Does duct cleaning work?
Ducts are hard to clean. They will never be as clean as new. It's worth having them cleaned if you have really old ducts and they have never been cleaned before.
What kinds of ducts can be cleaned?
Duct cleaning only works for metal ducts. If the ducts are made out of fiberboard they should be removed instead of cleaned.
Can I clean flex ducts?
Flex ducts can’t be cleaned very well, even if the duct cleaning company says they have newer technologies. Flex duct is like an accordion; like a slinky. The brushes can’t get in between the creases.
Should I use a sanitizer?
No. Don’t use sanitizers. They are a waste of money and they can be toxic. There have been papers written on this. Call me if you need references.
What should I pay attention to?
Supervise the workers cleaning the ducts to make sure they spend a bit of time at each duct. Duct cleaning estimates are based on the number of ducts cleaned, the idea being that there’s time spent at each duct. Often not as much time is spent cleaning each duct unless you are there watching.
What else should to be cleaned?
If the furnace sits on a platform and there’s a wall cavity being used as a return air plenum under it, it’s usually filthy under there. There can be a big difference cleaning it. Some duct cleaning companies miss it.
It’s worth more having the inside of the blower compartment and under the return air plenum platform cleaned than the ducts. The inside of the furnace blower compartment and the air plenum used as a return air duct (the hollow platform the furnace sits on) are dirty than the ducts. Often these are over looked by the duct cleaning company which is why you need to supervise the work. You need to ask them to open the door on the furnace and clean the blower and the inside of the furnace and the liner. Sometimes the liner is burnt or covered in dust. It should be replaced.
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About the Author
Daniel Stih (danielstih.com) is a board-certified ACAC Indoor Environmental Consultant (CIEC) and Certified Microbial Consultant (CMC), aerospace engineer, Senior iOS Developer, and the author of 12 books. For more than 25 years, he has investigated complex problems spanning environmental health, engineering, technology, and human decision-making. Learn more: Why I Think This Way. If you have questions about mold remediation, happy to help. Schedule a consultation.