Never allow the quality of your indoor air to be compromised. After all, you probably spend most of your time indoors—it is noted that Americans spend up to 90% of their time behind closed doors.
Contaminated indoor air will put you at risk of developing allergic reactions and other respiratory problems. Nevertheless, air duct cleaning is among one of the few ways you can maintain clean and odor-free indoor air.
Did you know that even right now, as you read this, dust, mold, and rodent waste is accumulating in your air ducts?
All these contaminants eventually get blown into your living space.
When this happens, it’s only a matter of time before your loved ones start coughing, sneezing, and experiencing breathing difficulties.
Air duct cleaning in Glendale, AZ— Is it necessary?
Yes, allow us to explain.
Some people insist that air duct cleaning is unnecessary, and there is no significant difference in air quality between households that clean their air ducts regularly and those that don’t.
There is indeed no general law that states that all households should regularly clean their air ducts.
However, things are a bit different in Glendale, Arizona. You have to consider the fact that the cities in Arizona regularly experience dust storms.
In one way or another, dust finds its way into our households and HVAC systems.
When that happens, we get caught up in a “cycle of dust.”
So, yes. Air duct cleaning in Glendale, AZ, is absolutely necessary.
The cost of air duct cleaning in Glendale, AZ
The national cost for air duct cleaning is around $500 per unit. Of course, the cost varies with the system’s complexity, size of the house, degree of contamination, plus the number of people needed for the task. For larger homes, the cost can easily hit the $700-dollar mark.
It’s also worth noting that commercial air duct cleaning services will cost more than residential cleaning.
Below are some of the pricing structures that contractors use for air duct cleaning:
- Per vent.
- Per square foot.
Rodent extermination and mold removal are additional costs that might be added to the standard $400 fee. Rodent extermination might cost anywhere from $150 to $500. On the other hand, expect to pay any amount from $600 to $2000 for mold removal.
The “Air duct cleaning package” covers for thorough cleaning of your entire air duct network. Some contractors might even offer to assess your air duct network and report if any repairs must be done.
How does the air duct cleaning service work in Glendale?
This section is for you if you’ve never had your air duct network cleaned.
In case you didn’t know, there is a standardized air duct cleaning routine that has been approved by the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA). They also specified the tools and chemicals to be used in the air duct cleaning process.
Before we continue, we’d also like to advise you to only seek air duct cleaning services from HVAC contractors that have been certified by the NADCA.
The air duct cleaning process
The air duct cleaning professionals will start by first assessing your system. After all, HVAC systems differ in complexity depending on the system itself and the house’s size.
The majority of air duct cleaners do more than just surveying your air duct system for dirt. They also check for holes, cracks, and leaks in the duct network. It’s more of a duct maintenance routine than a cleaning service.
After the assessment, they usually report on the condition of your duct system. If the system is dirty but in good condition, they connect the system to their automated vacuum cleaners.
After automatically sucking all the dirt and dust with their vacuum cleaners, they get down to work and start manually brushing and scrubbing the air duct walls to remove all the sticky and tough residue.
Thereafter, some spray chemicals to kill harmful microorganisms and stop mold from spreading throughout the system and house.
However, be careful with this one. Insist that the contractors brief you on the chemicals’ side effects before they spray them into your system.
Note: Until now, we’ve talked about air duct cleaning like it’s a separate maintenance routine.
No, it’s not practical to clean your air ducts alone. You have to clean the entire HVAC system to prevent re-contamination. Otherwise, all the dust and mold spores will be blown back into the other unclean components’ air ducts. When that happens, all your cleaning efforts will have been in vain.
How to prevent air duct contamination
Air duct cleaning is definitely not something you’d want to do every day. It’s a long, tiresome, and costly process. Plus, as they say, “prevention is better than cure.”
Below are some of the ways you can maintain your air ducts and keep them clean.
- Use high-quality filters, and clean keep them regularly. We advise you to only use filters that have been recommended by your system’s manufacturer. Also, replace or clean the filters at least once every two months.
- Schedule a thorough maintenance routine at least once a year. As you have your system checked, ask your contractor to brief you on the state of your air ducts.
- While renovating or reconstructing your home, seal all air supplies and vents to prevent dust from finding its way into the air ducts.
- Keep your home clean. Don’t allow dust into your home. All that will eventually get sucked into your system’s supply registers. Also, use high-efficiency vacuum cleaners while cleaning.
- Strictly maintain your humidification equipment whether they’re separate or inbuilt.
- Quickly repair any water leaks around or close to your air ducts. Dirt and moisture are the two main ingredients needed for the formation of mold.
- Make sure your air ducts are sealed in non-entry places to prevent rodent infestation. Rodent urine and waste will critically contaminate your air duct network.
