NADCA recommends keeping your HVAC system clean to help it run as efficiently as possible, saving you money in the process.

There are many culprits for air contaminants in the home or office, and many of them are innocent staples of daily life. Pet hair, dander, and dust are just a few of the things that can live with us in our homes. The HVAC system heating and cooling the air can accumulate these particulates over time within the ducts and other mechanical parts, causing it to work harder to maintain the same temperatures. 

The U.S. Department of Energy reports that 25 to 40 percent of the energy used for heating and cooling is wasted. Dirty ducts can contribute to this loss of energy, so regular cleaning is a good way to be sure you are using the system efficiently. Unfortunately, the act of cleaning a duct insulated with duct liner can be difficult due to the rough, porous surfaces of many duct liner products. Since these products will absorb moisture, a dry agitation method must be used to clean these products. These methods dislodge dirt particles from the liner as a vacuum system captures the contaminates. While these methods may be effective, they require a fair amount of equipment and have the potential to damage the duct liner.  AP Armaflex® Duct Liner has a smooth surface that will not absorb water so it can easily be cleaned with a damp cloth with very little equipment and no risk of damage to the liner.  

A certified cleaning also includes inspection of all of the HVAC components, including whether or not the duct liner has failed.  This inspection is important as failed duct liner means energy loss because the insulation is not functioning as intended. 

Duct liner can fail in a few different ways, especially if it is not properly installed. For example, the adhesive, or other fastening method, can fail and cause the liner to separate from the duct wall and block airflow. In addition, pieces of the insulation may erode or break off and be blown downstream, in which case they can land on other parts of the system causing potential hazards. Fiber free duct insulation, like AP Armaflex®, resists erosion and delamination better than fiberglass insulation, requiring fewer replacements over time. As a result, choosing a longer lasting product, like AP Armaflex®, can help you save money on replacement costs, as well as keep your energy bills low by staying intact and in place.

To learn more about energy saving and duct cleaning, you can visit the NADCA website here.