Regular Ductwork Cleaning and Maintenance is Essential for Energy Efficiency
Copyright (c) 2011 Alison Withers
Ductwork is part of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems and is used to deliver and remove air to ensure acceptable indoor air quality as well as thermal comfort.
Traditionally they are made of sheet metal which is then lagged with insulation, but they can also be made of fibreglass duct board panels with provide built-in thermal insulation or coiled wire with a plastic covering for flexible ducting.
A complete ductwork system will also include diffusers, air grills and filters as well as volume control and fire dampening mechanisms. The ductwork system should also be sealed to ensure that it is airtight and works efficiently.
Ductwork systems can be found in many buildings, such as apartment bocks, offices, factories, hospitals and schools and ideally they should be designed to the standards of the industry body HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning).
HVAC offers both training and information leaflets to ensure they are installed to the recommended industry standards, but there are many buildings throughout the UK that have older ductwork systems that may have been installed before the advent of the current standards.
All systems need regular ductwork cleaning and maintenance not only to ensure they are working efficiently and not using more energy than they need to but also because their purpose is to ensure the air quality and temperature in the buildings where they are used is the best possible for the occupants.
Building facilities managers have the responsibility for ensuring the health and safety of those living, using or working in large buildings and there may be additional reasons where occupants are frail as in residential homes for the elderly or vulnerable to infection as in hospitals.
Over time deposits collect in all ductwork systems, filters can become clogged and seals can weaken. These can all affect the system's efficiency and safety as well as increasing the risk of fire breaking out or of airborne infections being transmitted throughout a building.
Telltale signs of problems include more cleaning than usual needed in the building and after cleaning left over dust floating visibly in the air. The building's users may complain of headaches, nasal congestion, or other sinus problems and rooms may have little or no air flow coming from the vents.
Stale and musty odours when turning on a heating or air condition system are another sign and above average fluctuation in energy bills over the seasons.
Regular maintenance and duct cleaning using a specialist commercial cleaning company will ensure that any potential problems are identified before they become bigger and more costly and that the system is working efficiently.
About the Author
Regular checks and ductwork cleaning will ensure a heating or ventilation system is both energy efficient and delivering adequate and clean air to a building. By Ali Withers. http://www.pro-ductclean.com/air-duct-cleaning.asp
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