Regular air duct cleaning and coil cleaning can help improve indoor air quality in a home. That's because heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems collect a variety of contaminants that can affect health including mold, bacteria and tiny particles of dust.

With more than 17 years experience cleaning air ducts and coils, Steamatic of Sacramento follows the industry standards established by the National Air Duct Cleaning Association and recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency.

S.O.S. is NADCA-certified for cleaning HVAC systems. S.O.S. has met the stringent requirements for NADCA certification that include certified Air System Cleaning Specialists (ASCS) on staff and adherence to a code of ethics.

As part of our service, trained S.O.S. technicians clean the air ducts, wash the registers, clean the air handling unit, and sanitize and clean the coils. Regular cleaning of your HVAC system is recommended.

Although not part of our services, sealing your air ducts can improve air quality and decrease energy use. The Sacramento Municipal Utility District offers a rebate.

Air Duct Cleaning
S.O.S. technicians use a source removal system to clean air ducts. They set up negative air flow in the ducts with a powerful vacuum system. As the vacuum draws air through the ducts, our technicians insert agitation equipment to loosen any particles adhering to the surfaces.

Because 90 percent of the air ducts in California are constructed with the more delicate flex ducting, S.O.S. technicians use soft brushes or air whips to dislodge debris without damaging most ducts. Loosened debris travels to the vacuum system's collection device that is HEPA filtered to prevent any particle migration into occupied areas.

In some situations replacing air ducts is a better option than cleaning them. Because of normal degradation over time, older plastic-lined flex ducts could be damaged by the cleaning process.

As for equipment, S.O.S. has invested in the most state-of-the-art duct cleaning system available on the market. Our LifaAir equipment is manufactured in Finland. Also, our duct-cleaning auger is equipped with a video camera that transmits to a hand held monitor. The camera allows S.O.S. technicians to inspect ducts for possible problems before or while cleaning them.

As part of our duct cleaning service, S.O.S. technicians clean the registers and the air handling unit, and they clean and sanitize the coils and drip pan. They also clean washable filters and recommend replacement of other filters if needed. Most HVAC units have filters that can be washed or replaced by homeowners, which should be done regularly to help maintain indoor air quality.

Coil Cleaning
The newest research by NADCA and other industry organizations has discovered that coils must be cleaned more frequently than ducts to maintain good indoor air quality. Coils are the portion of a heat pump or central air conditioning system that functions as a heat transfer point for warming or cooling air. Because of condensation, debris and contaminants such as bacteria and mold build up much faster on the coils and drip pans than inside the ducts. Keeping coils clean also reduces energy costs.

After gaining access to the coils, which may require installing a door, S.O.S. technicians vacuum and brush to coils to remove the debris. They use a sanitizing chemical to clean the coils and then rinse them with clear water.

Frequency of HVAC cleaning
Because of new research, S.O.S. recommends that consumers have their HVAC coils cleaned and decontaminated annually.

However, there no hard and fast rule on how often ducts should be cleaned although ideally it should be done every few years. NADCA states that reasons for more frequent cleaning include:

            • Smokers in the home

            • Pets that shed

            • Water contamination or damage to the home or HVAC system

            • Residents with allergies or asthma

            • After home renovations

            • Prior to occupancy of a new home