When was the last time you had your air ducts cleaned? If you have noticed excess dust or poor indoor air quality in your home, your ventilation system may be the culprit. The air in your home is circulated through your air ducts daily.

If your air ducts are dirty, the air blowing through will push the dust into your home. This is why it is important to change your filter regularly and get your air ducts cleaned every 2 years. However, if a high-efficiency air filtration system is installed, they can be cleaned every 5 years.

B&L Ott highly recommends having a high-efficiency air filtration system installed.  If you have your ducts cleaned and you don’t have a media air cleaner or electronic air cleaner, your ducts will immediately get dirty again. Contact B&L Ott to learn more about keeping your air clean and your HVAC system running efficiently.

Why Should I Get My Air Ducts Cleaned?

Cleaning your air ducts can bring a variety of benefits. First and foremost, it will help ensure that the air you and your family are breathing is clean. If anyone in your family has asthma, allergies, or respiratory problems, dirty air can cause sneezing or breathing issues. Pets or smoking can make these problems worse.

Another benefit is increased efficiency. Dirt and dust block the air from moving through the ducts. This causes your HVAC system to work harder and costs you more. By having your ducts cleaned by B&L Ott, you can experience better efficiency and lower energy bills.

Preparing for Our Service

Any time of the year is a good time to get your air ducts cleaned. You can choose a time that works best for you. Be sure you have time to take care of a few tasks you should take care of before we arrive, though.

If there are boxes or other equipment near your HVAC unit, be sure to clear the area. This way, the B&L Ott technician can access your system to inspect and clean it. However, furniture that is on vents should be left where it is. This will allow us to diagnose any airflow issues that are caused by the furniture. If there is an issue we can then make suggestions to improve the airflow in your home. Pets and kids can be kept wherever is comfortable for you.

Cleaning Your Ducts

B&L Ott uses a special high-efficiency vacuum with a rotating brush head to clean the ducts. We control this machine remotely as the hose and brush go through the ductwork. Together they clear out almost all the debris. We start with the branch ducts first and push the dirt into the main line. Then move to the main supply ducts. The dirt is then stored in our machine so that it will not be recirculated through your house. Finally, B&L Ott will supply you with before and after pictures of the ductwork.

We also use a machine to fog your ducts with an antimicrobial cleaner.  This will kill contaminants in your ducts that cannot be removed from cleaning alone.  We will clean the grilles, registers, and diffusers with a degreasing agent as well.

How Long Will It Take?

For an average-size Berks County home, the process will take approximately 4 hours. Larger homes with multiple systems will take longer as there is more to clean. B&L Ott prefers that the homeowner stays there the whole time. This way, if we come across any problems, we can make sure you are aware of it right away and fix the problem for you. This also allows you to see what goes into the duct cleaning process.

Fixing Problems

B&L Ott’s service can also help you find problems that are affecting the efficiency of your HVAC system. If we find mold, rodents, excess dust, unnecessary penetrations, or failed duct work we can address these issues right away. We will provide you with the best recommendations to fix each issue.

Why Choose B&L Ott?

There are many aspects to consider when choosing a company to clean your air ducts. One feature you should look for is the consideration for your home and family. B&L Ott technicians will treat your house as if it is their own. We take extra precautions to make sure your floors, walls, and ceilings are protected. We will leave your house as we found it, except you will have cleaner air ducts.

Another aspect you should look for is what is included in the service. B&L Ott will be sure to be thorough with our work. We will remove each individual grille from the ceiling or wall and clean it with 409 or another cleaner. This will remove any bacteria, mold, or dust from the registers.

A shop vac can only reach about 40% of your ductwork. B&L Ott uses a specially-designed machine to help us clean every square inch of your ducts. We will leave you with a before-and-after picture of your ducts and recommendations to keep them cleaner. By following these tips you can improve your HVAC system’s efficiency, save money, and increase the time span between cleanings.