Can cleaning the air ducts system damage your duct system?
Darrel Qualls
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
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PROAustin Air Companie
5 years ago20 year old duct system is pretty old, if your ducts are made of flex duct or duct board there is a good chance a duct cleaning will not reach the cleanliness of a new duct system.
With that said if you have a 2 story structure, it's unlikely you will have the access needed to replace every piece of the duct system.
So there are trade offs going from replacement to cleaning, not to mention truth in cleaning. How are you going to know how clean the duct system is after the cleaning?
The ads of duct cleaning typically start around $59 a system. At this price point it would be impossible for duct cleaner to stay in business, but that is the con game of this kind of service.
If the duct system isn't thoroughly cleaned, it won't be long until you'll need to do it again.
the duct above is a 35 year old duct. This type are impossible to clean well as the inner part of the duct has a cloth like material.
This supply plenum was replaced recently. I don't know how recently, but you can clearly see the stuff that was growing in the ducts is making it's way toward the cool dark ac supply box.
Here's another picture of same plenum.
Nothing is cleaner, healthier than a new duct system.I service the Katy, Texas area.
Darrel Qualls thanked Austin Air CompanieRelated Discussions
duct system & airflow evaluation - payback
Comments (2)We can't tell you anything from here. Proper sized & sealed ductwork is a most important factor in allowing the system to operate efficiently! I would want a 'temp setpoint' 'adjustable temp differential' room TH with any AC or Heat Pump system. - udarrell Here is a link that might be useful: Correct Sizing of Residential Duct System & AC...See MoreDuct condensation after new system installed
Comments (4)not the foil bubble foil wrap! instead when you undertake this job in the crawlspace (not basement..crawlspace..right?) go armed with buckets of mastic and paint brushes to apply rolls of hardcast brand 1420 mastic tape R-8 ductwrap (fsk foil scrim kraft paper with fg insulation) fsk tape same material as ductwrap but tape fastner duct stapler & staples cordless drill & sheet metal screws duct strap switch unit to from fan on auto to on position to keep ducts dry so that materials will stick & dry. then when you finish the job..go back to auto fan setting. unwrap duct remove duct tape screw sections of duct to fittings 90 degree ells, supply boxes duct take offs to plenum mastic seal all joints & fittings mastic seal plenum connections to equipment use duct strap to support ducts. try to keep ducts 6" off ground. re-wrap with R-8 ductwrap staple seams with double row of staples use fsk tape on top of seams. staple tape. use duct wrap to externally insulate supply & return plenums. it will take several days, depending on size of house & amount of ducts. adding external insulation to supply plenum will solve condensation issues that arise from putting all this in humid crawlspace. take plastic to help you slide around in there and good lights to see to work by. foil bubble foil for ductwork is easy..but it doesn't work. best of luck....See Moreasbestos tape/duct problems require us to split system?
Comments (4)I did consider failing to mention asbestos a bad sign. I thought that they would either rip it out without any precautions or else the crew would show up to do the install & see the asbestos that the estimator didn't. Your situation may be different since the contractor previously acknowledged. I do think that the contractors who notify homeowners of problem and refuse to expose their workers (unless they are trained/licensed to handle asbestos, of course) are the responsible ones. I think we'll probably end up spending about $2200 to have it removed with full report & documentation of remediation. The state and county offices charged with regulation were very helpful to me on the issue, giving me the regs, names of testing labs, and saying which remediation companies had good track records....See MoreHow do I fix this undersize duct system?
Comments (7)Thanks. I can add additional return pretty easy just because of attic layout. an additional supply trunk is going to take some time/work to do right. The attic has plywood on top of the joists - so I'd have to run it on top of that across the space - which would be a pain, or pull up the plywood and put it underneath. I need to add more insulation and seal a bunch of things, so I can do that all at once. I put an aprilaire 2210 (20*25*3 filter I think) filter box on it. That causing any issues?...See More
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