It is a common myth that people think that they cannot have their air ducts cleaned if they live in a mobile home. This is half true. Most companies that offer air duct cleaning, use what is called “negative air” machines. This is equipment that sucks out debris while the duct is being agitated heavily. This type of equipment can be pretty rough and is not recommended for mobile homes. If you want your air ducts cleaned you must use a “rotory brush vacuum” with a soft bristle brush. This type of equipment is mainly for residential ducts and the latter is more popular for commercial applications. In mobile homes there are a lot of soft flexible ducting. A spinning brush vacuum with soft bristles is the only way to clean this type of duct.
Mobile home ducts are especially susceptible to dust and debris since they are located in the floor. Often times the ducts are not sealed very well and anything from pet dander to insects can easily accumulate in them. It is recommended that you have your ducts professionally cleaned approximately every one to three years.
The most critical part of the duct system to clean is the return side. This is where the real scary stuff collects. Mobile homes do not have a traditional return system. Typically the compartment that the furnace sits in and the furnace itself is the return. With this in mind, it is important to have your furnace professionally cleaned and serviced every year.
Once the ducts are cleaned out by a professional, sanitizing can take place. Think of sanitizing like cleaning a kitchen table after you have eaten, once you remove the crumbs, you then spray a cleaner to disinfect so as not to promote unwanted bacteria growth. The same is true for your ducts. An anti-microbial agent is fogged into the duct work killing any fungus, mold or bacteria that might have been growing. This part is vital to ones respiratory health. Most companies use a gentle ant-microbial agent that will not put you out of your house.
It is important to think about what you are doing and what you are preventing. Most people do not think about the hidden dangers inside of their air ducts. It is out of site and out of mind. You will benefit greatly getting your mobile home air ducts cleaned. A service that will pay for itself in healthy air to breathe.