Utah's Trusted Air Duct Cleaning Company

When duct cleaning actually makes sense

The EPA does not recommend cleaning ducts routinely, only as needed. Its list of good reasons is short: substantial visible mold inside sheet metal ducts or other parts of the system, signs of mice, insects or other vermin, or so much dust and debris that the ducts are clogged or particles are blowing out of the supply registers.

Normal dust on a return grille is not one of them. You can usually vacuum or wash the grille yourself. The EPA also stresses that if there is a cause, such as a leak, condensation or a pest entry point, it has to be fixed first or the problem will likely come back.

What a proper cleaning includes

A real duct cleaning covers the whole system, not just the vents you can see. The EPA notes that leaving one contaminated part dirty can re-contaminate everything else. A proper job includes:

• Supply and return ducts, registers and grilles
• The air handler housing, blower fan and motor
• Cooling coils, drain pan and heat exchanger
• Access ports opened so the inside can be inspected and cleaned, then sealed and re-insulated so they're airtight
• Vacuum equipment that exhausts outdoors, or HEPA-filtered vacuums if the exhaust stays inside, so dust isn't blown back into the home
• Controlled brushing with contact vacuuming, using soft brushes on fiberglass duct board or lined ducts

The industry standard for this work is NADCA's ACR standard, which covers assessment, negative air pressure equipment, source removal and checking that surfaces are actually clean afterward.

What to avoid

Be cautious of anyone who wants to spray a biocide or sealant as a routine add-on. The EPA says no products are registered as biocides for fiberglass duct board or fiberglass-lined ducts. A biocide should only be considered after visible growth has been shown to you, and after the system has been cleaned. The EPA also does not recommend routine sealants, which may not coat ducts evenly and can affect fire ratings and equipment warranties. Avoid ozone treatments as well.

Timing around Utah's seasons

Utah's heating and cooling seasons give you two natural windows. Wood-burning restrictions in Box Elder, Cache, Davis, Salt Lake, Tooele, Utah and Weber counties start on November 1, the beginning of the inversion season, and homes stay closed up and the furnace runs hard until spring. Early fall is a sensible time to have the system checked before that stretch. Spring, before air conditioning or an evaporative cooler starts up, is the other window. Cooling coils and drain pans stay wet all summer, and that's where growth tends to start.

How to choose a duct cleaner

The EPA suggests getting written estimates from at least three companies, checking references, and asking these questions:

• Will you show me the contamination before and after?
• Do you clean the entire system, including the coil, blower and drain pan?
• Do you follow NADCA standards?
• Will you put the full cost and scope in writing before starting?

Be wary of sweeping health claims, pressure to clean on a schedule, or any claim of EPA certification. The EPA does not certify duct cleaners.