| HVAC system cleaning, also known as air duct | | | | draw that the motor would naturally operate hotter |
| cleaning, may provide many benefits to the building | | | | and hence would burn out sooner as a result. Very |
| occupants if the service is performed thoroughly and | | | | often it is cheaper for the homeowner to pay for a |
| effectively by an ACCA member company using the | | | | whole house air duct cleaning than it is to pay for a |
| most powerful air duct cleaning machinery in the | | | | new blower motor. Getting a longer life expectancy |
| industry. The machinery will allow the company to | | | | out of an expensive blower motor is a good idea. Did |
| perform the power vacuum air wash method of air | | | | the blower motor come equipped with a built in dirt |
| duct cleaning, which virtually has nearly no limitations | | | | manufacturing plant? We didn't think so either. More |
| in cleaning capabilities to effectively remove all | | | | than likely the dirt traveled through the ventilation |
| contamination in an air duct system. Companies that | | | | system and over time a build up occurred to make |
| use shop vac type machinery or carpet cleaning | | | | the blower motor dirty. |
| attachments will not yield any benefit to the service, | | | | * You may experience less dust accumulation |
| because very often shop vac type machinery is very | | | | throughout your home as a result to having this |
| limited in allowing a technician to remove all | | | | service performed. (For example, different micron |
| contamination from the air ducts. I have listed and | | | | (sized matter) has varying weights due to the |
| explained the benefits that an occupant might | | | | composition of the matter and its respective micron |
| experience after having the air ducts cleaned | | | | size. Some matter will not move in the air stream |
| thoroughly and effectively from the power vacuum | | | | because it is too heavy to move and the CFM of the |
| air wash method in air duct cleaning. | | | | airflow will not effect that matter, whereas finer |
| * Increased Efficiency=Lower Energy Costs. | | | | micron matter that infiltrated through the furnace |
| (For example, a clogged evaporator coil causes air | | | | filter (remember furnace filters capture a percentage |
| conditioners to run 20% less efficiently on average | | | | of airborne contamination which is not 100% and to a |
| versus a clean evaporator coil according to ASHRAE. | | | | rated micron size) will continue to blow out of the |
| Did this dirt just magically appear, or did the furnace | | | | ductwork and be drawn back in by the return air |
| apparently pull this dirt through the filter and over | | | | vents, which are air intakes. Overtime a buildup |
| time an inevitable build up occurred inside of the air | | | | occurs and when the build up becomes a significant |
| ducts? More than likely furnace filters are rated to | | | | amount, the ventilation system which of coarse is a |
| catch a percentage of contamination to a particular | | | | circulatory system will begin to discharge fine micron |
| micron size and the remaining percentage of | | | | matter to a higher level versus if 99 % of this |
| contamination is blown to the inside of the | | | | matter was source removed by an occasional air |
| evaporator coil by the furnace blower. This would | | | | duct cleaning. Would you never clean your bedspread |
| make it conclusive that dirt does in fact move around | | | | sheets because you were aware of the fact that |
| in a forced air ventilation system. If dirt did not move | | | | the bedspread sheets could get dirty again over |
| around in a ventilation system, then there would be | | | | time? Certainly not, that is disgusting and is not very |
| no need to maintain a furnace filter. Most, if not all | | | | good hygiene to maintain. So occasionally cleaning out |
| professionally licensed HVAC companies and or | | | | the ventilation system would be a good idea, but if |
| contractors will always recommend that you maintain | | | | done properly would certainly not need to be |
| a furnace filter, which is in place to capture circulating | | | | performed every year if it was performed by a |
| dirt, dust or debris). It also has conclusively been | | | | superior power vacuum air sweep method in air duct |
| proven true that potential harmful molds and bacteria | | | | cleaning, which will effectively remove 99% of |
| can grow on an evaporator coil see the Center for | | | | ventilation contamination build up and sometimes |
| Disease Control's informative pdf at their website to | | | | greater amount depending on the composition of the |
| learn more. Clean HVAC components will operate to | | | | matter and if it was heated on overtime or removed |
| peak performance and efficiency versus dirty HVAC | | | | right away after construction. |
| components and parts. | | | | * Breathe healthier air! A term called sick building |
| * Obstructions removed in a ventilation system in all | | | | illness is an actual medical fact. It is not often that |
| instances if the debris is present, will result in | | | | this situation occurs, but has been recorded to occur |
| increased airflow. (For example when an HVAC | | | | at various places and times. The most well known |
| professional sizes your air duct system certain rounds | | | | incident happened back in 1976 when an American |
| are rated to produce a certain amount of CFM of | | | | Legion meeting occurred in a building in Philadelphia. |
| airflow. These CFM measurements can change based | | | | This incident in fact created the term Legionella |
| on allot of different factors such as trunk line | | | | derived from Legion in American Legion. Legionella |
| dimensions, supply pipe length distances, the number | | | | which is a bacteria, created by moisture, trace |
| of elbows present and the diameter of the supply | | | | nutrients (dirt) and the correct temperature had |
| pipe. Hypothetically lets just say a 6" diameter supply | | | | grown in an air conditioning system and resulted in |
| round was built to achieve a rating of 118 CFM of | | | | the worst Legionnaire outbreak in world history. This |
| airflow and hypothetically lets just say a 3" diameter | | | | bacteria, was delivered by forced air through the |
| beer can was present in the round left over from | | | | ventilation system and by early August (1976) news |
| construction. Do you think that a 3" diameter of | | | | organizations across the country were reporting that |
| remaining diameter would allow 118 CFM of airflow | | | | 6-14 of the men in Pennsylvania had died. Visit the |
| still? We didn't think so either. That beer can in fact, | | | | New York Times website and search for 1976 |
| reduces the amount of CFM the supply pipe is able | | | | Legionella outbreak to learn more. Did the legionella |
| to blow out and it is a good idea to remove | | | | grow wings and aim at a specific target on its own |
| obstructions out of the ventilation system so that | | | | accord? We didn't think so either. The legionella was |
| your supply vents blow the way they were designed | | | | delivered by forced air created by an air handler |
| to. | | | | blower and was delivered through the air ducts. This |
| * Save money on costly equipment repair. (For | | | | unfortunate incident could have been avoided if the |
| example, filthy blower motors operate at higher amp | | | | HVAC system was occasionally cleaned out. Every |
| draws causing the blower motor to consume more | | | | Federal building occasionally has an HVAC system |
| energy and to operate harder than the motor would | | | | cleaned out throughout America. Is there something |
| have operated if the motor was maintained clean. It | | | | that the Federal government is aware of that the |
| would be logical to understand that if a blower motor | | | | average citizen is not aware of? |
| operates at a higher amp draw versus a lower amp | | | | |