Cleaning Rheia Ducts
Know when and how to clean your ducts
Do my supply ducts need to be cleaned?
As homeowners, we all want good quality indoor air, so regularly cleaning the ducts in our homes makes sense.
However, according to the EPA’s duct cleaning guidelines, air ducts should only be cleaned when:
– There is substantial visible mold growth inside hard surface (e.g., sheet metal) ducts or on other components of your heating and cooling system.
– Ducts are infested with vermin, e.g. (rodents or insects).
– Ducts are clogged with excessive amounts of dust and debris and/or particles are being released into the home from your supply registers.
Concerning indoor air quality (IAQ), the EPA states:
“Duct cleaning has never been shown to actually prevent health problems. Neither do studies conclusively demonstrate that particle (e.g., dust) levels in homes increase because of dirty air ducts. This is because much of the dirt in air ducts adheres to duct surfaces and does not necessarily enter the living space.”
When you take ownership of their new home, you should expect that the entire duct system is clean, free from debris, and a new air filter has been installed.
Inspect before cleaning
Photos of filthy, mold-ridden ducts can look scary, but in reality, ducts need to be cleaned only in rare cases of severe contamination. In those cases, professional duct inspection and air quality testing, will determine if the entire HVAC system should be cleaned.
Maintaining your Rheia system
Cleaning the return ducts and equipment
Rheia recommends cleaning the return ducts and HVAC equipment every few years using a professional contractor with access to the most up-to-date equipment and methods used by the duct cleaning industry. Also, ensure your HVAC equipment is serviced regularly as recommended by your HVAC contractor.
Replace air filters regularly
Rheia also recommends replacement of the air filter regularly. A dirty HVAC filter can restrict airflow in a HVAC system, which will cause it to run more than it should, resulting in higher energy bills, and potentially damaging the equipment. Clean or replace the HVAC filter regularly following your builder or HVAC company’s recommendations. Rheia recommends using the best quality filters available to protect the air quality in your home.
Cleaning the supply boots and diffusers
Rheia does not recommend cleaning our supply air ducts unless they have been inspected and tested for contamination and a recommendation has been made.
When professionally cleaning the Rheia supply ducts, the cleaning equipment must not exceed the maximum negative static pressure of the duct of 1” w.c.
Follow this step-by-step process to clean the Rheia supply boots and diffusers. Make sure you take the necessary safety precautions if you are using a ladder.