Air ducts are some of the most overlooked areas of a home or business. In a nutshell, air ducts refer to the system of passages that supply a home, office, or industrial space with temperature-controlled air and ventilation. Over time, ducts can become contaminated with dust, dirt, pet dander, construction debris, allergens, smoke soot and microbial growth. These are then forced into the  indoor air supply by the HVAC air conditioning system, creating poor indoor air quality issues. Air duct cleaning improves central air system efficiency and longevity of its components.

Allegery and respiratory symptoms may also be alleviated with air duct cleaning. Because ducts are often the source and pathway for dust and biological contaminants, clean air ducts mean significantly improve a home’s air quality.

According to the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA), homeowners should have their air ducts cleaned every three to five years, but the timing is highly dependent on the region in which they live, how frequently they use their HVAC system, and whether they have family members with respiratory problems. In the latter case, you may want to invest in more frequent air duct cleaning.

Air duct cleaning costs vary depending on several factors. These range from size of the home, to accessibility of air ducts, to the number of heating and cooling unit or zones being cleaned. On average home owners can expect to pay between  $500-$1,000 for a home with 1 heating or cooling unit or zone under normal circumstances to perform a thorough and proper cleaning.  Special considerations such as problems with fire, floods, heavy odors, or mold can bring the cost of cleaning and remediation higher than the national average cost bracket.

Generally air duct cleaning will take between 3-4 hours to complete on a residential one unit/ one zone home. Units located in attics or crawl spaces, as well as homes with additional zones or units, will take a longer amount of time for completion.

Even the smallest of air duct systems will take our company over two hours, to properly setup and breakdown our cleaning systems and perform the duct cleaning.

Air duct cleaning has many benefits and is a necessary home or work place maintenance item.

No one wants to breathe air that is un-clean or unsafe. Some of the reasons why you may want to have your air ducts and entire central air system cleaned are listed here;

*removes dirt and debris 

*increases air flow to its full potential

*reduces strain and break downs of central air
  system components 

*saves money on energy costs

*helps alleviate allergies

*removes fine dust reducing dust issues 

*helps those with respiratory issues

*removes odors due to smoke or fire

*removes mold and microbiological growth

New construction needs air duct cleaning too

Many owners believe that because the home or work space is new, air duct cleaning is not neccessary. This is actually the time when air ducts should be cleaned. The construction of a new home or building is a dirty situation in the early stages, and the air ducts and central air systems are laid out early in the construction process. Lots of dust from cutting and sanding of materials while the heat or ac is running for circulation. Scraps of wood, drywall, sheet rock, insulation, ect can and do end up in the air ducts. We have even seen cases where we believe debris was intentionally swept into the air ducts during the construction clean-up phase. It is best to remove this material from the ducts as soon as possible, to prevent further contamination or dust problems in the living or work spaces.

Unpleasant odors are a reason we hear often from clients wantig the air ducts cleaned. Smells of tabaco, pets, smoke, mildew, and odors of dead rodents are the common issues. The central air ducts pull air from the living space, pull it to the furnace, and the cooled or heated air comes back out of the vents. Full cycles of the homes indoor air happen 8-12 times per day. As this happens smells are pulled through the ducts and the enitre air duct system and back out into the living space. The only true way to remove odor damage from central air systems is cleaning, or full replacement of the ducts. When cleaning, the entire air duct system should be treated and decontaminated. The air handling unit should also be cleaned and decontaminated. 

Air ducts should always be cleaned, decontaminated, and encapsulated after damage caused by fire, water, and mold.

When considering your home remodeling project, air duct cleaning should be in the home improvement plans. Do not however clean them too soon. Only clean the air ducts after the demolition phase, after the cutting and laying of new floors or drywall, and after all sanding has been completed. Central air systems will easily pull any airborne dirt and dust which can lead to re-contamination of the cleaned air ducts. Air ducts should be serviced in the final clean up phase of a remodeling project.

Our technicians strive to make a mess and trouble free experience for our clients. Air ducts are placed under negative pressure with our power vacuum system, to ensure no dust escapes during the cleaning. In the event that debris makes it outside the vent, our team will detail all work areas after completion to ensure no mess is left behind.

The covers are generally removed for the cleaning. Covers that are sealed on, have multiple layers of paint over them, or run the chance of stripped or shifting housings when removed will stay in place. Our technicans are equiped with special tooling for these situations, to ensure an appropriate cleaning is performed with the covers in place.

Truck mounted gas powered equipment runs the pnuematic dislodger tools and high pressure air sweeps. Lines are ran from the duct truck, into the home or workplace which run the dislodgers and high pressure air sweep systems. Dislodgers create a brushing action, loosening debris from the ducts while also using 185 psi of compressed air pressure to push loosened dirt, debris, and material to the negative pressure vacuum source, while keeping flexible and fiber ducts safe from damage.

We do not use rotating brush systems connected to a vacuum hose or a brush with spinning spine to power the brush head as other companies do. These systems at best do a poor job of cleaning, and at worst can create major damage to air ducts. Spinning splines can catch on to flexible duct bends while spinning at very high speeds, and completely tear the duct to shreds while clearing a bend. Brush heads on a vacuum hose cannot clear bends frequently found in air ducts. Also the areas that are brushed will rely on a 2 inch hose connected to the equivalent of a shop vac to create the necessary vacuum to clean an air duct system. This is simply impossible and lots of material is left behind using these methods compared to using a high power vacuum negative pressure system.

Air ducts are sealed systems. For first time cleanings aceess points will have to be drilled into the main trunk lines. The purpose served is to create an opening, where the air ducts can be placed under vacuum and the aggitation devices sent through the duct. Once the service is completed, all access points are resealed air tight using new material to create the seal. Next time your air ducts are cleaned, the access points are ready to use again.

Specialty Air Ducts services are backed by our workmanship guarentee. This means that if within 3 months of having services completed, if any part of our cleaning process was not up to your expectations, a technician will be back to your home to rectify the issue. No service call fee, no hassle. We stand behind our clients and the quality of workmanship provided. Very rarely is our guarantee needed. It is however, good to know that if you are investing in our services, we stand behind our work. 

The timing of changing your air filters varies as with filter size, rating, and conditions of usage. A general rule of thumb for residential settings is that, a 1" filter should last one to three months of service. 4" filters should last between four and six months of service before needing replacement. Conditions such as high outdoor dust and pollution, pets, number of inhabitants in the home, and how clean the air ducts are, will all play a role in air filter lifespan expectance. 

All vent and return covers are removed (when possible without damage).The ducts are placed under negative pressure/ constant vacuum pull with our power vacuum systems, to remove contaminants and prevent dust blowing back into the home . Air sweep lines and pnuematic dislogers agitate dirt and debris off of the duct walls and into the negative pressure system. Air ducts may be sprayed with a safe, epa approved sanitizer to eliminate any leftover allergens or bacteria. Removed vent and return covers are hand brushed, vacuumed, and reinstalled. Work areas are detailed after the work is completed to ensure a mess free experience for our clients.

Yes the sanitizer we spray into air ducts is safe. It performs a wet disenfecting of the air ducts eliminating  any bacteria or allergens left over after a dry cleaning. Best of all when dried, it breaks down to nothing more than the equivalant of simple table salt, ensuring no issues with those suffering with respiratory problems.

Air duct cleaning can provide savings in the form of system efficiency.  Clean ducts and air handlers/ furnaces means the system does not need to work as hard to heat or cool a home or workplace. Restoring essential components to like new condition, means the system as a whole  will use less energy to complete its functions. EPA research has shown, dirt in blower motor, coilc, and air ducts can lower efficiency by up to 21 percent, and lower airflows by up to 40 percent.

We specialize in

*air duct cleaning

*air handler/furnace unit cleaning

*dryer vent & bathroom exhaust cleaning

*chimney sweeps

*air purification systems

Our services are centered around indoor air quality, related mostly to central air and ventilation systems. We do not cross into different service categories as some companies do. Some offer duct cleaning among, carpet cleaning, floor care, pressure washing, or janitorial work. Often times these companies do not have the proper equipment or experience to provide excellent results. Our focus on air duct cleaning, assures our clients are left with the best results for the money invested.

This is  a question we get often, as our clients are curious as to what is typically in the air ducts to be cleaned. We have found many things in air ducts over the years and here is usually what we find;

* Drywall 

* Sheet rock

* Drywall pieces and dust

* Wood dust and shavings

* Carpet and padding material

* Rodents and droppings

* Bugs and dust mites

* Mold and bacteria

We have even found the carcass of bats, squirrels, and large spiders in the ducts!

Effective professional air duct cleaning invloves professional equipment and proper tactics and training to complete. We do not recommend a home owner clean their own air ducts. Improper cleaning will produce unsatisfactory results and can make the indoor air quality worse than just leaving the ducts alone. Home owners can however brush and vacuum the duct covers effectively. Air filter changes can also be completed easily.

Below are a few tips, which will help you make an
informed decision when choosing an air duct cleaning provider.

* Is the company you are considering hiring?*

-Insured with at least $500,000 in coverage per incident?

-Licenesed home improvement contractor in Pennsylvania?

-Using subcontractors, or in house employees?

-Specialize in air duct cleaning and not crossing multiple services.

-Providing service with trained, uniformed, and background checked Technicians?

-Invested in well identified service trucks?

-Using adequate equipment capable of effectively cleaning air ducts? 

-Following proper procedures outlined by the N.A.D.C.A

-They will use procedures to protect you, your pets, and your home from contamination?

-Provide a workmanship guarantee?

-As upfront as possible with with the final cost of the service to be performed?

Finally take sometime and check the reviews of the 

company you are planning to hire for your project.

Air duct cleaning can be confusing for clients, and especially so, for those who haven't done this before. Below is an example of what can be expected from the low cost advertisements.

The national average cost of air duct cleaning ranges from $500-$1,000 per heating cooling system or zone. If you look in your mailbox, you may have seen fliers, coupons, or groupons for air duct cleaning. These offer "whole house" air duct cleaning for between $99-$250. Sweet deal isn't it? 50-90 percent off the national average cost, a real win! Well, lets take a look at the possible downsides consumers face with these "deals" on duct cleaning.

As consumers our schedules are very busy. A home improvement project, even of a few hours, requires some coordination and scheduling around family or work schedules ect. The service company arrives for the low cost cleaning, they set up equipment, take things apart, and may even start the cleaning, only to show up to discuss the "problems" that have been found. It is then that you will hear  (in many instances for the first time)about the extra costs not covered by the coupon , or how your home has more to clean than expected, ect, and that the coupon price can not stand. They will explain that the add ons are very necessary and may use scare tactics about your families health. Now you are forced to think. "Well they are already here and I already moved around my schedule", or "I don't have time to get on another companys schedule". So now the discount cleaning is not a discount at all, and you are forced to roll the dice on a company who couldnt even be up front with pricing, but will they be upfront with the quality of work? 

Most of the time these companies

- Do not have a professional and logoed work 

truck. 

- Personnel are not background checked and uniformed 

-Their equipment is inadequate of completing the required job properly and most use the equivalent of a shop vac with a brush on the end of a hose. 

-The technicians are improperly trained and not following N.A.D.C.A. cleaning standards.

-They are not licensed or insured.

-Their work has no guarantee 

-They are in a big rush to get out of the home.

-Provide unsatisfactory customer experience

-Use low prices below the national average to get in the door, but end up costing the same or more than a professional company with upfront pricing.

We understanding that contractors can not always have the exact cost for each situation as they can all be different. However, we believe companies should be, as transparent as possible with costs and should not knowingly use deceptive marketing tactics to gain clients. This puts the consumer on a high paced roller coaster with a lot of unknowns, which many would choose to opt out of, had they known earlier. Any additional costs should be discussed before the cleaning is started so the consumer has a chance to decide how to proceed, and should not involve scare tactics.

A good way consumers can see if their ducts were cleaned properly, is a visual inspection of the ducts after the cleaning service has been completed. Using a flashlight, there should be no visible dirt or debris in the ducts. Inspect the vents, returns, blower compartment and, behind your air filter to ensure no debris is visible.

Specialty Air Ducts is and has always been a registered home improvement contractor in good standing. H.I.C. registration PA104431

Yes, our company caries policies of $500,000 in coverage which are up to date/ in good standing. This assures that our clients are covered if ever the  need where to arrise.

Furnace or air handler units are responsible for heating, cooling, and distributing the air throughout a central air system. Over time, dirt and dust that make it past the air filter accumulate in the air handlers blower fan and evaporator coils. This reduces the efficiency of the system causing increased energy usage, lower airflow output, and increasing wear on the furnace or air handlers vital components. 

The air handlers' blower motor, evaporator coil, and housings should be cleaned between 1-2 years to maintain maximum effeciency, airflow output, energy savings, and improve indoor air quality. 

The components we clean on an air handler or furnace unit are the blower wheel, evaporator coil, and housings. The cleanings run $125 for a blower fan and $150 for an evaporator with an air duct cleaning.

The a/c coil located outside does need cleaning as well. As with the indoor evaporator coil, they can become clogged and become restricted. This can cause less than ideal cooling, increase load on the condensor unit, and increase energy consumption. Outdoor a/c coils should be cleaned between 1-2 years for peak efficiency. Our cost for cleaning is $150 with air duct cleaning.

The dryer exhaust duct is placed under negative pressure. Next air sweep and dislogers are strategically sent through the entire dryer vent run to agitate, loosen, and remove all lint and blockages. Dryer vent is reconnected and work areas are detailed to leave a mess free finish for our customers. Dryer vent function test and airflow testing, are the final steps performed to ensure trouble free operation until our next visit.

Dryer vents should be cleaned yearly to ensure proper function and eliminate safety hazards as well as reduced wear on dryer components.

Clogged dryer vents can cause many problems. There is the hazard of starting a fire due blockages from excess lint or even birds nest causing an exhaust airlfow bottleneck. Aside from fires, backed up dryer vents also cause poor dryer performance, taking multiple cycles to dry a load of laundry. Premature equipment failure is also common as a poor flowing dryer vent puts unnecessary strain on the clothes dryer and its delicate components.

The cost of dryer vent cleaning may vary greatly depending on some key factors. Bends and length, accessibility to the duct, and amount of build-up all play a role in the actual cost of cleaning. Home owners can expect to pay $199-$299 for the average dryer exhaust running 25 ft. or less from the dryer to the outside of the home. Scenerios which involve accessing the attic or a crawl space for cleaning, runs 25 ft. or greater, involve an inline booster fan, or birds nest removal may bring the cost higher. Exact cost will be determined through a consultation with a Specialty Air Ducts professional, who will take the complete scope of work to be performed into consideration.