Cleaning of ventilation ducts: what we should know

The proper cleaning of ventilation ducts should be a priority in any building. After all, the ventilation of buildings is a key factor for the well-being of its users. However, preserving health requires periodic cleaning tasks for the maintenance of the ventilation systems.

Importance of cleaning ventilation ducts

The cleaning of ventilation ducts is a task that we must always be vigilant about. Failing to do so poses various risks, some of which can be serious to health.

Among the reasons for performing it are the following:

• Avoid respiratory or general health problems in people.
• Promote energy efficiency.
• Optimize maintenance costs, resulting in economic savings.
• Avoid unpleasant odors.
• Guarantee good air quality and prevent stale or toxic air.

In this sense, the key benefits focus on preventing health problems, especially respiratory ones. This is particularly indicated when the space to be ventilated is frequented by individuals with:

• Lung problems.
• Allergies.
• Sore or dry throat.
• Colds.
• Persistent cough.

Moreover, there are serious long-term health risks, such as:

• Chronic fatigue.
• Premature aging.
• Hypersensitive pneumonitis.
• Headaches.
• Asthma.
• Allergies.
• Skin irritations.

Additionally, the state of the building and its hygienic conditions can be compromised by the following causes:

• Sick building syndrome. It poses a risk to inhabitants by breathing dirty air, which can cause serious illnesses of various types.
• Increased likelihood of rodent or insect infestations. Dirt in ducts encourages the appearance of infestations of mice, rats, and cockroaches, among other animals.

For all these reasons, mechanically controlled ventilation systems must maintain proper hygiene and sanitation to ensure the comfort and health of its occupants.

Key hygiene points for ventilation systems

For proper cleaning of ventilation ducts, we need to consider the following aspects:

Prior inspection

It is advisable to open access to allow the entire system to be cleaned and inspected. This way, a diagnosis of the state of the installation can be made before cleaning it.

Thus, we ensure that there are no materials containing asbestos in the heating and cooling system. Materials containing asbestos require specialized procedures and should not be altered or removed except by specially trained and equipped technicians.

Proper procedures and equipment

Vacuum equipment should be specially chosen for this purpose. They must expel particles with high efficiency outside the house.

It is also advisable to protect carpets and furniture during cleaning. A well-controlled brushing of the duct surfaces should be used. This is combined with a contact vacuum cleaning to remove dust and other particles.

Soft bristle brushes are ideal for the fiberglass ducts. The same applies when these are metal sheets internally coated with fiberglass.

Regarding the flexible duct, we can clean it with soft bristle brushes. However, at times, it might be more economical to replace it with a new one.

Similarly, we recommend protecting the ducts, sealing, and re-insulating access holes to make them airtight.

Regular filter changes

Frequently replacing air filters is the best way to avoid dust, allergens, and other particles. The majority should be replaced every two to three months.

We leave you a video about the types of filters and their proper installation:In short, the cleaning of ventilation ducts is a fundamental task to guarantee the hygiene of the building and, consequently, the health of its members, which requires periodic and specialized maintenance. In this sense, you might be interested in knowing how to achieve the ideal humidity level at home.