Air Duct Cleaning in 7 Steps

Watch this video with over 20 million views on YouTube!

Maybe you’ve heard that dirty air ducts contribute to poor indoor air quality. But do you really need to hire an air duct cleaning service? What do air duct cleaners even do? In this article, we’ll walk you through a "step-by-step guide" of the process for residential air duct cleaning. We’ll explain why it’s necessary.

If you’re in Colorado, you can always rely on Air Duct Specialists for a 5-star cleaning experience. We hire the most experienced technicians and use only the highest-quality equipment to service your home with care. We guarantee all our work is bonded and insured, and we’re certified with the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA).

Here is how air ducts are cleaned and why homeowners need this service in Colorado.

How an Air Duct Cleaning Service Improves Air Quality

The short explanation: air ducts get dirty! You wouldn't ignore cleaning your kitchen and bathroom for months or years, so why ignore dirty air ducts? Your HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system should be cleaned just like any other area of your home.

There are some visible indicators that you need an air duct cleaning, but other times it's simply a matter of routine maintenance and making sure you have healthy indoor air quality.

Consequences of Dirty Air Ducts

Air ducts can be easy to ignore since you can’t see them, but don't leave them neglected! Your home's air ducts are its “lungs," and a main component of your heating and cooling system. Dusty air ducts and HVAC systems can contaminate the air you breathe, leading to allergies, musty smells, and just not feeling very fresh.

In beautiful but dry Colorado, dust happens fast — so even if you can't see any dirt, it might be time to get your air ducts cleaned. In fact, the National Air Duct Cleaners Association recommends getting your air ducts inspected at least once a year, even if you don’t notice any signs that your air ducts might need cleaning.

A thorough service by experienced air duct cleaners can improve the indoor air quality throughout your living space, making both your home’s lungs and your lungs feel like new.

Visible Causes of Dirty Air Ducts

A few obvious things alert you to dirty air ducts without even needing to see inside your HVAC system:

Have you seen debris floating through the air from the vent register? That's the dirt and dust in your air ducts making their way into your house. As a general rule: The dirtier your air duct surfaces - the lower your indoor air quality.
Do you hear scuttling in your walls and vents, or see pests like mice or bugs? They can live in your air ducts and contribute to dust and other debris, poor air quality, and a higher risk of illness and allergies.
The most dangerous indicator of dirty air ducts is mold. If you see mold on any surface of your heating and cooling system, you should schedule an air duct cleaning right away. There are numerous health problems attributed to indoor mold.

What to Expect with Air Duct Cleaning Services

If this is your first appointment with air duct cleaners or if it’s just been a while, you probably have some questions about the residential air duct cleaning process. We know you have a choice when it comes to air duct cleaning companies, and our experts at Air Duct Specialists take pride in servicing the communities in which they live.

Our goal is to become your go-to air duct cleaning service, provide the most thorough and professional cleaning in Colorado, and ensure the experience is inconspicuous for you. Here’s how we make the process stress-free.

Step 1: Introduction to Our Duct Cleaning Services

You contact us for an appointment and our fast and flexible scheduling will get you an appointment with little to no wait time. We also offer no-pressure quotes for our air duct cleaning and other services over the phone, based on your square footage. We pride ourselves on helpfulness, and our expert technicians are always happy to answer your questions along the way.

Step 2: Air Duct and HVAC Assessment

Our highly trained and experienced air duct technician will come to your home, business, or any location you need to do an assessment. At this point, they’ll install openings on your HVAC system and air ducts, and cover up any supply and return air vents. Don’t worry — our courteous techs will wear protectives shoe covers to make sure that your floors are protected.

Step 3: Air Duct Preparation and Protecting Your Air Quality

A high-powered HEPA-filtered vacuum (the standard for efficiency) is connected to the main trunk line, placing the whole HVAC system under negative pressure. Why? Negative pressure prevents contamination and protects household air quality from loosened dirt and other debris during cleaning.

Step 4: Air Vent Cleaning

Rotary brush/air whip systems are used to agitate the dirt and debris in each and every supply and return air vent, which will be collected in the containment unit mess free. The combination of the rotary brush/air whip system and the vacuum ensure the highest levels of cleanliness in your HVAC system.

Step 5: NADCA Cleaned Air Ducts

The full length of the supply and return main air duct lines and their plenums (boxes which bring in, distribute, and remove air) are brushed and scraped using rotary brush/air whip systems.

Step 6: Air Duct Cleaning Includes the Furnace

Don’t forget the furnace! If the air ducts are your home’s lungs, then the furnace is its heart. The furnace cavity is thoroughly cleaned using compressed air, air whip systems, and a vacuum unit. The technician will remove your HVAC registers and clean them with NADCA certified equipment to minimize any dust in your home.

Step 7: HVAC System Patching and Testing

All service openings are patched, and the furnace and HVAC system are tested for standard performance. We don’t just clean and go — we make sure everything we touched is in original working order.

We also provide satisfying before and after video results. It’s always fun to see polluted air ducts transform to healthy and clean HVAC system, and these videos are a customer favorite.

Air Duct Cleaning Is an Investment in Your Quality of Life

As far as home upkeep goes, air duct cleaning might not seem as glamorous as renovating your bathroom or installing a home theater, but the difference it makes in everyday quality of life is extraordinary. Not only will your entire HVAC system run more efficiently, saving you money, but our customers notice immediate reduction in allergies and odors from improved air quality.

Ready to feel this difference for yourself? AirDuct Specialists, Inc has been servicing air ducts in the

Denver Metro Area, Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, Aurora, Centennial, Parker, Castle Rock, Golden, Loveland, Windsor, Lone Tree, Pueblo, Fountain, Thornton, Westminster, Lakewood, Boulder, Brighton, Highlands Ranch, Littleton, Greeley, Englewood, Greenwood Village, and other surrounding areas since 2003.