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The
"Dirt" on Air Duct Cleaning
There are two different main types of vacuum collection
devices:
- Those mounted
on trucks and trailers that exhaust outside your home or
office and are the most expensive and powerful equipment
(16,000 CFM) that is available. This equipment is utilized
by the most experienced and dedicated in the industry. The
vacuum is constant, never fluctuates, there are no filters
that will plug during cleaning and this equipment utilizes
it's own power source and not the customer's electricity.
The dirt and dust is removed immediately to the vacuum
source outdoors. This is the type of equipment that is
utilized by Diversified Mechanical Maintenance. We have
cleaned thousands of jobs without any damage to the duct
work.
- Portable
units, which exhaust indoors. These units (having between
1,800 to 4,000 CFM prior to the HEPA filter) are required to
contain a collection device which is HEPA (high efficiency
particulate arrestance) filtered. These filters have a
tendency to plug, and uneducated operators have been known
to remove these filters to increase vacuum, against it's
design. In addition, these units use the customer's
electricity and collect the dirt and dust in your home.
Companies with portable units market their service with the
ability to show the dirt they have removed. This does not
make any difference; it does not justify the quality of the
job performed, as frequently not all the dirt has been
removed.
- The rotobrush
system. After personally purchasing and using this method, I
have found it to be an ineffective and inefficient method of
debris removal. I sold it after two months of attempting to
make it work effectively. Also, attachments for carpet
cleaning devices are a very good way to stir up the dust and
dirt.
Watch Out
For:
Consumers should be aware of the "blow and go" air
duct cleaning companies. These companies charge a nominal fee
and do a poor job of cleaning the HVAC system. These companies
may also persuade the customer into unneeded services, such as
carpet cleaning, house cleaning, window washing and equipment
replacement. Many of these companies only consider air duct
cleaning as supplemental income and do not perform the service
correctly. We have followed up on many of these types of
companies and have had to redo their work.
The average time for cleaning all the duct work, furnace, attic
trunk lines, blowers, plenums and coil for an approximate 1,500
square foot residence by two trained professionals, is between
three to four hours using the type of equipment that Diversified
Mechanical Maintenance operates. With portable equipment, the
job will take longer if performed correctly. We have heard that
lesser companies can clean both the duct work and the carpets in
one and one half hours. This is not possible. Be careful! Lack
of integrity in this industry can exacerbate your indoor air
quality problem.
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