Cleaning

Most people are now aware that indoor air pollution is an issue of growing concern and increased visibility. Many companies are marketing products and services intended to improve the quality of your indoor air. You have probably seen an advertisement, received a coupon in the mail, or been approached directly by a company offering to clean your air ducts as a means of improving your home's indoor air quality. These services typically, but not always, range in price between $450 and $1050 per HVAC system, depending on the services offered, the size of the system to be cleaned, system accessibility, climatic region, and level of contamination (according to EPA estimates). MBM's prices fall within the middle area of this range. Please call or use our convenient online Request Information form for pricing information or information on other services.

Air duct cleaning generally refers to the cleaning of a forced air system’s supply and return air ducts, registers, grilles and diffusers only. Ventilation system cleaning generally refers to the cleaning of various heating and cooling system components of forced air systems, including the supply and return air ducts and registers, grilles and diffusers, heat exchangers, heating and cooling coils, condensate drain pans (drip pans), fan motor and fan housing, and the air handling unit housing. If not properly installed, maintained, and operated, these components may become contaminated with particles of dust, pollen or other debris. If moisture is present, the potential for microbiological growth (e.g., molds and mildew) is increased and spores from such growth may be released into the home's living space. Some of these contaminants may cause allergic reactions or other symptoms in people if they are exposed to them.

The most effective way to clean air ducts and ventilation systems is to apply "source removal" methods of cleaning. This requires a contractor to place the system under negative pressure, through the use of a specialized, powerful vacuum with a HEPA filter. While the vacuum draws air through the system, devices are inserted into the ducts to dislodge any debris that might be stuck to interior surfaces. The debris can then travel down the ducts to the vacuum, which removes it from the system and the home. Modern HVAC system cleaning methods have produced proven, positive results in recent test studies performed by the EPA and the National Air Duct Association (NADCA).

If you decide to have your heating and cooling system cleaned, it is important to make sure the service provider agrees to clean all components of the system and is qualified to do so. The cleaning process should be done according to NADCA Standards using specialized equipment designed exclusively for air duct cleaning. The company should also sanitize with EPA approved products. This kills bacteria, virus, mold spores, fungus and dust mites.

Follow these steps to find a qualified air duct cleaning service provider:

Ask them to come to your home and perform a system inspection and give you a quotation (this may or may not be free).

Verify that the company is certified by NADCA to perform HVAC system cleaning.

See if the company has been in business long enough to have adequate experience.

Enquire whether the company is in good standing with your local Better Business Bureau.

Get proof that the company is properly licensed and adequately insured.

Make sure the company is going to clean and visually inspect all of the air ducts and related system components.

Ask if the company has the right equipment to effectively perform cleaning, and if the company has done work in homes similar to yours.


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Air Duct Cleaning Procedures

Download the Procedures (PDF file)

First your system is inspected for cleanability, to determine the extent of cleaning needed and if microbial remediation, restoration or other additional service is recommended.

Our trained technician then connects the HEPA Filtered Negative Air Flow Machine to the duct work in order to put the entire system under negative pressure for the safest and most efficient way to clean your ventilation system according to NADCA/ACR 2002 standards by preventing dust, mold and debris from being released back into your home.

We then remove all air vents and diffusers to be inspected and cleaned.

Air vents and return air duct/s are blocked to maintain negative air flow to prevent cross-contamination.

The entire length of your air ducts are agitated and brushed to remove dust, debris and contaminates.

We then inspect the hygiene level of the entire ventilation system, look for visible microbial contamination and check for air leaks and improper air flow.

Upon the final inspection our technician will make recommendations to replace air vents and diffusers with visible microbial contamination.

Finally the technician will make recommendations to improve overall indoor air quality including recommending alternative filter systems such as HEPA filters, Electrostatic filters or add UV Air cleansers.


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Complete Ventilation (HVAC) System Cleaning Procedures
(includes Air Duct Cleaning as described above)

Download the Procedures (PDF file)

All internally lined or fibrous glass ducting is cleaned to the standards of the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA) publication #AH122.

For a complete HVAC ventilation system cleaning, the air conditioning unit case and blades of the ventilation blower are inspected and cleaned if needed using either a contact vacuum or by hand as determined by the type of contamination.

The evaporator coil is inspected and cleaned if needed. Both sides of the evaporator coils are vacuumed with a soft bristle brush then cleaned by hand using a non-acid foaming style cleaner. Following the cleaning process the coil is fogged with a sanitizer as a precautionary measure against microbial contaminants (MSDS sheets available upon request).

Evaporator coils are cleaned according to the standards set by both NADCA ACR 2002 and the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association (SMACNA).

The plenum box is inspected and cleaned if needed.

If there is more than one one ventilation unit to be cleaned, each air handling unit will be shut down and and isolated for the length of the cleaning process to avoid any cross contamination.

Recommendations are made for the addition of Algae Strips for your condensation pan and/or the application of air duct microbiocides, sanitizers and deodorizers depending upon need.

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