Planet Duct FAQ

As a certified air duct cleaning specialist in Colorado Springs, we recommend that you have your air ducts cleaned every three to five years. According to the NADCA, the frequency of getting your ducts cleaned can also increase if a household meets the following: 

• Residents who smoke
• Residents with allergies or asthma
• Animals with high hair and dander shedding 
• If water contamination or damage to the home or HVAC system occurs
• Following home renovations or remodeling
• Prior to occupancy of a new home
• Before replacing a furnace

We have also compiled a list of reasons or events that you may want to consider cleaning your air ducts. Visit our latest blog post, When Should I Get My Air Ducts Cleaned to learn more about if it is time to clean your ducts.

Air Duct cleaning is the process of deep cleaning the duct, ventilation, and HVAC systems throughout your home or commercial building. A quality air duct cleaning will remove dirt, debris, allergens, from your duct system, directly impacting your indoor air quality. During a cleaning, a professional, NADCA certified cleaner from Planet Duct will thoroughly clean the supply and return air ducts, registers in the home, grilles and diffusers, heat exchangers, heating and cooling coils, condensate drain pans, fan motor and fan housing, and the air handling unit housing. In addition to air duct cleaning we also offer dryer vent cleaning to help maintain and extend the life of your dryer.

Prior to the cleaning, visually inspect the vents using a flashlight and mirror. Following the cleaning, inspect them again ensuring that all dust and debris has been properly removed from the vents. We also suggest that you follow this  Homeowner’s Guide to Air Duct Cleaning provided by the NADCA to ensure a quality air duct cleaning job was performed.

Step 1: Remove clutter 

It is important to examine the areas that contain vents in your home. Take note of any furniture that is covering vents. If the furniture is too large to move, notify the technician when they arrive. This will allow them to close all of the vents and prevent any of the dust or debris from flying into your home. 

Step 2: Check work areas

Check the areas that your technician will be working on. These can include but are not limited to:

1. In front of furnace
2. Near the AC unit
3. In your utility room

If these areas are being used as storage spaces make sure to create room for the technician to access the units.  

Step 3: Secure pets 

Prior to the arrival of the technician to secure your pets. This will both ensure that the pets and the technician are safe from harm or escape. 

Step 4: Do a walk through with technician 

When your technician arrives it is important to do a walk through with them. This will allow them to understand the layout of your home and where your furnace and AC units are located. 

Step 5: Ask lots of questions

We encourage you to ask questions. You are spending your hard earned money on this service so it is important for you to understand how the process works and that everything was completed to your satisfaction. 

Step 6: Make sure your professional company is actually professional

This is most likely the most important step in preparing your home for an air duct cleaning service. Make sure that your air duct cleaning company is professional by checking to see if they are certified by the NADCA. You can do this by visiting the Find a NADCA Profesional page. In addition please visit What Does It Mean To Be NADCA Certified?

Step 8: Determine if you will stay or go

Lastly it is important to determine if you will be staying in your home or leaving during the service. It is completely safe for you to be present during the air duct cleaning service. This is important so that you can notify your technician how to secure your home after they have completed the service.

Air duct cleaning generally takes about three to five hours, however, the size of the house can make the service take longer. Please visit How Long Does It Take To Clean Air Ducts?

Air duct cleaning will not make a mess in your home as long as you hire a qualified and professional cleaning company. Air duct cleaners that are professional will take preventative measures in order to ensure that the dust escaping into your home is minimalized. Although it is rare occasionally dust or debris will escape into your residence. Again a professional company will then take the proper actions to clean up the mess and return your home to a cleaner state then they found it.

Yes, you can. Air duct cleaning is a safe process for your entire family. We tape over all the registers and grills while the system is under vacuum, so we will not be stirring up any dust in your living areas while we work. Some of our clients find this a good time to run errands so they are not tripping over our hoses or equipment. Overall the air duct cleaning service is an opportunity to improve your indoor air quality.

Air duct cleaning is safe for you and your entire family, including your furry friends. We do advise prior to the arrival of the technician to secure your pets. This will both ensure that the pets and the technician are safe from harm or escape. Additionally, if you or anyone in your family is highly sensitive to dust or debris and would feel more comfortable in a different environment, we encourage you to take those personal cautions to protect yourself. Overall, the air duct cleaning service is an opportunity to improve your indoor air quality.

It is not harmful to be present during an air duct cleaning service. We tape over all the registers and grills while the system is under vacuum, so we will not be stirring up any dust in your living areas while we work. Some of our clients find this a good time to run errands so they are not tripping over our hoses or equipment. We do suggest that clients take precautionary measures for their own personal safety if they are sensitive or have underlying conditions.

At Planet Duct, we follow an intensive, 12 step air duct cleaning process to ensure your duct system gets cleaned. Our qualified technicians will utilize specialized tools that are designed to remove all debris and dust from inside the air ducts. We also offer air duct treatments which sanitize and deodorize the air duct ensuring that the ducts are clean and clear of any bacteria that may be present.

Although air duct cleaning is recommended every three to five years, there are a few things that you can do to extend the time between cleanings. 

1. Change out quality filters frequently
2. Dust and vacuum often
3. Consider installing an indoor air quality system (IAQ)
4. Have your air ducts cleaned every 4-5 years. 
5. During home renovations seal off vents to prevent dust from entering the HVAC system. 
6. Make sure your ducts have a good seal
7. Minimize furniture blocking air vents and air flow.

Air duct cleaning cost can vary depending on many factors, including:

• Size of the home 
• Location 
• Duration since last cleaning 
• Desired service
• Number of furnaces in the home 
• The location of your furnace and AC units

On average a typical cost for an air duct cleaning can be from $300-$500. If you would like to receive a free quote from Planet Duct based on these factors please click here.

Your AC unit blows cold air from the outside in a condenser through your HVAC system in the walls of your house. It is our professional opinion that when the HVAC system is clogged by debris and dust, the AC unit will need to work harder. This will mean that it will use more energy and will reduce the lifespan of the Air Conditioner. So, if your air ducts are cleaned regularly, the system will be able to do its job more efficiently, as well as last longer. Planet Duct offers AC Coil Cleaning as another way to extend the life of your AC unit and ensure it is running at its maximum capacity.

Your heater works similarly to that of your AC unit by blowing warm air through your HVAC system in the walls of your house. It is our professional opinion that when the HVAC system is clogged by debris and dust, the heater will need to work harder. Overtime, it will use more energy and will reduce the lifespan of the heater itself. So, if your air ducts are cleaned regularly, the system will be able to do its job more efficiently, as well as last longer.

There are many health benefits that can be seen by regular maintenance and cleaning of your air ducts, heating, and cooling systems. Air duct cleaning can help alleviate symptoms like:

• Eyes, nose, and throat irritation
• Allergies
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Sinus congestion
• Nausea 
• Coughing and sneezing 
• Hypersensitivity

Air duct cleaning has also been linked to help prevent:

• Some respiratory diseases
• Heart disease
• Cancer

Regular cleaning your HVAC systems allows your furnace and air conditioning units to run more efficiently and to last longer.  Many studies show that, on average, a professional air duct cleaning a typical homeowner can save 11% on their heating and cooling system costs.

When you invest in air duct cleaning you are actually investing in providing your family with clean air that will not harm your family’s health. Based on the American Lung Associations Home Air Pollution Study, 90% of our time is spent indoors with a large percentage of that being in our residences.  Meaning that your indoor air health is crucial for maintaining good healthy habits in your home. Dust and debris is enough to warrant an air duct cleaning, but that’s not all that can be hiding in your HVAC systems. It is not uncommon to find mold and bugs that have claimed your duct system as their home. To get an idea of what could be hiding in your ducts, check out our latest discoveries in What Is In My Air Ducts?

We follow the NADCA recommendations to clean entire HVAC system, including the following components:

• Air ducts
• Coils
• Drain pan
• Registers
• Grills
• Air plenum
• Blower motor and assembly
• Heat exchanger
• Air filter
• Air cleaner

An air duct cleaning contains two steps; breaking contaminants loose, and collecting them.

Yes, you can get your air ducts sanitized by a qualified professional. At Planet Duct, we offer air duct treatments, where we sanitize the air duct system to ensure that there is no bacteria present and filtering into your home.

The most effective way to prevent smells from coming through your vents is to clean and sanitize them. At Planet duct we offer both of these services. Cleaning will allow us to clean any debris, dust, or unwanted rodent homes from the system. Sanitizing will take place after the cleaning and will kill any mold or bacteria that may be causing the smells. Throughout both of these processes, our qualified technicians will examine the entire system to look for anything that needs to be prepared to prevent future smells from occurring. If you would like more information on how we clean and sanitize air ducts or a free quote give us a call, and get rid of that gross or musty smell in your home.