Dirty Air Ducts and Dirty Air in Your Home
AIR DUCT CLEANING FACTS
- Poor indoor air quality and some health issues may be directly related to mold and other irritants found inside your home’s heating and cooling system.
- Pollen, pet dander, dead insects, and rodent feces are common elements found in air ducts that can cause problems, especially for those suffering from asthma or allergies. The irritants accumulated in the air ducts will be carried all over your living space whenever the air conditioning or the heater is turned on.
- Having your entire HVAC (heating, ventilating and air conditioning) system cleaned by our trained professionals will help eliminate the presence of these harmful contaminants in your home
When to Get Your Air Ducts Sanitized
Sanitation involves applying an antimicrobial chemical to kill bacteria and/or airborne contaminants and to minimize the chance of re-contamination. However, unlike spraying your kitchen counter or cleaning your bathroom sink, duct sanitation must be done with care and only when necessary to kill excessive microbial growth. At Universal Star Duct Cleaning™, our technicians take the utmost care to sanitize only in safe and effective ways. Some of these include:- Recommending sanitation only when mechanical cleaning is insufficient to prevent bacteria or airborne contaminants from becoming a health hazard (e.g. after flood or sewage contamination, vermin infestations, etc.)
- Using only EPA-approved chemicals.
- Using such chemicals only as prescribed.
- Sanitizing only metal ducts and other non-porous parts of your HVAC system.
- Maintaining proper ventilation.
- Advising the homeowner about the specific pest the sanitation is designed to protect against.
- Advising the homeowner about any protective actions they need to take, such as leaving the house during the chemical application.
Why Air Duct Vent Cleaning?
Air ducts may be out of sight, but they shouldn’t be out of mind when it comes to maintaining the cleanliness of your home. Over time, ducts can become caked with dust and dirt or clogged with debris. Allergens, such as cigarette smoke or pet dander can circulate through them. Which is causing potential problems for people with severe allergies, even after the source of the allergen is removed. Moist, warm air flowing through dark spaces provides an ideal place for airborne contaminants to grow. Even the smallest chink in your duct work can allow insects or rodents to enter and take up residence. This keep your air flow from becoming contaminated and spreading the contents of your duct throughout your home. This is why air duct vent cleaning is so important to you and your family.
Who Should Get Their Air Ducts Cleaned?
Duct vent cleaning is not for everyone. If you have a brand new home with newly-installed clean duct work, you may not need them cleaned right away unless you notice signs of airborne contaminants, dust, or pest infestations. However, many of our clients live in older homes, where ducts are not as air-tight as they used to be and years of dust and dirt deposits have taken their toll. Cracks and crevices can also open a door for airborne contaminants spores and vermin, such as cockroaches and mice. If you have any of the following signs or symptoms. Call Universal Duct Vent Cleaning right away for a photo inspection of your duct work:- Dirty or dusty air regularly coming out of your vents
- (note: dust on the surface of the grill is normal and usually comes from the air in your room, not from inside your ducts)
- A recent vermin infestation (insects or rodents who may have taken up residence in your duct work). We specialize in Insulation Removal.
- Substantial airborne contaminants growth inside the visible sections of your duct work
- Unexplained cold- or allergy-like symptoms that persist beyond the time-span of a normal illness
What are Some of the Signs of Leaky Air Ducts?
A constant stream of dirty or dusty air can be indicative of a major problem somewhere in your ductwork. But this is not the only sign. If you’re experiencing any of the following, your ductwork may be to blame:
Poor temperature or humidity control
If some rooms in your home are always too hot or too cold, regardless of the temperature in the rest of the house. This indicates that your air ducts may have a leak, causing warm or cold air to flow into the system from the outside. This is also true if a section of your home always seems stuffy or humid for no other identifiable reasons.
If some rooms in your home are always too hot or too cold, regardless of the temperature in the rest of the house. This indicates that your air ducts may have a leak, causing warm or cold air to flow into the system from the outside. This is also true if a section of your home always seems stuffy or humid for no other identifiable reasons.
Loud noises
It should not sound like a thunderstorm each time you turn on your air conditioning. If your HVAC system is always loud, it may mean parts of it are loose and in need of hvac duct repair.
It should not sound like a thunderstorm each time you turn on your air conditioning. If your HVAC system is always loud, it may mean parts of it are loose and in need of hvac duct repair.
Strange odors
Under certain conditions, airborne contaminants can start to grow inside your vents. If your air always smells foul or musty, you may need them replaced. Especially if your ducts are made of fiberglass or if the airborne contaminants has gotten into the insulation.
Under certain conditions, airborne contaminants can start to grow inside your vents. If your air always smells foul or musty, you may need them replaced. Especially if your ducts are made of fiberglass or if the airborne contaminants has gotten into the insulation.
Visual cracks or tears
If the ducts are pulling away from the wall or the air handler or there are visible punctures where your ductwork is exposed. This is indisputable evidence that it’s time for a repair.
If the ducts are pulling away from the wall or the air handler or there are visible punctures where your ductwork is exposed. This is indisputable evidence that it’s time for a repair.
Soaring energy bills
If your energy bills have gone up significantly for no apparent reason, your ducts may be to blame. When there are leaks or tears in your ductwork, outside air mitigates the effects of your furnace or air conditioner. This is causing your system to have to work longer and harder to achieve the temperature you desire.
If your energy bills have gone up significantly for no apparent reason, your ducts may be to blame. When there are leaks or tears in your ductwork, outside air mitigates the effects of your furnace or air conditioner. This is causing your system to have to work longer and harder to achieve the temperature you desire.
How We Do It - Duct Inspections Virginia Beach | Chesapeake | Norfolk | Portsmouth | Newport News | Hampton
Taking photos of your ductwork is not something you can easily do yourself. We come equipped with the latest technology designed specifically for these kinds of inspections. Our boroscope cameras look like slender hoses, which we can easily push far into your duct work and move around with ease. This will give us a comprehensive picture of the state of your ducts.After the photo inspection of your air duct inspection, we let you see the snapshots for yourself so you never have to simply take us at our word. Contractors who refuse to let customers see their own photos leave homeowners vulnerable to accepting services they don’t need or approving more expensive processes than are actually warranted by the situation. We believe in being fully transparent and always show you our photos before we begin cleaning.
If you’re ready to begin your cleaning with a free photo inspection,
give Universal Star Duct Cleaning™ a call today. We serve the entire
Virginia Beach – Chesapeake – Norfolk area and stand ready to help
improve the health of your home. Give us a call today at (757) 502-0200
.
