Cleaning the ductwork in your Vidor, Texas, home may seem like the perfect project for a seasoned DIYer. After all, ductwork cleaning is an important part of HVAC maintenance, and ductwork doesn’t look as complicated or dangerous as, say, electrical wiring. However, when you DIY your ductwork cleaning, you can easily do more harm than good.
In fact, DIY duct cleaning can actually be a self-defeating effort. Think about why you would undertake this project yourself: to improve indoor air quality, increase HVAC efficiency, and save money (versus the cost of professional services). Each of these goals could be thwarted by a DIY effort.
You Probably Don’t Have the Right Tools
First of all, the average DIYer doesn’t have the right tools to properly clean ductwork. Professionals use special rotary brushes and a high-powered vacuum — equipment you aren’t likely to have on hand. If you buy what you need, you may end up spending close to what you’d pay a professional. Plus, you have to deal with the hassle of setup and storage.
You Could Leave Contaminants Behind
Since it will be difficult for you to clean your ductwork thoroughly without professional tools, you may end up leaving behind more dust and debris than you remove. That means that, for all your trouble, you may not even be rewarded with better indoor air quality.
You could even endanger yourself if there’s any asbestos present. One of the first things an HVAC professional will do before cleaning your ducts is check your system for asbestos-containing materials, which need to be removed by trained contractors using special equipment and procedures.
You Could Damage Your HVAC System
Finally, lacking the proper expertise, your attempts at duct cleaning could result in damage to your HVAC system. Even a small tear in the ductwork — perhaps too small for you to notice — will affect the efficiency of your system. On the other end of the spectrum, major damage could require an expensive professional repair.
Remember: duct cleaning should never be undertaken by anyone other than an HVAC professional. If you suspect your ductwork needs a good cleaning, give Thermacon Service Company a call at 866-797-1535.
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