Cleaning of air ducts, including flexible, wire-helix type, has become a common practice as more-and-more companies offer this service.
Typical cleaning tools may include simple brushes and a number of pneumatic style agitation and cleaning devices. Accumulated debris is loosened from inside ducts by power brushing or manual brushing. Pneumatic devices such as blowguns, air skippers and air whips are often utilized to drive agitated debris to a collection device which is typically a vacuum device used to create negative pressure within the HVAC system that collects contaminants during the cleaning process.
ATCO recommends that flexible duct be cleaned by qualified technicians following the procedures outlined by the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA).
We caution that flexible duct inner liners may potentially be damaged by overly aggressive contaminant removal techniques, such as high-pressure blow guns, air skipper, and air whips. If used to clean flexible duct, these devices should be handled appropriately in order to prevent damage to the inner liner during the cleaning process.
ATCO has evaluated the cleaning of our flexible air ducts and air connectors following the rotating brush and vacuum process per NADCA procedures. During this evaluation we found this cleaning process to be effective in dust and dirt removal and the process did not exhibit any apparent damage to the interior liner of our duct during the cleaning process.
If cleaning of ATCO flexible duct is needed, care should be taken in the selection and application of any cleaning process. When cleaning is finished, any connections that required opening must be properly resealed in order to maintain air tightness and duct thermal properties.