HVAC Maintenance 101: Everything You Need To Know About Air Duct Cleaning Service | Frisco, TX
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As a homeowner in Frisco, TX, you probably understand that your home’s air conditioning unit requires regular maintenance to help you and your family beat the Texas heat efficiently. Part of this maintenance routine covers the ductwork, which plays a vital role in maintaining favorable indoor climatic conditions all year round. Essentially, it distributes the conditioned air from your heating and cooling unit throughout your home. To guarantee its optimum functionality, both its intake and output features need to be in tip-top condition.
Without proper function of the duct infrastructure, you’re bound to encounter serious HVAC problems down the line, which certainly compromise the indoor air quality of your Frisco, TX home. For instance, damaged ducts force the AC unit to run for a longer time to maintain comfortable indoor air conditions. Consequently, this causes the unit to break down or get overheated prematurely.
Additionally, if the ducts have insufficient insulation, missing seals, or leaks around the vents, they may significantly reduce the efficiency of your home’s air conditioner. Also, you shouldn’t be surprised if you begin noticing an increased amount of dust in your home since it could be a sign of ductwork problems. This is because duct leaks allow dirt and debris from the attic or crawlspace to move freely within the AC unit and into your premises.
Moreover, if your home’s ductwork installation job was poorly executed, you may have more serious issues that even a comprehensive duct cleaning service may fail to resolve. Ideally, the ductwork size should fit the size of the existing heating and AC system. To have an accurate reading of this requirement, AC professionals from reputable duct cleaning service providers near you will pass a certain amount of airflow through the unit. The airflow, measured in cubic feet per minute or CFM, will help determine the suitability of a duct system to your unit’s performance capabilities, allowing it to operate efficiently at all times.
Apart from preventing astronomical energy bills and stuffy indoors, there are wide-ranging benefits to occasional duct cleaning service. Therefore, here’s everything you need to know about air duct cleaning services.
Which Type of Ductwork Is Present in Your Home?
With a working understanding of what the ductwork in your Frisco, TX home’s AC unit does, you should know the various types of ducts that heating and cooling systems use to keep indoors comfortable. In doing so, you can knowledgeably distinguish the type of duct cleaning service required on your property. At the front line, some air conditioners transport air from the unit to the whole house with flexible duct systems. Typically tube-shaped, they comprise a wire coil that features a bendable and durable plastic cover with all-around insulation. AC installation and duct cleaning service experts recommend installing these ducts in tight spaces that may not fit rigid systems.
Similar to other components in central air conditioners, flexible duct systems have specific installation needs. For starters, the ductwork should be adequately secured and supported to guarantee little to no snaking or sagging. Bends, turns, and kinks should also be minimized as they reduce airflow, negatively affecting the AC’s performance and efficiency. Nonetheless, they have a few benefits, including fast and easy installation and the fact that they’re cheaper than rigid ductwork. On the other hand, some air conditioning units utilize strict duct systems available in wide-ranging materials and sizes.
Cylindrical or rectangular, rigid ductwork is enduring, hardy, and reliable, and it can be categorized into three common subtypes. You can request your preferred duct cleaning service near Frisco, TX, to install fiberglass-lined or fiberboard ducts as well as sheet metal ductwork.
Fiberglass-lined duct systems are sheet metal ducts featuring an external or internal fiberglass lining. Even though they’re mostly installed in commercial and office buildings, they’re reputable for dampening the sometimes irritating AC sounds. However, the fiberglass lining is susceptible to gradual deterioration over time, which causes it to release fiberglass particles into the air. Such scenarios pose significant health risks, especially following long-term exposure. Additionally, the deterioration factor makes it notably challenging to execute a comprehensive duct cleaning service since the cleaning process may affect the lining, causing it to release fibers. Moreover, fiberglass-lined ducts can get easily contaminated with harmful molds and bacteria.
Besides fiberglass-lined ducts, you can find homes with AC units that work with fiberboard ducts. Mainly, these duct systems comprise compressed fiberglass strands that have been bonded with resin and fitted with a foil laminate cover to shield them from moisture. Duct cleaning service specialists recommend it since it’s well-insulated, guaranteeing energy-efficient heating and AC operations throughout the year. However, just like fiberglass-lined products, fiberboard ducts offer a fertile breeding ground for mold and mildew in moist conditions. Moreover, due to their rough exterior, they can affect airflow and system efficiency.
As aforementioned, other heating and cooling systems may use steel metal ductwork. Steel metal ducts are commonly made of galvanized steel and aluminum materials, but aluminum is often preferred since it’s light and relatively easy to install. Another benefit of steel metal ducts lies in the fact that they have non-porous surfaces, making them least likely to support mold growth.
What Is Duct Cleaning?
As more homeowners in Frisco, TX, and beyond realize the impact of indoor air pollutants on their homes’ comfort, many heating, air conditioning, and duct cleaning service providers have shifted their attention towards cleaning duct systems to help improve indoor air quality. The duct cleaning service is often priced per heating and cooling system based on various factors. The technicians may charge you for services rendered depending on the climatic region and system accessibility as well as the size of the unit and level of contamination. Definitively, duct cleaning is generally described as cleaning the various components comprising forced air systems. These include air ducts and registers and grilles and diffusers as well as heat exchangers, evaporator and condenser coils, drip pans, and the air handling unit housing. It also covers fan motors and fan housing.
How Do You Know That Your AC Needs A Duct Cleaning Service?
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, research has shown that there’s no evidence acknowledging duct cleaning’s role in actually preventing health problems associated with poor indoor air quality. Similarly, no evidence conclusively supports the notion that particulate matter levels in homes gradually increase with time due to dirty air ducts since much of the dirt in duct systems adheres to the duct surface, limiting entry into living spaces. Also, dirty air ducts are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of particulate matter sources in homes. However, there are obvious signs that you should look out for to determine whether a comprehensive air duct cleaning service is needed in your Frisco, TX residence.
For starters, pest and rodent infestations may be a clear indicator that your home needs complete and prompt duct cleaning solutions. You can tell when there’s a pest or rodent issue within your home if you notice an unpleasant smell that matches the odor of animal droppings and urine coming from the AC’s duct network. This can be attributed to the saturation of urine and fecal matter into the fibrous duct as rodents and pests begin to invade your home’s air conditioner. With time, the indoor air quality gets significantly compromised as the smell will become unbearable at some point. Besides making your indoors uncomfortable, the saturation of these contaminants may also take a toll on the other heating and cooling components, which may reduce its energy efficiency and its ability to maintain favorable indoor conditions.
Similarly, visible mold growth should be treated as a call to action by any concerned homeowner. While mold growth is commonplace in heating and cooling systems, it may not have originated there. Given that your home’s AC maintains controlled climatic conditions throughout the entire property, it could have acquired mold spores from any room. After that, the spores would have thrived due to dark and moist conditions found in the evaporator coil. There are a plethora of health complications that follow extensive mold infestations. These include irritation in the eyes, skin, and throat and severe respiratory infections, which are worse in persons struggling with other lung infections. Despite the complications mentioned above arising from mold growth, an air duct cleaning service technician can help rid the unit of the issue, but this may only be effective if they discover the spores on time.
Comparatively, suppose you or one of your family members have unexplained asthma attacks, allergies, sinus infections, or respiratory problems. In that case, it could be time to request the services of a professional duct cleaning technician. Besides mold, respiratory issues can be triggered by excessive amounts of dirt and debris circulating throughout your Frisco, TX home. Therefore, if coughing, sneezing, and wheezing have become frequent within your household, then it could be time to schedule a professional duct cleaning service.
In like manner, inflated energy bills are a sign of AC troubles. In this context, if a unit has a significant amount of debris, its components gradually lose their efficiency, forcing it to work harder to maintain the preferred indoor conditions. As such, the energy consumption levels automatically hike, with the ripple effect falling on your monthly bill. Clogs and leaks also disrupt the airflow, which renders your home’s unit inefficient in maintaining favorable indoor conditions. Eventually, this culminates in astronomical energy bills, which an AC service expert can help avoid by visiting your property to inspect, clean, and seal any leaks in the duct system.
Additionally, visible dirt on your unit’s air vents implies that there could be a significant amount of dirt and dust within the ductwork. While you may not witness any immediate change after a thorough cleaning service, you should have it done to prevent expensive repairs or replacements in the future.
What to Look for in a Professional Duct Cleaning Service Provider?
With adequate knowledge of what air duct cleaning means and the signs that indicate your Frisco, TX home needs an AC cleaning service, you should know what to look for in a professional duct cleaning technician. For starters, you can start by ensuring that whichever company or technician you choose is certified by the National Air Duct Cleaners Association, NADCA. Instead of assuming that all technicians are knowledgeable and professional, you can ask the duct cleaning service provider to visit your property and pinpoint the contamination that warrants you hiring them.
Additionally, it would help if you steered clear of AC service technicians who make unsubstantiated claims of duct cleaning’s health benefits. Similarly, be advised not to hire HVAC companies that recommend duct cleaning as a routine solution. While you’re at it, you should also avoid cleaners that claim to be EPA-certified. This is because the EPA doesn’t establish any duct cleaning standards, nor does it endorse, certify, or approve duct cleaning companies.
When looking for a duct cleaning expert, you shouldn’t allow the use of chemical treatments or biocides unless you have a working knowledge of the merits and demerits therein. It would help if you also scanned the company or technician’s references to ascertain whether previous clients were satisfied with their services. During this time, you can check whether there were any complications with the heating and cooling system following the duct cleaning service. Moreover, it would be a good idea to consult with local authorities and the Better Business Bureau to see if there are any complaints lodged against the company you may end up choosing.
Once you’ve done that, you can personally interview the service providers to ensure they have previous experience handling the duct cleaning needs of systems like yours and use techniques that protect your family and pets from contamination. During the interview, you can also inquire about their compliance with NADCA standards. In this context, you can ask them to ascertain if your home’s AC has a fiberglass duct board or whether it’s insulated with fiberglass duct liner, in line with NAIMA recommendations. The interview should also help you determine if the company holds a State air duct cleaning license.
One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas; A One-Stop-Shop for AC Service Needs
Sure, the information provided above can help homeowners in Frisco, TX, understand the intricacies of a professional and comprehensive air duct cleaning service. However, duct cleaning is in no way a DIY task, and attempting to do it not only puts your safety at risk, but it may also end up costing you a pretty penny in repair and replacement costs in case anything goes amiss. Instead, you can trust the experts at One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating of Dallas, who are trained and certified in handling indoor air quality issues. We provide detailed indoor air quality solutions that entail IAQ testing services and installing devices such as air purifiers and air cleaners that counter indoor air pollutants around the clock.