Duct Cleaning in Cincinnati

In a typical sized home or small commercial building, up to 40 pounds of dust can accumulate annually. Quality Comfort’s residential and light commercial air duct cleaning service addresses dirty air ducts to improve indoor air quality and maximize the efficiency of your AC and furnace comfort systems.

Even with the use of filters, the system will get dirty over time. This is especially important when considering newly built homes or houses that have just undergone remodeling. The HVAC system that you have spent thousands of dollars to install is immediately exposed to pounds of dust and dirt. This makes it even more important to clean air ducts when moving into a new home or after a renovation.

Our Process

We have two different duct cleaning processes that we utilize depending upon the setup of your ductwork.

HEPA-powered Central Vacuum

1. An 8-inch circle will be cut into the supply and the return to connect our vacuum and access the entire trunk line. This is the most effective way to ensure that all of the supply and returns get cleaned completely and efficiently.
2. Your duct cleaning technician will insert a hose into each individual supply and return vent, cleaning each thoroughly. They will also ensure the vents are free of any blockage and clean them of any loose material.
3. Once each vent has been cleaned by hand with hoses then the professional grade equipment will put the entire air duct system under negative pressure and clean the vents and main trunk line with high pressured air to force all dirt and debris into a high-powered HEPA-filtered vacuum. 
4. Next your air duct cleaning expert will then apply an anti-microbial spray throughout the entire duct work system. This works as whole-home sanitation (and a lightly scented deodorizer) that will eliminate germs and bacteria that may be growing in your ductwork and leave you with a fresh smell. This all helps to ensure the air coming from your ducts is clean, fresh and healthy to breathe.

RAM Air Process

We utilize this process when there is no availability to hook a vacuum directly into the supply and return. With this process there is no need to cut holes in the ductwork.

1. A clear vacuum box will be affixed to each vent to help decrease debris escaping into the home.
2. A hose and ball assembly with compressed air fitting will be inserted into each individual supply and return vent. Once the hose reaches the desired vent depth it is turned on and the compressed air jets are activated, helping to push the assembly back toward to the top of the vent. The hose shoots dust and debris back toward the vacuum box and is boosted by the airflow generated by the air handler.
3. The ball attachment with jets can easily move around corners and is safe for all types of ductwork.
4. All dust and debris is pulled back into a compact HEPA filtered central vacuum and removed from the home.
5. Finally, we will complete the anti-microbial sanitation treatment throughout the ductwork.

How Our Duct Cleaning Price is Different

Often you are given a duct cleaning cost based on the number of vents in your home or, even more difficult, a price that only includes a certain number of vents and then there is an additional per vent charge above that. You don’t find out the additional cost to clean the entire home until the technician has arrived. How many people actually know exactly how many vents they have?

At Quality Comfort in Cincinnati, we want to be upfront and transparent with our duct cleaning price. Beware of those that say they offer $99 duct cleanings. We provide you with an air duct cleaning cost based on the square footage of your home that includes all of your vents, returns and main trunk line. This flat rate price will not change and there will be no surprises once the technician arrives that inflate the cost.

Another difference with our furnace duct clean service is that we include whole home sanitation with all of our vent cleanings. This helps to eliminate any odors, bacteria or mildew that may be growing in your ductwork. Other duct cleaning companies will charge extra for this service, but we feel it’s important, so we include it on every job! This treatment is not a replacement for mold remediation if a mold problem is pre-existing.

Please note that duct cleaning does not include dryer vent cleaning or bathroom exhausts, but either of those can be added to your service! You’ll receive a discount on your dryer vent cleaning when scheduling with a duct cleaning.

How Long Does Duct Cleaning Take?

Our typical air duct cleaning process takes approximately 3-4 hours depending on the size of the home and the number of duct cleaning technicians on the particular job. There are some other factors involved including the ability to remove the vent covers, the number of vents in the home and the amount of dirt and debris in the ductwork so this time can vary.

4 Benefits of Duct Cleaning

1. Healthier Air
   The air in your home is recirculated through you HVAC system over and over again. That includes any pet hair, skin cells, etc. that make it into the vents. Quality Comfort Home Services cleans and sanitizes all your ductwork. This will help clean anything that your filters may have missed or anything that went directly down into your vents and help to ensure the air in your home is fresher. It will also help deter any mold growth in the ducts. Keep in mind, though, it will not treat pre-existing mold.
2. Removes Unpleasant Odors
   The buildup of bacteria, mold, dust and other particulates in your air ducts can lead to a stale smell in your home that isn’t actually coming from the fridge like you thought! Furnace duct cleaning helps remove contaminants that produce this smell.
3. Reduces Dust
   The dust and debris we generate in our home gets recirculated into your HVAC system 5-7 times per day. Did you know that a lot of the dust you see is actually skin cells? Yuck!  A lot of this resides in your ductwork. Cleaning out the largest source of dust in the home will allow you to dust less and breathe cleaner air in the months to come.
4. Improves HVAC System Performance
   According to the US Department of Energy, 24 to 40% of the energy using for heating and cooling a home is wasted. Dust and dirt buildup will lessen the operating efficiency of your HVAC system, causing it to work harder and shorten its life span. Removing this buildup will increase its efficiency, allowing your system to run longer and more affordably.

How Often Should I Clean My Ducts?

At Quality Comfort, we recommend duct cleaning annually if you suffer from any respiratory ailments. If you have pets, every 2 years is a good schedule for air duct cleaning. For those with no pets and low foot traffic in the home, every 3 years is recommended for an AC duct clean. Finally, we always recommend a vent cleaning after any water damage, home renovation projects or upon moving into a new home because nobody wants to live other people’s dust and debris in their air, right?

According to the NADCA, these factors can increase the need for regular air duct cleaning:

•  Having pets
•  Occupants with respiratory ailments such as asthma
•  Occupants that suffer from allergies
•  Cigarette or cigar smoke
•  Water damage to the home or HVAC system
•  Home renovation or remodeling

If you suffer from severe respiratory or allergy issues, have numerous pets, or have other serious concerns about the quality of your air, we recommend learning more about our air quality products.

After Your Duct Cleaning FAQ

Here are our most commonly asked questions after a duct cleaning.

Q: Is a slight burning smell after a cleaning normal?

A: Yes! Especially in the heating season you may notice a slight burning smell for a short time after your vent cleaning has been completed. This is just a small amount of remaining dust that was broken loose during cleaning and is being burned off by the HVAC system. This is the same type of smell you may notice when turning on the furnace for the first time in the heating season and it completely normal.

Q: Will I need to change my filter after my air duct cleaning?

A: Yes, we recommend checking the filter 2-3 days after your cleaning. With all the dust and debris that was moved through the system the filter typically needs to be changed afterward.