Like any other HVAC system, your entire ductwork can also get damaged over its functioning life, so air duct maintenance is important. Any of the joints and seals can become loose as well as vibrations from the HVAC system can extricate ductwork with the passing time. Another factor is the dust and other debris that can also be blown into the ducts, and any sort of accident can damage or deform them as well.
Looking to make sure your air ducts are in good working order? Here are few tips for air duct maintenance.
Preventive Tips for Air Duct Maintenance
Here are some of the responsibilities that you may consider as they are important for ductwork maintenance
Cover or seal any air leaks that may be there in the ducts
Before anything else, keep in mind that the average commercial kitchen might lose about 10 to 30 percent of its conditioned air just because of the reason that its duct leaks. All the energy that is used to heat or cool gets wasted when the air is lost from the leaks. In case these ducts are kept within the kitchen’s thermal envelope, the whole energy might be contained within your kitchen, but still it might be released into wall openings or cracks and crawl spaces, not the living areas whose temperature you want to regulate.
Make sure that vents and return vents are unhindered
If you place any piece of furniture or even another fixture in front of your vents it will interrupt airflow and it can also inhibit air from spreading throughout the commercial kitchen. In case if the blockage is very large, it can also have consequences throughout the ductwork design, it can change the pressure in the system as well as contribute to HVAC fan motor breakdown.
Segregate ductwork
It does not matter if your ducts are installed within the thermal envelope of your home, proper padding will always help the air that is passing through the ducts in order to maintain its temperature until it reaches living areas.
Hire a certified air duct cleaning professional
Hire professionals for ducting repair and maintenance. If a piece of furniture that is placed in front of your vents is proven to be a bad idea if any barrier that is inside the ductwork can be just as damaging as it could be. And even if these barriers, for instance, a dislodged air filter that’s been sucked into the ductwork you must blow through and hire the HVAC service provider, they can build up and interfere with its operation or even present a fire risk.
Try installing a UV light in the ductwork
Always remember that UV lights use ultraviolet radiation for the purpose of sterilizing air, destroying bacteria, as well as mold and fungal spores. This will help in avoiding buildups of mold and fungal colonies inside your ductworks, where humidity is often difficult to control. It can also offer a net advantage for your indoor air quality.
Always test the ducts.
The HVAC professional at Kitchen services will take readings of air pressure within the ducts during system operation and he will also investigate how much air you are losing and how well the system is stable. They can also offer suggestions on how you can improve the ductwork design in your commercial kitchen.
Do not close vents in commercial kitchens to cut down on HVAC costs.
While it might seem sensible that less conditioned air going into the kitchens means a lower energy bill overall, in reality, it just means that more air at the outdoor temperature is being brought in to be treated through the return vents. Furthermore, because the vents are fully blocked (or closed), the same issues with pressure drop occur as with vents blocked by furniture or by obstructions within the ducts. If you want to control your heating and cooling on a room-by-room basis, you can always ask the certified contractor at Kitchen Services about a zoning system for your home.
How to Prevent Duct Contamination
Your ductwork plays a very crucial role when it comes to the indoor air quality of your commercial kitchens. In case your kitchen’s ducts become polluted with dust, dirt, or even mold, there are high chances that it can totally affect the overall running of your HVAC system. Whereas air duct maintenance will put off a lot of problems down the line which may cost you a lot of time and money. So by making sure that your ducts are clean and dirt-free will keep your air quality on the right track.
Try to Follow All the Ways That Are Advised by The Company
Most of the air quality systems are different from each other that typically means that different procedures should be taken for its maintenance. If you are not really sure on what to do about this, you can always talk to any professional or even you can refer to the advised guidelines that are suited to your specific HVAC system and ductwork. In case you try and maintain it yourself, and do not have the knowledge, there are high chances that it would end up costing you a lot more than it had to in the first place.
Clean Ducts Frequently
In case you notice a build-up of dirt, dust, or rubble on your ducts, try to clean them as soon as you can. If you dust and clean your ducts frequently, it can really avoid major build-up down the line. All you have to do is to simply take a damp cloth or any sort of a duster to the ducts and softly remove what is stuck in there. If you feel that your ducts are too dirty and require a professional to assist you with air duct system cleaning, this can be arranged through Kitchen Services.
Also read: Guidelines for Commercial Kitchen Exhaust Grease Duct Cleaning
Call Kitchen Services
If you would like to find out more about how to maintain your ductwork, get in touch with us at Kitchen Services. Our team of professionals is on hand to help you with your air duct maintenance.
Air Duct maintenance FAQs
Does duct cleaning prevent health problems?
There are a lot of different examples of ducts that have become severely polluted with a lot of materials that may have a number of risks to one’s health. In fact, the entire duct system can serve as a means to dispense these contaminants throughout your homes and commercial kitchens. In these cases, duct cleaning may make sense. Nevertheless, a light amount of household dust in your air ducts is quite normal. As a regular practice duct cleaning is not believed to be an important part of the yearly maintenance of your heating and cooling system, which contains regular cleaning of drain pans and heating and cooling coils, regular filter changes, and yearly inspections of heating equipment. Research continues in an effort to evaluate the potential benefits of air duct cleaning.
How often should air ducts be cleaned?
Professionals advise having your air ducts cleaned every 2 to 3 years to avoid many maintenance and health problems before they even start. Nevertheless, such homes that have pets or children with allergies should have their air ducts professionally cleaned more frequently than the recommended average.
Does Air Duct Cleaning make a mess?
So the direct answer to this question would be a simple No, it won’t. If you hire a professional company to clean your air ducts, such as Kitchen Services, your home will be clean and tidy when they’re done.
Is duct cleaning necessary?
Well, EPA does not advise that the air ducts be cleaned consistently, but they should be cleaned when it is needed. EPA does, however, recommend that if you have a fuel-burning furnace, stove, or fireplace, they be inspected for proper functioning and serviced before each heating season to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning
How do I know if my air ducts need to be cleaned?
If you see dust and dirt both inside and outside, especially by the vents that blow cool air out — your ducts most likely need to be cleaned. To prevent future dust buildup, make sure you replace your HVAC system air filters frequently. You can also run an air purifier.
What is the best method to clean ducts?
Point of contact methods are currently the safest and most effective air duct cleaning method. A point of contact air duct cleaning method utilizes a portable HEPA filtered vacuum and an agitation device to simultaneously to clean the air ducts
How do air ducts get damaged?
Presence of dirt, dust and biological contaminants in your ducts may lower the quality of your indoor air. They may trigger asthma attacks, allergies and other respiratory illnesses. They also weaken the structure of the ductwork system, leading to damages
