The Tools & Equipment Used for Professional Duct Cleaning

Are you planning to have the air ducts in your home cleaned? If so, you’re making a smart move. Duct cleaning helps improve your indoor air quality and can also help prolong the lifespan and improve the efficiency of your furnace and air conditioner. But if you’ve never scheduled a duct cleaning appointment before, you may be wondering what to expect.

At Dust Doctors, we’re here to fill you in! Below, we’re sharing the type of equipment that reputable, professional duct cleaning companies use to clean your air ducts. If a company doesn’t use these tools, they won’t clean your ducts as well as they should.

Duct Access Tools

Duct cleaning specialists must access your home’s ductwork at several points — not just the intake and return vents — to clean the duct system thoroughly.

To create these other access points, expect the pros to use small, handheld tools like drills and screwdrivers to form small holes in the ducts (which will be sealed later). These small entry points allow the cleaning team to thoroughly inspect and clean every square inch of your ducts.

Ductwork Inspection Equipment

Before your duct cleaning team gets work cleaning the duct system, they must perform a thorough inspection to assess the state of the ducts. To do this, they’ll likely use a camera system or periscope that delivers a real-time video feed of the interior of the ductwork.

The pros will not only assess the amount of dust and debris inside the ductwork but also look for damaged or deteriorated areas that may allow air to leak out. If your ducts could use repairs or are so damaged they should be replaced, the pros will let you know.

Think you might have deteriorated ducts? Check out our tips for determining whether you need duct cleaning, repair, or replacement.

Vacuum Tools and Debris Collection Equipment

Vacuum tools are designed to create negative pressure within the duct system, so none of the dust and debris can travel back through the vents and enter your living areas.

At Dust Doctors, we use a high-powered, truck-mounted vacuum that sucks all of the debris out of the duct system and houses it in a large collection tank outside your home. Keeping collection equipment outdoors helps us ensure that no debris enters the interior of your home during the cleaning process.

It’s also common for the pros to use portable vacuum units when properly situating a truck-mounted vacuum may not be possible at apartment complexes and other dwellings where parking is limited.

Ductwork Brushes

Manual brushes and pneumatic agitation and cleaning devices are also staples in the professional duct cleaning process. These tools are designed to scrub stuck-on dust and debris from the walls of the ductwork, so the vacuum equipment can efficiently remove that debris from the interior of the duct system.

Air whips, blowguns, and air skippers are commonly used inside ducts that can handle more aggressive cleaning techniques. Hand-powered tools are more commonly used inside fiberglass-lined ductwork and flex duct, both of which require gentler cleaning tactics. 

Compressed Air Equipment

Air compressors provide a source of air for pneumatically powered brushes and other cleaning devices that require substantial air pressure to function properly.

Looking for a Reputable Duct Cleaning Company in Minneapolis or St. Paul?

Ready to get your air ducts cleaned and improve your indoor air quality? Get in touch with our team at Dust Doctors to schedule an appointment! For more than 15 years, we’ve provided comprehensive duct cleaning and air purification services throughout the Twin Cities metro and when you need thoroughly clean ductwork, we’re here for you, too.

To get a service estimate or learn more about what we can do to improve your indoor air quality, call us today at 651-319-9777 or request a free quote online, and we’ll be in touch!