If you are considering an air duct clean, it can be difficult to find much helpful information online. Much of the publicly available data is inaccurate or simply fraudulent. The purpose of this post is to boil the process and options down to the basics and explain what a properly performed air duct clean can and cannot do in the Dallas, Fort Worth, Keller, Southlake Texas area.
Since much of the residential ductwork in our area is “flex duct,” the type of clean is critical. Flex duct is basically a giant, insulated “slinky” that is much more susceptible to damage than rigid steel duct work. There are basically TWO types of duct cleaning systems. The most inexpensive would be the simple “rotating brush” system often employed by companies new to the market. They simply consist of a rotating brush and some sort of vacuum. They are easy to operate and inexpensive to purchase BUT they risk damage to more delicate flex duct. At a cost of 5 to 10 times the cost of a rotating brush system is a Negative Air System. Negative Air systems require large air compressors to power air whips, large HEPA filtered negative air machines for the vacuum source and a variety of accessories to perform the clean. The result is a much deeper, thorough clean with virtually no risk of damage. While we carry both systems, Negative Air cleaning is Ripley Services’ preferred method of cleaning. Many companies simply don’t have the volume of business or budget to justify the cost a Negative Air System.
NEGATIVE AIR CLEANING PROS AND CONS:
Pros
- A deeper and more thorough cleaning due to the reduced weight of equipment entering duct work, superior atomization of airborne particulate over brushes which results in better collection of contaminates by powerful HEPA filtered vacuum systems.
- Much safer than a rotating brush that contacts duct walls risking damage particularly when encountering foreign bodies.
- The ability to perform a minimally invasive clean WITHOUT cutting into your duct work or air handler or even removing air duct registers. Many custom homes have caulked and custom painted registers to hide them. Removing these registers results in possible touchups and repairs that Ripley Services can avoid with a special micro-line that allows us to enter duct work through vent louvers without risk of damage or removal.
Cons
- The equipment required to perform a proper Negative Air clean is easily 5 to 10 times the cost of a rotating brush system. (However, Ripley Services is fully invested in the process and able to provide the service competitively priced with inferior rotating brush cleans.)
- There is a lack of public data for consumers to make an educated decision. As a result they are often pushed towards whatever system the vendor has. We have both and virtually always prefer negative air.
- The cleaning process is more complex and therefore requires more training and skilled technicians.
ROTATING BRUSH AKA CONTACT CLEANING PROS AND CONS:
Pros
- The ability to aggressively clean heavily contaminated rigid steel duct work. (Not common in residential properties in our area).
- Extremely low barriers to entry and up front equipment costs.
- Relatively simple process to train employees.
- The idea of a rotating brush sounds logical to most consumers.
Cons
- Risk of damage to the more delicate ductwork that is common in our area.
- Less thorough clean due to varying duct sizes, twists and turns and inability for brush systems to adapt effectively.
- The weight of the brush and vacuum system often sags flex duct failing to penetrate deeper in to duct system or navigate twists and turns.
- Inability to get contaminates as airborne for proper collection compared to compressed air agitation.
- High cost of properly sized brushes often results in using worn or inadequate equipment.
After selecting the TYPE of cleaning you prefer, it’s important to choose the correct company. Focus on companies with a review history for YOUR TYPE OF CLEAN IN YOUR LOCAL MARKET. It doesn’t really matter if I’m a 5 star carpet cleaner or a great Air Duct Cleaner Florida if you want an Air Duct Clean in Texas.
Call Ripley Services today to discuss your needs and our options.
