Pneumatic devices such as blowguns, air patterns, and pneumatic whips are often used by air duct cleaning professionals to drive agitated waste to the collection device. These compressed air tools help them shed persistent debris that is trapped in air ducts. A vacuum collection device alone will not clean an air conditioning system. Cleaning air conditioning systems requires the use of methods and tools designed to agitate the debris attached to the surfaces of the system, together with the use of vacuum collection devices.
Brushes, compressed air whips and “pattern balls” are some of the basic cleaning tools. While you can clean the vents on your own, using a simple brush and a household vacuum, this is not recommended. Doing it wrong will cause pollutants and waste to reach your home from air ducts, instead of removing them with professional methods. Specialized equipment and techniques are needed to clean dirty air ducts.
The process begins with a thorough inspection of the ducts and vents to identify any areas that need to be cleaned. Once problem areas have been identified, the technician will remove dust, dirt, and debris from dirty ducts. Compressed air whips, blowguns and air collectors are often used inside ducts, which allow more aggressive cleaning techniques to be used. The methods used by accredited contractors are called fountain disposal techniques, according to the NADCA, and consist of cleaning the ducts by hand and with compressed air tools, while a suction device removes dust and detached debris. In addition, air duct cleaners probably have at least one inspection tool, from a simple mirror to a periscope to the CCTV camera system with flexible cables to reach hard-to-reach parts of the air duct system.
They vacuum through the duct system to vacuum up all dust and debris, including debris that was previously released with brushes and compressed air tools. Air compressors provide an air source for pneumatically operated brushes and other cleaning devices that require considerable air pressure to function properly. Second, professional duct cleaning is an opportunity for the technician to check the ducts for leaks or kinks in the case of flexible ducts. To maintain your air conditioning system and improve your home's air quality, you should clean your air ducts every three to five years. Manual brushes and pneumatic agitation and cleaning devices are also basic elements in the professional duct cleaning process. To ensure thorough cleaning of the entire duct system, it's best to hire a nearby air duct cleaning professional who has the right tools to get the job done. While they don't need to be cleaned, the National Association of Air Duct Cleaners highly recommends it.
Cleaning the air ducts means cleaning the entire duct system, including the supply, inlet and return grilles, with professional air duct cleaning equipment. Duct cleaning contractors use large, portable, or truck-mounted vacuums to suck dust and debris out of ducts.
