HVAC Inspection
HVAC remediation projects often begin with a comprehensive inspection of the existing conditions. This inspection generally requires multiple fields of knowledge. DUCTZ professionals undergo continuous training and obtain emerging, nationally recognized certifications in numerous disciplines. However, when the situation calls for additional fields of expertise with specific credentials outside of our own expertise, we call upon our established critical relationships with Certified Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) laboratories, industrial hygienists, IAQ engineers, architects, system designers, mechanical contractors, test and balance firms and restoration companies to build IAQ solutions for your specific needs. Over the years our customers have repeatedly told us that single source solutions are what they want. DUCTZ professionals understand that your time is valuable and are here to help you save time in managing the expertise and resources you need.
DUCTZ professionals are an indispensable source of knowledge about HVAC restoration and IAQ; we serve customers nationwide, everyday, in commercial and residential markets. DUCTZ professionals are part of a skilled work force that offers intelligent, investigative and affordable solutions.
DUCTZ professionals are certified, qualified and trained to offer comprehensive inspections and build the right team and the right solutions to fit your HVAC restoration project and IAQ needs.
How to Determine if the Duct Cleaner did a Thorough Job
A thorough visual inspection is the best way to verify the cleanliness of your heating and cooling system. Digital photography is another way to document conditions inside ducts. All portions of the system should be visibly clean; you should not be able to detect any debris with the naked eye. Review the Post-Cleaning Consumer Checklist with your DUCTZ professional before the work begins. After completing the job, ask the DUCTZ professional to show you each component of your system to verify that the job was performed satisfactorily or pictorial documentation of their Quality Assurance Protocol.
If you answer “No” to any of the questions on the checklist, this may indicate an incomplete job or a service you have not requested. Ask your DUCTZ professional to correct any deficiencies until you can answer “yes” to all the questions on the checklist.
This checklist has been provided by:
EPA-402-K-97-002, October 1997
| Consumer Post-Cleaning Checklist | Yes | No | |
| General | Did the service provider obtain access to and clean the entire heating and cooling system, including ductwork and all components (drain pans, humidifiers, coils, and fans)? | ||
| Has the service provider adequately demonstrated that duct work and plenums are clean? (Plenum is a space in which supply or return air is mixed or moves; can be duct, joist space, attic and crawl spaces, or wall cavity.) | |||
| Heating | Is the heat exchanger surface visibly clean? | ||
| Cooling Components |
Are both sides of the cooling coil visibly clean? | ||
| If you point a flashlight into the cooling coil, does light shine through the other side? It should if the coil is clean. | |||
| Are the coil fins straight and evenly spaced (as opposed to being bent over and smashed together)? | |||
| Is the coil drain pan completely clean and draining properly? | |||
| Blower | Are the blower blades clean and free of oil and debris? | ||
| Is the blower compartment free of visible dust or debris? | |||
| Plenums | Is the return air plenum free of visible dust or debris? | ||
| Do filters fit properly and are they the proper efficiency as recommended by HVAC system manufacturer? | |||
| Is the supply air plenum (directly downstream of the air handling unit) free of moisture stains and contaminants? | |||
| Metal Ducts | Are interior ductwork surfaces free of visible debris? (Select several sites at random in both the return and supply sides of the system.) | ||
| Fiber Glass | Is all fiber glass material in good condition (i.e., free of tears and abrasions; well adhered to underlying materials)? | ||
| Access Doors |
Are newly installed access doors in sheet metal ducts attached with more than just duct tape (e.g., screws, rivets, mastic, etc.)? | ||
| With the system running, is air leakage through access doors or covers very slight or non-existent? | |||
| Air Vents | Have all registers, grilles, and diffusers been firmly reattached to the walls, floors, and/or ceilings? | ||
| Are the registers, grilles, and diffusers visibly clean? | |||
| System Operation |
Does the system function properly in both the heating and cooling modes after cleaning? | ||
This checklist is taken from:
Indoor Environments Division (6607J)
Office of Air and Radiation (OAR)
EPA-402-K-97-002, October 1997
“Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned?”
