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Does Air Duct Cleaning Make a Mess: What You Should Know

Eric Bullard • 5 January 2022

In comedy movie scenes, people who have their ducts cleaned out often receive a face full of dust. If you are thinking about cleaning your ducts yourself or hiring an air duct cleaning contractor, you might wonder, "does air duct cleaning make a mess?"

It is important to choose an experienced contractor, such as Steam Smart Pro, the leading AC duct cleaners in Tucson. These experts can reduce the amount of dust and debris kicked up during the cleaning process, taking steps to protect your walls, furniture, pets, and family.

Types of Ducts

There are two main types of ducts in typical HVAC installations: flexible ducts and rigid ducts. Most of the ductwork in your HVAC system will be rigid, but flexible ductwork connects parts of the HVAC system that rigid ductwork can’t easily reach.

Flexible Ducts

Flexible ductwork consists of a plastic material that is more vulnerable to breaking during the duct cleaning process. Older ductwork is particularly vulnerable because the plastic can degrade over time.

Rigid Ducts

Rigid ducts consist of sheet metal and are resistant to damage during duct cleaning. As with flexible ductwork, metal ducts may become damaged over the years due to corrosion or seasonal temperature changes.

A professional HVAC contractor should clean your ducts to avoid causing damage, particularly to older flexible ducts or ductwork that already has flaws or weak spots. Steam Smart Pro carefully inspects your HVAC system before starting work to prevent damage to your HVAC system during cleaning.

Do I Need to Clean the Air Ducts in My HVAC System?

In a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system, both furnace and air conditioning components provide centralized climate control. These systems use a network of ducts to carry heated or cooled air to the rooms of your home or business. Over time, stray dust from the furnace and air conditioning systems collects in the ducts and clogs the air filters.

If the ducts become clogged, you might notice the following signs that your HVAC system is not working as well as it should:

A reduction in air quality
Reduced efficiency in heating or cooling
Higher energy bills
More frequent heating and air conditioning repairs

If you experience any of these problems, or it has been more than three years since your last duct cleaning, call a qualified HVAC contractor. These professionals will vacuum the dust out of your ducts to improve airflow and help your HVAC system work more efficiently. If you’re in the Tucson, AZ, area, reach out to Steam Smart Pro.

Benefits of Duct Cleaning

Regular duct cleaning has many advantages, such as:

Improving indoor air quality
Extending the life of your HVAC system
Preventing the growth and spread of mold and other hazards
Reducing the risk of fire

Despite these clear advantages, duct cleaning can be messy if you’re unprepared. You might ask, "If I call Steam Smart Pro to handle the job, does air duct cleaning make a mess?"

We do our best to minimize the amount of dust that gets in the air during cleaning. However, the process will release some dust, particularly if it has been a while since your last cleaning, if your filters are clogged, or if your AC unit and furnace need repair. Our technicians will use protective measures to ensure the best possible outcome for you and your family. To minimize dust buildup during annual cleanings, take preventative measures throughout the year.

What Happens When I Get My Ducts Cleaned?

Maybe a better answer to the question, “does air duct cleaning make a mess?” is “Yes, but professional cleaners can reduce the mess.” Unless you have years of experience in cleaning ductwork, we do not recommend that you try to clean your ductwork yourself. If you make a mistake, you could release a lot more dust into the air than a professional would.

Unlike the comic scenes from the movies, professional duct cleaning does not involve blowing dust and dirt out of your duct system and into your rooms. Instead, professional HVAC contractors will use negative pressure, in other words, vacuuming, to pull dust and debris from the ducts. Cleaners work from the branch ducts inward toward the main line, further reducing the opportunity for dust to make it out of the system. The qualified technicians at Steam Smart Pro will diligently vacuum up the dust from your rooms after they are finished cleaning out the air duct system so that the air will be clean and safe by the time you return.

Preparing for Duct Cleaning

Even though professionals take steps to limit the dust, it can still damage equipment and get stuck in fabrics. Before the cleaners arrive, take active measures to protect your home and your family. Familiarize yourself with the preparations so that you are ready before they come. Waiting until the technicians arrive to prepare will delay the process.

It is ideal to move furniture, TVs, computers, and video game consoles out of the rooms that have HVAC vents in your home. If you can’t move an object, like a sofa or wall-mounted TV, cover it with plastic to prevent the dust from getting to it

Avoid the area while your ducts are being cleaned, and move pets elsewhere so that nobody in your family is exposed to the dust while the cleaners are working.

Professional Cleaning Services from Steam Smart Pro

Steam Smart Pro has the experience to clean HVAC systems and ductwork quickly, safely, and effectively. Will air duct cleaning make a mess with Steam Smart Pro? Not one that you need to worry about. You know how to prepare for a duct cleaning, and you know the importance of choosing a qualified HVAC contractor that you can trust.

Don’t wait for dirty ductwork to cause costly repairs or health issues for your family. Call Steam Smart Pro at 520-416-4308 to learn signs that you need AC duct cleaning by an air duct cleaning service and to schedule a service call.

Author Bio:

Eric Bullard

The owner of Steam Smart Pro in Tucson, AZ, brings over 20 years of invaluable experience in the field of carpet, tile, and air duct cleaning. With a strong dedication to quality and a deep understanding of effective cleaning techniques, Eric consistently delivers outstanding results to his satisfied residential and commercial clients.

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