The Ways to Clean the Furnace Ducts

Kateryna
by Kateryna
2 Materials
$5
Medium
Furnace duct cleaning is one step in properly maintaining the components of your furnace system in order to protect them from debris particles such as dust and pollen. Having furnace ducts cleaned is very important if they are infested with vermin or if substantial mold growth is visible inside hard surface ducts. When having your ducts professionally cleaned, make sure that your Furnace Cleaning service provider cleans the entire system because leaving a component can re-contaminate the entire system. A duct cleaning can vary from $ 200 to $ 1,000, depending on the system.
Industrial vacuuming


One way of cleaning furnace ducts is the use of a large vacuum. A first-time service provider often uses specialized tools to loosen dirt and other debris in the conduits. The supplier then vacuums the debris with a high-powered vacuum cleaner. Both portable industrial vacuum cleaners and vacuum cleaners mounted on trucks are available for this purpose. Service providers sometimes use brushes or compressed air sprays with their portable industrial vacuum cleaners. In addition, some service providers actually use the metal balls that are agitated until the air is sucked by the vacuum unit in the truck when vacuum systems mounted on trucks are used.


Biocides


The application of chemical biocides to furnace ducts is another option that some service providers use to clean the ducts. These biocides kill microbiological contaminants. The service provider applies the chemical inside the pipe network and other system components. The practice of biocide application has not yet been fully investigated with respect to its efficacy.


Sealers


The service providers hired to clean the furnace ducts, in addition, can be used chemical treatments like sealants or other encapsulants to cover or encapsulate the inside of the air ducts and the casings of the equipment. The intention of this method is to control mold growth or to suppress the dirt particles or release of fibers from the ducts. The use of sealants and encapsulants is another practice that needs further investigation.


Cleaning by hand


You can also choose to perform a furnace duct cleaning on your own. Get a cleaning brush, a paper towel or cloth and a vacuum cleaner at home. Remove the air return grille plates and air duct covers, and use a brush or rag to wipe all dirt from the interior walls. Avoid using your vacuum at this point because the suction force could damage the walls. Next, use the hose of the vacuum cleaner and reach a few feet in the ducts to clean the dirt and debris present. Put the plates on the grill and the air duct covers the back of the vacuum cleaner.
Suggested materials:
  • Industrial vacuum cleaners
  • Chemical biocides
Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
Comments
Join the conversation
Next