After the fires in Los Angeles: Why Duct Cleaning

(A portion of this blog is from copy I wrote for Air Clean Duct Cleaning Company's website.  See my name at the bottom each page of www.AirCleanNow.com) 

Meeting a real need

A decade ago air conditioning ducts were very much "out of sight, out of mind".

Few people thought about how much dirt and dust could accumulate in these hidden areas and just how dangerous this could be. People had little idea of why cleaning was necessary.

These days, people are much more conscious of the air they breathe. Building owners and employers not only have to comply with tough occupational health and safety laws, but also want to create safe environments for those who live and work in their buildings.

It's really just a matter of prudent risk management and good business practice, not to mention healthy maintenance and care in your home and for your family.

The simple fact is that built-up dirt and dust is bad for people (especially those who suffer from asthma or similar conditions) and for sensitive equipment such as computers. It also poses a significant fire risk and can cost you money if it means your system is not running properly.

Research

According to the World Health Organization, approximately 30% of all commercial buildings have significant indoor air quality problems. This often shows itself by occupants suffering cold or flu-like symptoms. Serious health effects such as Legionnaire's Disease are also possible.

And the American College of Allergists states that 50% of all illnesses are either caused or aggravated by polluted indoor air.

Sick Building Syndrome

The United States Environment Protection Authority (EPA) released a publication on "sick building syndrome" in 1991. The first cause of sick building syndrome listed was inadequate ventilation, which may also occur if heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems do not effectively distribute air to people in the building. As a solution to sick building syndrome, the United State EPA recommends the routine maintenance of heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems. Click here for more information on Sick Building Syndrome.

What happens during the fire?

Household vents and ducts trap smoke odors. During a fire, smoke drifts through the ducts and becomes lodged on the sides. Smoke can penetrate through walls, so a complete smoke and soot damage cleaning involves the cleaning of household ducts, where the odors can be trapped.

Your heating and air conditioning units will need to be cleaned along with the ducts. Reputable, professional cleaners will give you a full price up front that includes the unit(s).

How to Know a Good Price/Good Value

Be cautious if you have a house with 10 registers, for example, and a roof unit and the company says that they can do your whole house between $99.00 and $250. This is misleading. We very often find that these companies either a) come out and then start adding on charges (like that $25 special to clean the carpets in your whole apartment) or b) don't clean the length of the whole duct and skip the unit completely.

A fair price for a professional cleaner who will clean every available inch of duct work AND the blower fan AND the coil is between $50 to $75 a register (that grill where the air comes out) and between $100 to $250 for the unit depending on its size and where it is in the house (roof and attic units are more than floor level ones).

And if your family has allergy problems, the result could be priceless.

Signs Your Air Ducts May Need Cleaning

• Allergy flare-ups
• Rapid dust build-up on furniture
• Visible dirt, dust or mold on vents
• Decreased air flow

A good rule of thumb is if you have a forced air heating system have the air ducts cleaned every 3-5 years by a qualified professional duct cleaning service. Your disposable filter should be replaced every 3 to 6 months, as needed. Electrostatic filters should be cleaned out periodically, according to the manufacturer's recommendation.

For a video showing the duct cleaning procedure, go to http://www.AirCleanNow.com