At Jake’s we don’t just stick a shop vac down your air vents, we actually clean it. It’s safe to assume it is generally healthy to clean air ducts once in a while like we do the rest of the other home maintenance. Even regular vacuuming can’t gather all dirt and debris so it ends up in your air ducts then this old dirt circulates through the air. Every few years is recommended unless someone in the home has breathing trouble, allergies, or one of the following are occurring-

  • Rodents and Other Vermin 
  • Excessive Dust and Debris  
  • Mold

Note these issues above will likely to occur again until the source of the problem is resolved.

 

Mold

If there is visible mold growth inside hard surface of the ducts or anywhere else in your heating and cooling system, an expert should be called as soon as possible for s few reasons:

  • The material may appear to be mold but may not actually be mold. An authentic assessment of this can only be determined by an expert.

 

  • If the suspected mold was caused by wet insulation then it cannot be effectively cleaned. It should be replaced.

 

  • Many sections of your heating and cooling system may not be accessible for a visible inspection, so ask the service provider to show you any mold they say exists.

 

  • If the conditions causing the mold growth in the first place are not corrected, mold growth will recur.

 

 Controlling Moisture

Experts agree moisture should not be present in air ducts. Dirt and moisture bring the potential existence for “biological contaminants to grow and be distributed throughout the home.” Controlling moisture is the most effective way to prevent mold growth in all types of air ducts. Here’s how you can avoid moisture in your ducts:

  • Correct leaks or standing water
  • Correctly clean humidifiers 
  • Remove and have  wet insulation professionally replaced
  • Less steam or humidifiers near the air ducts 

 

 

Other Tips

  • Air handling units should be constructed so that maintenance personnel have easy, direct access to heat exchange components and drain pans for proper cleaning and maintenance.

 

  • Remove standing water from under the air unit cooling coils. Make sure the drain pan actually slopes down to the drain.