Why you should regularly clean your home oven ducts

“You’ll be amazed at what we found in duct systems”

The flow of air in a house can be obstructed in any way. How Tyler Phinney (Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic ’12) Remember, some are a little weird.

Phinney currently owns and operates Leduc-based KTP Mechanical Services, which installs and serves heating, air conditioning, hot water and more. But he started in the industry 20 years ago doing oven cleaning.

The strangest thing he found in the ventilation of the house floor during a job is not suitable for posting on Techlifetoday. The second weirdest … well, probably not either.

“You’ll be amazed at what we found in the duct systems,” Phinney says with a laugh. “A lot of people forget about the things they hide there.”

The most popular items include golf balls, hockey cards and toys (which can go down to the oven heater and melt).

Phinney’s company doesn’t clean the pipes, but she knows why it’s essential to keep them free of weird rubbish and all sorts of dust and debris, and just as importantly, she knows what needs to be done right.

Why ducts need to be cleaned

The ducts provide heated or cooled air to all the rooms in your home and therefore to your lungs. “The dust and everything that builds up in your ductwork sits there until you clean it,” Phinney says. “And that’s what you’re breathing.”

Somehow, your oven is breathing it too. The oven filter will trap some waste when it returns through the indoor return air system, but it can only handle so much.

“If you have a dirty filter, it restricts airflow to the fan motor,” says Phinney. This can mean that less air moves from the furnace through the ducts and therefore a less comfortable home.

How to clean

This is not a small business, which takes between an hour and a half and three hours, says Phinney, depending on the size of the house.

To begin with, a cleaner will insert a vacuum hose into the oven above the heating elements (so as not to vacuum dirt). Don’t be surprised if they need to cut a 10-inch (25-centimeter) hole in the duct work to do this; they will fix it later. They can even remove the motor from the fan.

“When they go through the vacuum cleaner, they’ll put covers on all the vents, so the system is very tight,” Phinney says. They will then move from room to room, opening vents and blowing air down to help the vacuum cleaner remove all dust and old hockey cards. They will clean the vents and grilles before replacing them. The return air system receives the same treatment.

In addition, Phinney adds, “a good company will hit everything: while they have the vacuum hose running, they spray the whole oven to get all the dust out.”

How often the ducts should be cleaned

Phinney recommends cleaning the ducts every three to five years. Opt for the lower end of the spectrum if you have pets or smokers in your home.

Similarly, if you move to a new home, do a cleaning if the builder did not, he adds. Ducts are like rubbish bins for dust and construction waste.

The best (or worst) time to clean up

Be aware that the cleaner will run a hose through the front door or basement window for the duration of the job.

“If you do it when it’s -20 C, it’s going to be cold,” Phinney says. “The oven will be off and there will be a major current in your home.”

What it should cost

Expect to spend between $ 200 and $ 500. “It all depends on the size of your house and how many fans you have.”

How To Find A Good Duct Cleaning Company

Phinney recommends that homeowners be careful with great oven cleaning deals.

“There are so many scams out there. Especially on Facebook, there are companies that offer $ 99 domestic duct cleaning. If you’re paying $ 99 and you know it will take three hours to do that, things don’t line up.”

Veterinary companies through Google reviews, he adds, and the Better Business Bureau. Before someone arrives, consider doing yourself a favor. Open the grilles and go inside. You never know what you’ll find.

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