil cleaning just wipe off the surface and do nothing but make them “look” better. At Dirti Ducts, we not only thoroughly clean your air conditioning coils, but we also do it for no extra charge as part of our service.
It is very important to note that any company that does not clean your coils needs to be more thoroughly researched as they probably do not have any certifications at all and most likely are not members of NADCA.
Why is getting my dryer vent cleaned so important?
There are several reasons why you should have your dryer vent cleaned at least once a year. Probably the most important reason you should have your dryer vent cleaned is they are the number three cause of household fires!
If this is not reason enough to have your dryer vent cleaned, here are some more reasons this is a great idea:
- Efficiency. A clean dryer vent allows the air to move freely from your dryer to the vent outside your house, thereby reducing the resistance and minimizing the energy your dryer uses to operate.
- The life expectancy of your dryer. The harder your dryer has to work, the more likely it is to quickly wear down the internal components, thereby diminishing the number of uses you have before your dryer gives up.
- Carbon monoxide. Gas dryers operating with little or no airflow to the outside exhaust will cause carbon monoxide to back up into your home, which can cause illness or even death.
- Peace of mind. By having your dryer vents cleaned, you can set your mind at ease knowing that you have reduced the risk of a house fire.
- In addition to reducing the risk of fire, you have allowed your dryer to work optimally, you’ve increased the life expectancy of the dryer, and you’re keeping potentially dangerous carbon monoxide fumes out of your home.
How do you clean dryer vents?
Your dryer vent is actually a flue (or a chimney) for your clothes dryer. It’s similar to the flue for your natural gas furnace or water heater. Depending on how your dryer vent runs, we will either go up on your roof or down the wall to remove the dirt, dust, and lint from your dryer vent.
To learn more, contact the air duct specialists at Dirti Ducts today!