The history of the air duct
Air ducts themselves have a long and interesting history that stretches back over centuries. We can thank the Chinese and Greeks for the idea of our modern air ducts. Back in the 4th Century, they invented flues and chimneys, which kept structures warm without drawing in the smoke from a fire. In around 300, the Romans came up with a series of underground tubes that were connected to a wood furnace. These tubes circulated the warmth of the fire throughout the building.
By the Renaissance, steam and hot water were being sent through pipes to provide warmth to buildings. Out of these grew the concept for the modern-day radiator, which was being used to keep structures warm all the way through the 1800s.
Keeping warm was alright if you lived in a cold climate. But in warmer areas, people were looking for ways to keep cool. The ancient Egyptians used to hang wet reeds in their windows. When a breeze blew over them, they would help cool down the room. In the 1750s, Benjamin Franklin found out that evaporating alcohol could freeze water and Michael Faraday found out that ammonia that was compressed and liquefied could do the same thing.
By 1902, a device was invented for a publishing company by what would become the Carrier Air Conditioning Company that would blow air over coils that were cold in order to keep the air temperature cool and remove humidity. The device also kept the paper used by the publishing company from wrinkling.
The atomized sprayer was developed four years later in 1906. These water-filled air ducts sprayed a mist that brought the air temperature down in textile plants and was dubbed air conditioning.
By the 1930s, freon had been developed and was being widely used in air conditioners to remove heat and humidity from homes via window units. Following World War II, central air conditioning was developed and many of us simply can not imagine a winter or summer without our HVAC units.
Contact United Hood Cleaning NY at 888 889-3828 for a free quote and to learn more about the history of air conditioning and why keeping your air ducts pristine and hiring a professional cleaner who is local, licensed, certified and affordable is so important.
What is an air duct?
To put it simply, next to your heating, ventilating and air conditioning system itself, the air duct is the most important part of your home’s HVAC system. That is what we believe at United Hood Cleaning NY.
Warm and cool air travels throughout your home via an air duct. Think of them like you do the veins and arteries in your body and your HVAC system like you do your heart. An air duct is the means by which warm air travels throughout your house in the cooler months and cool air travels throughout your house in warmer months. It is the job of air ducts to keep us comfortable when we are inside, no matter what the temperature is outside. Air ducts also keep our inside air fresh and allergen free when they are dirt free.
Keeping those air ducts free of dust and debris s something you probably do not spend a lot of time thinking about. That is because they are tucked away behind your walls or hidden in your ceilings. It is a case of out of sight, out of mind. But, a professional cleaning by a local, licensed and certified company like United Hood Cleaning NY is the easiest way to ensure that you will not have any problems with your indoor air quality. And having good indoor quality is an important way to safeguard the health of you, your family and all of those who visit your home, and your pets as well.
For more information on the process of cleaning air ducts, a free quote and to see how affordable that the process can be, call United Hood Cleaning NY at 888 889-3828.
Types of an air duct
There are many varieties of air ducts that professional cleaners keep free from dust and other debris that can adversely impact your indoor air quality.
Galvanized steel is the most common material used to make air ducts. That’s because it its outer layer of zinc prevents rust and does not require paint. These ducts are lined or wrapped with fiberglass when they are installed.
Aluminum is used to design custom-sized or special shaped air ducts that a home may require. It is lightweight and takes little time to install.
Polyurethane and phenolic air ducts are pre-insulated and only take one step to install.
There are a couple of advantages to having air ducts that are made of fiberglass duct board. They have thermal insulation that is already included and their interior components absorb sound, meaning that you probably will not hear your HVAC system cycle on and off.
A flexible air duct is made of plastic that is placed over a coil made of metal in the shape of a tube.
Hiring professional cleaners is the best way to ensure that your air ducts stay clean. Contact United Hood Cleaning NY at 888 889-3828 for a free quote that’s affordable.
Air duct cleaning: When
The number one way you can keep your air ducts clean is by keeping water and dirt from entering your HVAC system. Ensure that it is well-insulated and that outdoor debris is picked up and does not come into contact with the mechanical portions of the system.
Knowing when to clean your air duct can be difficult. That is because it is important to note that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has no set guidelines on when or how often you should clean your air ducts. That is because there is as of yet no conclusive data that dirty air ducts actually bring dust inside your home. Most of the dust inside air ducts sstayinside the ducts themselves and there is simply no way to determine if the dust that comes inside is the result of dirty ducts or is brought inside by the activities of daily life, like opening and shutting doors and windows.
The EPA does recommend an annual inspection if you have a gas or oil burning furnace or fireplace annually before the heating season to ensure they are operating properly and as a means to guard against carbon monoxide poisoning.
Here is when you should consider having the air ducts in your home professionally cleaned:
1. You spot a large amount of mold growing on the interior sheet metal portion of your air ducts or on other parts of your heating and air conditioning system.
Keep in mind that you might not be able to see many of your HVAC’s components yourself, so ask your service provider to show you proof of any mold that they say is present.
Just because it looks like mold does not mean that it is. Send a sample of the substance on a piece of tape to a laboratory for testing to confirm if it it mold or not.
And, an insulated air duct that has become wet can not be cleaned and should simply be removed. Ducts should also be removed if there is evidence of a rodent infestation.
2. Ducts should be cleaned if they are full of dust or debris or if dust particles are visible through your vents when your HVAC system cycles on and off.
There is absolutely no evidence that says a professional cleaning of your air ducts is harmful to your HVAC system.
Your air ducts are not the only component of your heating and air conditioning system you need to keep clean. Having clean coils, fans and heat exchanges may also improve how efficiently your system runs and help you to save money.
When you are ready to have your air ducts professionally cleaned, contact United Hood Cleaning NY at 888 889-3828. We are local, affordable, licensed and certified to handle all your air duct cleaning needs.
How often should you have your air ducts cleaned
We get many calls here at United Hood Cleaning NY at 888 889-3828 from customers who has the following question: How often should I have my air ducts cleaned?
The question comes up because many people are concerned about not only their health but the health of their children and everyone else who lives and visits their home. Indoor air quality is an important component of ensuring that those you love remain healthy.
The National Air Duct Cleaners Association recommends that an air duct cleaning every three to five years. However, if anyone in your home suffers from allergies or asthma, you may find it beneficial to have an air duct cleaning more frequently, say every two to four years.
When determining how often you should have your air ducts cleaned, you should also consider how often you use your HVAC system. Here in our local area, heating systems often get a workout due to our cold winters. You’ll find it beneficial to keep your air ducts clean when you hire the professionals at United Hood Cleaning NY. Call us at 888 889-3828 for more information and to schedule an appointment.
How to find the best air duct cleaning companies
When you need to hire a professional air duct cleaning company in the local area, look no further than United Hood Cleaning NY. We use the most up-to-date technology, air duct cleaning equipment, and methods to ensure that your home’s HVAC system and air ducts are free of dust, debris, dirt and bacteria after our visit.
But not all air duct cleaning companies are equal. Before deciding which company to entrust your cleaning job to, be diligent. Research their reputation online and ask friends or neighbors if they have used the company you are considering. The company should also be willing to share references with you. And, be sure that the company is both licensed and insured to provide the service. The company should also be willing to share their staff’s experience with you.
When considering whether to hire an air duct cleaning company you should also ask the following question:
Will they clean the different parts of my forced air heating and cooling system, including both its supply and return ducts; registers; grilles; diffusers; heat exchangers; heating and cooling coils; drip pans; fan motors and housing; and the air handling unit.
At United Hood Cleaning NY, our answer is yes to each of those questions. In addition, we are licensed and certified in air duct cleaning. Call us at 888 889-3828 for a free quote.
Why is air duct cleaning important
Air duct cleaning is important because of one very simple thing: Air ducts get dirty. They get dirty not only due to the normal amount of dust, dirt, and debris found in all homes but also from Pets; cigar and cigarette smoke; damage caused by water infiltration and contamination; and from home renovation and remodeling projects.
Do not underestimate the value and importance of your air ducts. They circulate air throughout your home, keeping you and your family cool and comfortable in the summer and warm and cozy in the winter.
This is the air you breathe. The air that your family and visitors to your home breathe. You want it to be as clean and as contaminant free as possible. Keeping your air ducts clean and free of harmful dust, dirt and debris will ensure your living environment is as clean and healthy as possible.
United Hood Cleaning NY uses powerful vacuums to remove all of that dust and dirt so the air that flows through your home is as pure as it can be. Call United Hood Cleaning NY at 888 889-3828 to schedule your duct cleaning appointment now.
The benefits of air duct cleaning
There are many reasons why you should call United Hood Cleaning NY at 888 889-3828 to set up an appointment to have your air ducts professionally cleaned.
When your air ducts are clean, you will have a cleaner living environment in your home. It lessens the dust that enters your home due to you and your family’s daily activities. And where does that dust land? On your furniture. On your bedding. On your floor. In short, dust can be found on just about any surface in your home. An air duct cleaning lessens the amount time you will spend dusting and cleaning those surfaces, giving you more time to do the things that are important to you.
Air ducts not only attract dust. They are also magnets for pet dander, pollen, mildew and mold spores. Ducts also attract other microorganisms that can make breathing more difficult for those who suffer from either asthma or allergies. A duct cleaning helps to prevent dirty air from simply being re-circulated throughout your home for you and your family to breathe in again and again.
You do not have to suffer from allergies or asthma to benefit from having clean air ducts. Dirt mites and dust can set off a sneezing or coughing attack in the healthiest individual, not to mention sinus congestion and headaches. Clean ducts simply help everyone breathe better.
Air ducts that are clean also help to reduce smells and odors inside your home. Smells inside air ducts that can be recirculated throughout your indoor space not only come from dirt inside the ducts but from pets, the household cleaners you use, the food you cook, mold, as well as cigar and cigarette smoke. Call United Hood Cleaning NY at 888 889-3828 for a detailed consultation on your air duct cleaning needs.
And, keeping your air ducts clean can also help your HVAC system operate more efficiently. Air ducts that are dirty and that are full of debris and other grim can slow down the air flow of your heating and cooling system, causing it to work harder to cool down your home in the summer and to warm it up in the winter. Clean air ducts mean that your HVAC system is running at peak efficiency and in the most cost-effective manner possible.
To learn how clean air ducts can benefit you, call United Hood Cleaning NY at 8888 889-3828.
