A/C Duct Cleaning

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Michelle Moreland Orlando - 23 Sep 2006 16:24 GMT

Have a 41 yr old home that in the past summers when it has been very
hot during the summer, has developed black stuff on top of air vents
and ceilings in several of the rooms.

Has anyone used a reputable air duct cleaning company to clean out the
vents from an old house like this?

I have used diluted bleach water and scrubbed the area but it comes
back again and also a solution of water and borax, but the ducts need
cleaning where we can't get to.

I have asthma and use hepa filters and a good a/c filter regularly and
change it when I am supposed to.
We have had an extremely dry spring and summer and now the rains are
starting with the fronts and it has been in the triple digits in temps
until last of Aug here in SCentral Texas and now it has been very
humid and dry all this week and it seems the a/c has some
condensation.

Please, if anyone has used the duct cleaning, respond.

Thank you,
Michelle

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Bart Byers - 27 Sep 2006 17:32 GMT

> Have a 41 yr old home that in the past summers when it has been very
> hot during the summer, has developed black stuff on top of air vents
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
> Thank you,
> Michelle

In Florida they must be licensed. Talk to past customers.

If an A/C stays on a lot, water can condense in ducts. That causes dust
to cake and provides an environment for mold and bacteria. It's
especially bad if the lining is fiberglass. It seems the only way to
clean it is to open ducts to use a brush. Even then, mold may return.

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eVe Giidiion - 03 Oct 2006 22:38 GMT

>Have a 41 yr old home that in the past summers when it has been very
>hot during the summer, has developed black stuff on top of air vents
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>Thank you,
>Michelle

This is more of a question than a helpful response, but I was
wondering how long you have used the Hepa filters in that home.
I would thank that the long term use of the Hepa filter would have to
significantly reduce the amount of muck in the vents. But, I guess,
even if it only lets through 0.09% of muck, that would still build up
over time.
FWIW, I had my vents cleaned by a "professional" service. The house
was "used" and we had just moved in. It seemed to help decrease the
bad odor of the previous owner. In addition to vacuuming my ducts,
they also "disinfected" them. I am sure they use that term very
loosely.
Anyway, if you get it done, I'd recommend a basic job. Mine was
pretty cheap - maybe $100 IIRC. However, they try to pitch all these
expensive add-ons that I didn't go for.
Not very helpful I'll admit, but I try.
Also, I've seen a lot of people get razzed in the Home Improvement
Newsgroup for having their vents blow/vacuumed.

eVe GiiDiiOn

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Phyllis Stone - 15 Oct 2006 15:24 GMT

...

>>Have a 41 yr old home that in the past summers when it has been very
>>hot during the summer, has developed black stuff on top of air vents
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>>Thank you,
>>Michelle

We live in Houston so Ac stays on almost year round. We had ours cleaned a
few years ago. My husband was having allergy problems. The truck was cute
beyond belief with these little vacuum stacks on top. It took almost all day
(our house is not large, about 1900sq. feet) They seemed very thorough, it
cost about $5oo. To be totally honest I could not tell any difference. It
turned out my husband had polyps anyway and had to have surgery. The people
who did the duct cleaning said it would never have to be done again, which
made no sense. But we were trying to do everything we could to help him. I
think the most important thing is changing the filters often. Very often.

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Homeowner Forum / Cleaning / October 2006

A/C Duct Cleaning