How to Determine if Your Air Duct Cleaner Did a Good Job

After researching, reading countless reviews, and finally deciding on an air duct cleaning service provider, following the cleaning you may be wondering whether the company did a good job or not. It may seem daunting to attempt to figure out whether they did a good job or not, but fear not – continue reading to learn more about a few simple ways to ensure that your heating and cooling systems are clean.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency recommends that you perform a simple visual test. The EPA offers a “Post Cleaning Consumer Checklist” to use to determine the state of your heating and cooling systems.

After having your systems cleaned, go through the checklist with the service provider, having him or her show you each component necessary for each question. The following is a list of questions that the EPA separates into various categories (not included in this article) on their checklist (found at epa.gov):

• Did the service provider obtain access to and clean the entire heating and cooling system, including ductwork and all components (drain pans, humidifiers, coils, and fans)?
• Has the service provider adequately demonstrated that duct work and plenums are clean? (Plenum is a space in which supply or return air is mixed or moves; can be duct, joist space, attic and crawl spaces, or wall cavity.)
• Is the heat exchanger surface visibly clean?
• Are both sides of the cooling coil visibly clean?
• If you point a flashlight into the cooling coil, does light shine through the other side? It should if the coil is clean.
• Are the coil fins straight and evenly spaced (as opposed to being bent over and smashed together)?
• Is the coil drain pan completely clean and draining properly?
• Are the blower blades clean and free of oil and debris?
• Is the blower compartment free of visible dust or debris?
• Is the return air plenum free of visible dust or debris?
• Do filters fit properly and are they the proper efficiency as recommended by HVAC system manufacturer?
• Is the supply air plenum (directly downstream of the air handling unit) free of moisture stains and contaminants?
• Are interior ductwork surfaces free of visible debris? (Select several sites at random in both the return and supply sides of the system.)
• Is all fiber glass material in good condition (i.e., free of tears and abrasions; well adhered to underlying materials)?
• Are newly installed access doors in sheet metal ducts attached with more than just duct tape (e.g., screws, rivets, mastic, etc.)?
• With the system running, is air leakage through access doors or covers very slight or non-existent?
• Have all registers, grilles, and diffusers been firmly reattached to the walls, floors, and/or ceilings?
• Are the registers, grilles, and diffusers visibly clean?
• Does the system function properly in both the heating and cooling modes after cleaning?

If you are looking for a professional cleaning company that offers air duct cleaning services, consider contacting Service Max Cleaning and Restoration, a professional company that has been serving South Florida, particularly North and South Miami and Fort Lauderdale, since 1984.

Service Max recommends that you have your air ducts cleaned every 2-3 years for a healthy home or business. Service Max checks for dirt, dust and airborne contaminates that are in your HVAC system and in addition to their cleaning services, they offer a mildew prevention Micro-Ban with a 2-year warranty to eliminate mold and mildew.

Additionally, Service Max offers services that include oriental rug cleaning, tile and grout cleaning, stone polishing, carpet cleaning, fire damage restoration, water damage restoration, furniture cleaning, and mold removal/remediation.

To contact Service Max, visit servicemaxcr.com or call (305) 856-1333.