How To Prepare for Air Duct Cleaning

Are you noticing lots of dust in your home or weak airflow from your vents? If so, it might be time to schedule professional duct cleaning in Dayton, OH. While you should leave this job to qualified professionals, learning how to prepare for air duct cleaning will make the process smoother.

When Dayton homeowners need this HVAC service, they turn to A1 Mechanical Heating & Cooling. As long-standing industry experts, we know the best home preparation tips to follow and outline them in this guide.

Why Would You Need to Clean Your Air Ducts?

Air duct cleaning is necessary at least every three years if your property has an HVAC system with ductwork. Poor indoor air quality due to high levels of airborne allergens and pollutants, such as dust, pollen, and mold spores, is not unusual for residences.

Whenever your HVAC unit turns on, it recirculates particulates throughout the property via the ductwork. This problem not only worsens allergies, asthma, and other respiratory problems but can also cause ducts, vents, and registers to become filthy over time.

Professional duct cleaning services help alleviate this problem by removing the dust, dirt, and debris that build up inside the system. It reduces the airborne contaminants blowing through your house and helps the heating and cooling system perform better.

What to Do to Prepare Your Home Before the Technicians Arrive

Do you know how to prepare for air duct cleaning? Here are several simple steps to ensure that this HVAC maintenance task goes smoothly.

1. Clear Space Around Your Home for the Crew To Work

The last thing you want to do is rush to move furniture or belongings out of the way while HVAC technicians are ready to handle your ducts’ dust removal process. Ductwork preparation starts with clearing the space around your vents and registers so it’s easily accessible. That way, the crew can quickly come and start their jobs.

When making your appointment, ask the HVAC company how much space they’ll need to do their job efficiently, specifically around the heating and cooling unit and the return and supply registers. Once you have a rough estimate, walk through your property and make all necessary adjustments to ensure ample workspace for the technicians.

Failing to move items that are in the way means the crew will have to move them. When learning how to prepare for air duct cleaning, you don’t want to overlook this step because it can make the technicians’ job more difficult and time-consuming.

2. Make Arrangements for Your Pets

When the HVAC crew works on your ductwork, they’ll likely leave doors in your home open, which can be a problem if you have free-roaming pets like cats or dogs. To ensure your animals’ safety and minimize distractions for the workers, it may be best to make arrangements for your pets, such as:

• Keeping them outdoors for the duration of the service if you have a fenced-in yard
• Leaving them with family, a neighbor, or a friend until the work is complete
• Taking them to a kennel or pet daycare center for the day

If you won’t be home during the service but your pet will be on-premises, let the HVAC company know beforehand.

3. Decide If You’ll Stay or Leave While the Service Is Underway

Did you know you don’t have to be present while a team cleans your air ducts? Ductwork cleaning is a noisy process; the commercial-grade vacuums and other equipment technicians use to clean ducts are loud. While it’s perfectly acceptable to stay and observe the cleaning process, the noise and distractions might be overwhelming to children, elderly household members, and those with sensitive ears.

If you have concerns about the noise and disruptions, speak with contractors. Should you decide to vacate the premises while they work, make sure you alert them ahead of time and tell them how to secure your property when they’re ready to leave.

4. Walk Through Your Home With the Workers When They Arrive

Once the cleaning crew arrives, have a brief discussion with them to explain your indoor air quality or HVAC performance concerns. It’s also helpful to walk through the space with them to ensure they have enough space to work and know where everything is. This is also a great time to ask any questions you might have about the service before they begin.

What to Expect During the Ductwork and Vent Cleaning Service

Even if you know how to prepare for air duct cleaning, you should also know what to expect during the service to avoid surprises.

Timeline for the Cleaning Process

Do you think cleaning ducts is a quick or long process? The answer depends on the size of your home and the complexity of its ductwork.

Typically, the job takes two to four hours, but it’s not uncommon for technicians to exceed that timeframe if the duct system proves to be fairly complex. The more extensive the ductwork, the longer it’ll take to clean it.

Post-Service Cleanup

You might imagine your home full of dust and debris after technicians clean the ducts, but that’s not the case. Qualified, experienced HVAC contractors utilize the best practices for efficient duct cleaning without making messes. You should expect the team to lay drop cloths around your home to protect your property and ensure an easy cleanup.

Improve Indoor Air Quality With Duct Cleaning in Dayton, OH, by A1 Mechanical Heating & Cooling

If you experience HVAC noises, poor indoor air quality, or weak heating and cooling performance, it might be time to contact our experts at A1 Mechanical Heating & Cooling for air duct cleaning in Dayton, OH. We have been proudly serving Dayton, Ohio, with a combined 300-plus years of industry experience.

We’ll handle the ductwork cleaning process from start to finish, from teaching you how to prepare for air duct cleaning to ensuring your system is in top-notch condition for optimal performance. At A1 Mechanical Heating & Cooling, we offer a 100% guarantee, so call 937-865-2325 today to request services.