Comparing Air Duct Cleaning Methods: Here's What's Best

Viruses, bacteria, and fungi invade the air ducts and then they're suspended in your indoor air. Avoid this by periodically cleaning your air ducts and seeking professional cleaning services every 3 to 5 years.

The negative air pressure method is the most result-oriented and best way to clean air ducts.

This article discusses the best air duct cleaning system, method, and more. Let's get started.

Does Cleaning Air Ducts Really Make a Difference?

Most dust or dirt sticks to the duct surfaces, rarely finding its way into your home.

But for people with auto-immune disorders and respiratory problems such as dust allergies and asthma, cleaning the air ducts can make a difference. This is because crud in the ducts could cause allergy symptoms.

Sometimes, even people not prone to chronic diseases could suffer from upper respiratory problems, including pneumonia and asthma, due to indoor air pollution.

Dizziness, fatigue, and headaches are other health challenges some people could experience.

Clogged air filters cause the HVAC to work harder, consuming more energy as it pushes air through the system. This shortens the life of the air ducts. Cleaning your air duct extends its life, saving you a lot of money in the long run.

Can I Clean My Air Ducts Myself?

Absolutely! You can periodically clean your air ducts and vents yourself, as long as the air ducts do not have mold, and maybe only a little dust and dirt. You can use a brush and a shop vacuum to clean them out.

You may have to unscrew the grills if the air ducts are dusty so as to run the vacuum along the inside of your vents.

However, while it may be cheaper to clean the air ducts yourself, it has some disadvantages.

Some of the risks of cleaning the air duct yourself include:

• High chance of damaging the air ducts
• Lack of proper tools and ingredients to clean heavily soiled air ducts
• Inability to access the ducts or clean the entire length of the vents

Which Is the Best Way to Clean Air Ducts: DIY or Hiring?

The best way to clean air ducts that are heavily soiled or have mold and other contaminants is to hire a professional. Professionals have heavy-duty vacuums and suction power, are licensed in case of any damage to your ductwork, and can even provide remediation for things like mold removal.

What Is the Best Air Duct Cleaning Method?

The National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) provides guidelines and standards for professional air duct cleaning. NADCA's standards are widely recognized and respected within the industry.

They offer a comprehensive set of guidelines covering various aspects of air duct cleaning, including what equipment and cleaning methods are recommended.

They emphasize the importance of thorough cleaning to remove contaminants from the entire HVAC system.

The most common methods used to clean air ducts are:

• Negative pressure (the best)
• Air sweep or whip method
• High-pressure air washing
• Mechanical agitation or rotary brushing
• Chemical cleaning

Negative Air Pressure Method

A professional like Zerorez® creates negative pressure in the air ducts using a powerful truck-mount air duct cleaning system to dislodge and remove all the dirt and other debris.

This is the best air duct cleaning method currently available because it prevents the contaminants from becoming airborne as the experts continue cleaning, as it uses an enclosed soil retrieval and containment system.

Whether a portable unit or directly into the truck, negative air duct cleaning involves technicians carefully cutting into your duct trunk line and attaching large hoses. They work air whip lines into your vents and suck all the dislodged debris away.

Agitation tools, vacuuming, and high-powered airlines can also be used to achieve great results.

Air Sweep or Whip Method

The air sweep or whip method involves inserting a flexible rotating brush or whip into the ductwork, which agitates and loosens debris while simultaneously using compressed air to push the contaminants towards the vacuum hose.

The suction power of "power vacuuming" effectively cleans the air ducts by collecting and removing all contaminants.

This cleaning method requires caution when dealing with delicate air ducts such as flexible ducting.

High-Pressure Air Washing Method

High-pressure air washing utilizes compressed air to create a powerful stream that dislodges contaminants from the duct surfaces. The force of the air helps to break up buildup and push it towards the vacuum hose for removal.

Mechanical Agitation Method

Some professionals use the mechanical agitation method to clean the air ducts. This method successfully removes debris from your air ducts using mechanically rooted tools such as brushes, compressed air nozzles, and other specialized tools which work to scrub the interior of the ductwork, and dislodge buildup and debris.

The contact vacuuming technique is then used to extract the loose contaminants. This method is best for targeted air duct cleaning.

Chemical Cleaning Method

Chemical cleaning involves the use of specialized cleaning solutions or agents to break down and dissolve contaminants within the ductwork. These solutions are applied to the duct surfaces and allowed to sit for a period of time before being rinsed or wiped away, leaving the ducts clean and sanitized.

While chemical cleaning is effective for removing organic matter and microbial growth, it may be less effective for removing heavy accumulations of dust, dirt, or debris. Mechanical methods such as brushing or vacuuming may be needed in conjunction with chemical cleaning for thorough results.

Some chemical cleaning agents contain harsh chemicals that can be harmful to the environment and certain individuals who may be sensitive to or allergic to the chemicals used in cleaning solutions.

Hire Zerorez for Insanely Clean™ Air Ducts

Regular air duct and vent cleaning is essential, but a professional air duct cleaning service is vital if you notice mold, rodents, or mildew in the air ducts.

At the end of your tenancy, you could also have air duct cleaning as an add-on service during moving-out carpet cleaning.

Professionals have the best air duct cleaning systems to ensure your ducts are properly cleaned and contaminants-free.

Professionals like Zerorez, use a powerful portable or truck-mounted negative air machine that cleans any duct system in your commercial or residential property.

Coupled with the best air duct cleaning liquid to sanitize or disinfect your ducts to eliminate bacteria, mold, and other microorganisms, Zerorez offers excellent cleaning services. Schedule online to get a quote for your area at no cost.