Duct Cleaning

A combination of new and used ductwork was installed for the heating, ventillating and air conditioning (HVAC) system in the En-House. Before turning on the fan, the ducts were professionally cleaned by Aire Duct Cleaning of Ann Arbor. This is recommended for older homes periodically and for new systems once the major dust producing aspects of construction are completed.

Aire has a large trailer that contains a giant vacuum cleaner. Two enormous bags inflate behind the trailer as air is sucked in through a hose. This suction is applied to the fresh air intake of the heating and cooling unit. First, technicians use a compressed air gun to clean the dirt off the surface of the grates.

Next, all of the grates are sealed with plastic. The suction holds the plastic in place with only a little help from some tape.

To clean the ducts, technicians run a "duct whip" from the end of each duct toward the air handling unit. The whip is a set of flexible plastic tubes that fire compressed air and slap the inside of the duct. Dirt is knocked free and sucked through the duct, into the vacuum bags outside.

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