Cómo saber si sus conductos están limpios (y mantenerlos limpios)

¿Te preguntas cómo saber si tus conductos están limpios? Bueno, hay una respuesta simple y una respuesta un poco más complicada. Aquí está el simple:

Tome una linterna y mire dentro de su conducto de retorno. Si ve una capa de suciedad, sus conductos están sucios.

Si estás pensando, "Está bien, eso suena un poco demasiado simple", ¡estás en lo cierto! Si bien es fácil confirmar visiblemente si sus conductos están sucios simplemente mirando dentro del retorno o mirando la rueda del ventilador, no solo desea saber si los conductos están sucios. Quiere saber si debes limpiarlos y cómo hacer que se mantengan limpios.

Y esa es otra conversación.

¿Por qué limpiar los conductos en primer lugar?

Antes de hablar sobre si debe limpiar sus conductos (y cómo), consideremos por qué podría querer hacerlo. En algunas casas, los conductos se mantienen bastante limpios por sí solos. Por lo general, estos son hogares con conductos bien diseñados, correctamente instalados y bien sellados y un sistema HVAC de tamaño adecuado y que funciona bien. Los propietarios utilizan un filtro de aire de calidad. Tampoco tienen mascotas o las limpian muy bien.

Si limpiara su dedo dentro de los conductos de retorno en una de estas casas, podría levantar una fina capa de polvo. Eso es normal y no es motivo para limpiar los conductos.

Sin embargo, la limpieza de los conductos de aire es necesario cuando sus conductos contienen cualquiera de los siguientes:

• Gruesas capas de polvo y/o escombros
• Caspa de mascotas
• Excrementos de insectos u otras plagas

Estos contaminantes pueden ingresar al aire interior en cualquier momento en que el sistema HVAC esté funcionando. Pueden agravar las alergias o el asma y hacer que se sienta enfermo. En muchos casos, también apestan.

Cuando pueda verificar que sus conductos están sucios, y que el aire de su hogar lo hace sentir mal, la limpieza de conductos puede ayudarlo. Aquí se explica cómo limpiarlos correctamente y asegurarse de que permanezcan limpios.

1. Haga que un profesional limpie sus conductos.

This isn't a DIY project. Properly cleaning your ducts requires specialized equipment that isn't readily available to consumers. Pros use truck-mounted or large portable vacuums with special extension attachments. They'll also run a HEPA filter during the cleaning process to prevent contaminants from entering your home after they've been stirred up by the equipment.

When you hire a duct cleaning company, make sure you choose one that:

• Owns and maintains specialized duct cleaning equipment
• Will also clean the blower motor and indoor coil when needed
• Replaces your air filter as part of the service
• Offers the option to inspect your ducts for leaks and seal the leaks after the cleaning

Note that duct cleaning is more effective for hard pipe ducts than for flex ducts. It's the difference between scrubbing a dirty plate and scrubbing a towel that's flapping in the breeze. It's just… harder. If you have flex ducts, they can still be cleaned; however, replacing them might be a better option since even the most effective duct cleaning equipment (and service provider) faces limitations.

2. Seal your ducts after cleaning them.

This factor, more than anything else, will help prevent your ducts from getting dirty again in the future. Not all duct cleaning companies seal ducts after cleaning them, but they should! He aquí por qué:

Duct leaks are often the cause of dirty ductwork.

Es realmente así de simple. When your return ducts are leaky, a lot of the air entering the ducts doesn't come from inside your home. It's being sucked in from your attic, crawlspace, or wherever your return ductwork runs.

Think about what's inside your attic air:dust, fiberglass bits, insect and rodent dross. And let's not forget crawlspaces:mold, mildew, more dust, more fiberglass bits, more insect and rodent dross. It's pretty gross.

When ducts are leaky, that stuff gets sucked inside your HVAC system, coats the inside of your ducts, and circulates throughout your indoor air. You breathe it in all the time. Cleaning your ducts will get rid of what's already there, but it won't prevent the leaks from making your ducts dirty again.

That's why we strongly recommend having your ducts sealed after you have them cleaned. Otherwise, you'll just have to clean them again and again. Yes, it's an additional service, but in the long run it's a cost effective, preventative measure.

Oh, and we know how to get your duct leakage down to 4%. If you know someone who can get it even lower, let us know.

3. Install a media filter.

Even with duct sealing, ducts can keep getting dirty. If you have kids or pets, they'll get dirty sooner. Ditto for homes where the return grilles are at the floor. For this reason, it's a good idea to get a high quality air filter. Even as more gunk starts to coat your ducts, less of it will get into your indoor air when you've got a good air filter to capture it.

Media filters are the way to go. Unlike the throwaway 1" filters you get at big box stores, these high-MERV filters barely restrict airflow and do a better job filtering air. They also only need to be replaced twice per year.

4. Consider replacing your ducts.

When your ducts are really old, poorly designed, and/or improperly installed, replacing them can make more sense than cleaning them. Paying for duct cleaning when your ducts are in poor shape is kind of like getting a new transmission for your 1995 Dodge Stratus. Sometimes, you just have to play taps and let it go.

When we install new ductwork, we do it right . You get a proper duct design for your home and HVAC system (we follow the ACCA's Manual D for ductwork design). Your ducts will be sized to suit, installed properly, and sealed as tightly as possible.

You'll benefit from clean, sealed ducts and better HVAC performance.

Speaking of HVAC performance, consider having your ducts replaced if you're already planning to replace your HVAC system. This can be a good way to get cleaner, better designed ducts at the same time.

Think you need duct cleaning?

Give us a shout! Our team serves all of Metro Atlanta. We'll visit your home, listen to your concerns, and examine your ductwork. Sometimes, duct cleaning makes sense and is likely to solve your problems. But not always.

We'll find the best possible solution, whatever that is. Our team always works with you to determine the smartest fix for your indoor air quality issues.