Cleaning HVAC Ducts

 

EUGENE: I have a furnace that has been sitting for a while and duct work and the duct work is kind of dirty inside. I would like to know is there a way I can clean it myself.

TOM: Well, duct cleaning requires some specialized tools to get deep inside the duct work and clean it. A better option for you may be to skip the ductwork cleaning and, when you’re ready, have an electronic air cleaner installed into the HVAC system. This is going to give you a very, very efficient filtering system that will stop the ducts from getting dirtier and it will also collect any dust that’s in there now that’s blowing around. You’ll find that if you put a good-quality electronic air cleaner in there you’re going to breathe a lot easier in the house.

EUGENE: OK.

TOM: What kind of filter do you have right now, Eugene?

EUGENE: It’s a medium.

TOM: One of those fiberglass filters?

EUGENE: Yes.

TOM: We call those pebble stops because that’s about all that they’ll stop.

EUGENE: Mm-hmm.

TOM: You need a much more efficient filter system if you want to get rid of that dust.

EUGENE: Uh-huh.

TOM: Let me recommend a website; Aprilaire.com. There’s a unit there that – I think it’s called the Model 5000 Electronic Air Cleaner – and that’s the one I put in my house and it made a big difference for us.

EUGENE: Alright, thank you very much.

TOM: You’re welcome, Eugene. Thanks so much for calling us at 888-MONEY-PIT.