Making sure your HVAC (Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning) works properly is one of your priorities when rehabbing interiors. One way to do this is to see to it that the HVAC duct is clean. All types of ducts – often not maintained in fixer upper homes – must be clean and free of pollutants. These “tubes” help filter the air we breathe inside the house. They make sure the occupants of a home are safe from the pollution of the outside world. They also keep the interior environment a comfortable condition.

When cleaning ducts, it is advisable to hire a professional. Apart from cleaning, they will also be able to assess whether the current system needs to be replaced. Take note that when cleaning ducts, you not only deal with typical dust. It is possible that pollen particles and other debris are present inside them. You could also be dealing with mold and other microbiological growth, which forms when moisture enters the ducts. These could trigger allergic reactions so you better leave the cleaning to professionals. That doesn’t mean though that you must be ignorant of the ways to clean these heating and cooling components. Here are some steps pro cleaners might take for this rehabbing interiors project.

Chances are your duct cleaner will use specialized tools to purge the system of microbes, dust, and other debris. If you see them pulling out a high-powered vacuum cleaner from the van, then that’s one of the specialized tools. They can use agitation devices that remove dirt and debris stuck on interior duct surfaces like duct board and metal duct. Some technology-savvy professionals even carry with them portable air compressors and video inspection systems. As you noticed, this rehabbing interiors project is not an easy one.

Meanwhile, professionals can also use chemicals when cleaning ducts. Some chemicals are meant to kill microbiological contaminants while others are applied to prevent the growth of molds and other possible contaminants. These chemicals should be handled carefully and only by professionals. This is one reason why you should leave this rehabbing interiors job to a contractor.

Here’s one tip for this rehabbing interiors job: Make sure that the contractor treats an infected portion of the HVAC before proceeding to a general cleaning. Using this method will prevent contaminants from spreading to other parts of the system.  Among the parts the professional will cover when cleaning ducts are the fan motor and fan housing, air handling unit housing, condensate drain pans/ drip pans, heating and cooling coils, heat exchangers, supply and return air ducts and registers, diffusers, and grilles. But before you even allow the contractor to tinker with these components, you must ensure first that he is qualified for the job. If he has a website, look for testimonials from previous clients.

If you want to do this job on your own, you must be sure that you are qualified for it. You might also have to seek a permit for cleaning ducts so you should check local codes even before you seek a professional cleaner.