Will HVAC system cleaning reduce our home energy bills?
Research by the U.S. EPA has demonstrated that HVAC system cleaning allow systems to run more efficiently by removing debris from sensitive mechanical components. Clean and efficient systems are less likely to break down, have a longer life spans, and generally operate more effectively than dirty systems.
How often should residential HVAC systems be cleaned?
Frequency of cleaning depends on several factors. Some of the things that may lead a home owner to consider more frequent cleaning include:
* Smokers in the household.
* Pets that shed high amounts of hair and dander.
* Water contamination or damage to the home or HVAC system.
* Residents with allergies or asthma who might benefit from a reduction in the amount of indoor air pollutants in the home's HVAC system.
* After home renovations or remodeling.
* Prior to occupancy of a new home.
What are sanitizers, and why would they need to be used?
Sanitizers are anti-microbial chemicals applied to the interior surface of the air ducts, designed to control microbial contamination. Before any sanitizers are used, the system should be thoroughly cleaned. It is critical that any anti-microbial treatment used in your system be EPA registered for the intended use in HVAC systems.
What could possibly be in my air ducts?
Image a full vacuum cleaner bag. Many of the same things that are in your vacuum cleaner bag are exactly what could be in your air ducts. They may contain any or all of the following debris: carpet fibers, skin scale and hair, dust mites and their feces, food crumbs, pet food and cat liter, mold and mildew, drywall dust and new construction debris, insect and rodent excrements and remains, bacteria and viruses, pet hair and dander.
Now Image 2-5 grocery bags full of this debris. This is an accurate depiction of how much debris is cleaned out from an average sized home's air duct system. Also consider that a standard fiberglass filter is less than 7% effective at stopping this debris from eventually breaking down and passing through your filter and back into the air that you and your family breathes.