Professional duct cleaners use specialized equipment containing high-efficiency filtration systems to ensure all contaminants are contained during the cleaning process. Key methods of containment and filtration include:
•Sealed duct cleaning systems:
Professional vacuum equipment is connected to sealed hoses, boots and internal filtration systems that fully encapsulate the entire duct section being cleaned. No loose hoses or open duct ends are left exposed. Each section is sealed off before accessing to fully contain debris within the system.
•Negative air pressure:
Powerful vacuums create up to 1000-1500 Pascals of negative pressure within sealed duct sections. Air is drawn inward, preventing any dust from leaking out. Only when filters are opened can air flow in or out again. Negative pressure, along with sealed systems, makes containment physically impossible.
•Inner hose filtration:
Inner hoses use fibrous, electrostatic media filters that capture at least 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns in size. These high-efficiency filters prevent even microscopic particles from passing through to surrounding areas, trapping them within the sealed system.
•Outer HEPA filtration: Secondary outer filtration uses HEPA filters that capture at least 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns. The HEPA filter acts as an additional barrier to ensure only clean air flows out from the duct cleaning equipment to surrounding spaces. Multiple HEPA filters may be used for maximum efficiency.
•Sealing duct openings: Vents and any other openings to ducts are fully sealed during and after cleaning using duct sealant tape. This prevents escape of any debris that may have gotten past the sealed system and HEPA filters. Supply vents especially are critical to seal to avoid re-contaminating already cleaned ducts.
•Filter monitoring: Pressure monitoring gauges continuously monitor the pressure differences across filters to ensure no bypass during cleaning. If pressure drops, work stops immediately to inspect and restore full filtration integrity before proceeding.
•Final inspection: Once all cleaning is complete, a final walkthrough inspection is performed to ensure no remaining debris, dust or damage is left behind. Visual checks are made inside vents and any debris found cleaned up to provide maximum assurance of full containment.
In summary, professional air duct cleaners utilize containment and filtration advanced sealed systems, negative pressure, high-efficiency filters and monitoring to fully contain all dust, dirt and debris during the duct cleaning process. With the proper equipment and technique, duct cleaning absolutely does not need to result in a big mess, even when performing this necessary and beneficial service.