Typical Duct before Cleaning
After Cleaning & Coating 10 years later
DUCT CLEANING
Cleaning the round flex line & metal branches of the main trunk line is an important part of the duct cleaning process.
However standard duct cleaning equipment alone does a pour job of cleaning the square fiber glass trunk line and in most cases can cause more harm than good by damaging the integrity of the fiberglass surface causing loose fiberglass particles to discharge from the system. Plus dust will accumulate twice as fast because of more friction on the surface.
- Air diffusers, grilles, and registers are thoroughly washed and reset to previous positions and put back into place.
- Air handler equipment, including all fresh air intake and return ducts, heating and cooling coils, and fans should be thoroughly WASHED to purge them of dirt and contaminants.
- Where necessary we may event cut access panels into hard-to-reach areas to assure you of the most through cleaning job possible. Our vacuum cleaners feature a HEPA filtering system to maximize dirt removal and containment. High efficiency HEPA vacuums are used where air quality especially critical.
- While most companies simply vacuum as far they can reach into ducts, Air Quality Control specialists use MANUAL ENTRY to effectively reach and clean those hard to get areas within your ducts and HVAC system.
- Sanitizing: For added protection against bacteria virus, fungus, and mold within the HVAC system, your AQC specialist will apply a highly effective, EPA registered sanitizer to the interior surfaces of the duct work and air handling equipment.
- Surface coating: Where fiber-glass lined ductwork or duct board has become deteriorated or contaminated, an application of a protective coating can be applied to prevent fibers from breaking loose and entering the air flow. Additionally, this coating contains an antimicrobial agent that provides long term protection against the re-growth of mold and bacteria. This service is our most popular to accompany duct cleaning.
VERY IMPORTANT: Any cleaning method will create surface micro-porosity (microscopic deterioration of a porous surface). This creates undesirable conditions: More surface friction resulting in additional drag on air movement and surface erosion of the fiberglass resulting in more rapid re-accumulation of dirt and contaminants, plus fiberglass particles re-entering the air stream every time an a/c unit is running of fiberglass particles. Our surface coating also eliminates this problem.
For Fosters 40-20 Coating 10 year warranty, click here.
MOLD GETS 10 YEARS TO LIFE
The following case study involves a prominent upper midwest maximum security prison, which was built in 1982. The architect that designed the building won an award for innovative techniques in reducing energy consumption. In reducing energy consumption however, he ended up creating an environment conducive to mold growth on the interior surfaces of the duct work.
Complaints stemming from the building's air system resulted in the Warden hiring Pual Ellringer PE, CIH, to investigate and find a solution. Ellringer investigation uncovered elevated mold spore counts in the work environment. Examination of the duct system confirmed that mold was growing on the fibrous glass duct liner found in the building's ventilation system.
Above photo: prior to application of Foster 40-20 coating, fungal wipe samples on the fibrous glass duct liner showed average fungal levels of 45,000 colony forming units per square centimeter (cfu/cm2)
INITIAL TREATMENT FAILS
The duct system was cleaned of risible mold and fumigated with chlorine dioxide to sanitize the affected duct system. Less than one year later, additional inspection and testing of the ductwork reveals that the fungi was back, and had become as bad as before the initial treatment.
FOSTER 40-20 COATING TO THE RESCUE
Around this time, Ellringer was introduced to Foster 40-20 Fungicidal Protective Coating. it is a water based acrylic coating formulated for long term resistance to mold growth. Foster 40-20 coating could be applied directly to the fibrous glass duct liner surface providing a flexible, tough film that retards fiber release and erosion of the insulation.
After vacuuming the duct liner, Foster 40-20 coating was applied by airless sprayer in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications to designated areas, at the direction of Mr. Ellringer.
10 YEARS LATER
The ductwork was subsequently inspected, and the coating surface tested for fungi at one, three, and ten years after the initial coating application. At each inspection, testing and observations revealed continued significant fungal growth at locations where the coating was not applied. In areas where Foster 40-20 coating was applied, there was no visible mold on the coating surface, then surface wipe testing revealed no mold growth on the coating surface. Ten years later, the ductwork coated with Foster 40-20 coating looks as good visually as when it was originally applied. The Warden at the prison is extremely satisfied with the results of the foster 40-20 coating solution.
After ten years the fungal wipe samples from the coating surface areas showed an average of 7 cfu/cm2 -meaning nominal growth!
