 The length of time between duct cleanings is wholly dependent upon the operating conditions of your heating and air conditioning system. If you furnace is taken care of each year through a maintenance plan and a well-fitting air cleaner is used (not those throw away cheap things) then you will never have to clean your ducts because they will never get dirty.
There are many type of filters on the market and nearly universally they don’t work. I have tested, in my classroom, many different types of furnace filters and there is little difference, other than price between, between the pleated ones and the $3 throwaway types. Certainly not enough difference to bother with.
There are a few exceptions:
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3M Filtrete
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IQ Air Perfect 16
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AccuClean
We tested the top dozen or filters used in the industry with a particle counter in our classroom. Our classroom air tested at about 1,200,000 particles of debris in the air per cubic of 3 microns and larger. this is a common amount that we see in homes where people have breathing difficulties. Every filter we tested other than the three types above tested between 875,000 to 950,000 parts per cubic foot upon a single pass. That is failing grade.
The 3M filtrate dropped the amount of particulates to 425,000 on a single pass. Very good for a cheap filter and I recommend this one for heating only systems. Do not use it on air conditioning systems without a contractor installing multiple return air registers. The amount of pressure loss from restriction on this filter is too much for a standard air conditioning system and it will cost you upwards of a Ton of air conditioning loss. We move less air in gas heating mode so this restriction is much less.
The IQ Air Perfect 16 is guaranteed to get your air a least 10 times cleaner. With a first pass we achieved 250, 000 particles and after running for about 20 minutes it did indeed come in below 120,000 particles per cubic feet. That is outstanding air purity. I recommend this for any system, heating or cooling, where allergies are a concern and sensitivity to ozone is present.
The American Standard AccuClean (same as Trane CleanEffects) brought the level of particulates down to 40,000 in the first pass and hovered between 0 and 12000 after 20 minutes of operation. I have and American Standard AccuClean in my own home.
Common cleaning chemicals found in the laundry room when mixed with air, natural gas and heat can cause a caustic reaction and prematurely rust a firebox. If your furnace is located next to your washing machine you should, when the time comes, switch it out to a closed combustion chambered furnace that pulls the air it burners from outside the home.
Venting Partially Blocked
If the cap on the roof collapses or the inner liner to the furnaces dual venting system is damaged the obstruction of flue gases can cause the furnace to overheat causing damage.
Improper Installation
This is second most common reason for premature furnace failure. Ducts too small, too long and the return air cavity obstructed or too small can choke a furnace to death. The condensation line from the evaporator coil running uphill can cause water to dump on and into the furnace burning out electrical controls and rusting the furnace over the years.
This is so critical that the manufacturers of furnaces no longer offer any warranty or guarantee to any furnace purchased on line. It is hard enough to get contractors to do good quality work. Furnace installations are not for the untrained. Always demand a permit and city inspection. It will protect you from most poor quality craftsmanship.
Poor Furnace Design
The biggest furnace recall, Consolidated Industries-Premier Furnace, was caused by poor quality metal, over fired burners and a blower motor that didn’t put out as much air as the manufacturer stated. Many furnaces on the market are not designed very well and these design deficiencies make for more service work. Not all furnaces are created equal. |
