DAVESDUCTS • HVAC FAQ • TORONTO & THE GTA
Straight Answers to Common HVAC & Duct-System Questions
Learn more about whole-home HEPA filtration, professional air duct
cleaning and Aeroseal duct sealing before deciding what makes sense
for your home or HVAC system.
START HERE
Three Different Services. Three Different Purposes.
Duct cleaning, duct sealing and air filtration are often
discussed together, but they solve different problems.
HEPA Filtration
Designed to capture fine airborne particles as air passes
through the filtration system.
Air Duct Cleaning
Removes accumulated dust, debris and contamination from
accessible HVAC system components and ductwork.
Aeroseal Duct Sealing
Targets qualifying duct leakage, including leaks that may
be difficult to access manually.
Whole-Home HEPA Filtration Questions
Whole-house filtration is intended to improve particle
removal from the air moving through the filtration system.
What does HEPA mean?
HEPA stands for High-Efficiency Particulate Air.
A true HEPA filter is designed to capture at least
99.97% of particles at the filtration standard’s
specified test size of 0.3 microns.
How is a HEPA system different from a regular furnace filter?
A standard HVAC filter primarily protects the HVAC
equipment and provides varying levels of particle filtration.
A dedicated HEPA system is designed for substantially
higher particle-capture efficiency.
Does HEPA filtration solve every indoor-air-quality problem?
No. Indoor air quality can also be affected by humidity,
ventilation, building materials, combustion appliances,
pets, outdoor contaminants and other sources. HEPA
filtration is primarily a particle-filtration strategy.
What are VOCs?
VOCs are volatile organic compounds — gases released
by certain products, finishes, furnishings, cleaners
and building materials. Particle filters and gas-phase
filtration are not the same thing.
How do you size a whole-home HEPA system?
Filtration capacity should be matched to the space,
HVAC configuration and desired air-change rate.
How often do HEPA filters need replacement?
Replacement frequency depends on filter design, runtime,
occupancy, pets, renovation activity and indoor particulate
load. Follow the equipment manufacturer’s recommendations.
We Can Review Your HVAC Configuration
DAVESDUCTS can review your system and recommend filtration
options appropriate for the equipment and the concern you
are trying to address.
Professional Air Duct Cleaning Questions
Professional duct cleaning should address the HVAC system,
not simply vacuum the visible register openings.
What is professional air duct cleaning?
Air duct cleaning generally involves cleaning accessible
supply and return ductwork and applicable HVAC system
components using source-removal methods designed to
capture loosened debris.
How do I know whether my ducts actually need cleaning?
Cleaning may be worth investigating where there is visible
excessive debris, contamination following construction,
evidence of pests, significant dust accumulation or another
identifiable HVAC cleanliness issue.
Do ducts need to be cleaned every year?
No. Under normal conditions, professional duct cleaning
should not be treated as an annual service. Frequency
depends on renovations, pets, occupancy, filtration and
actual HVAC system condition.
What’s the difference between duct cleaning and vent cleaning?
Vent cleaning typically means cleaning the visible register
or a short distance inside the opening. Professional air
duct cleaning addresses the actual supply and return system
and applicable HVAC components.
Does professional duct cleaning require a truck-mounted vacuum?
Not necessarily. Different professional source-removal
systems can be effective when correctly selected and used.
Technician training, containment, agitation and procedure
matter more than simply whether the vacuum is truck-mounted.
Why does NADCA certification matter?
NADCA provides standards, training and professional
certifications related to HVAC-system inspection,
cleaning and restoration. DAVESDUCTS is a
NADCA-certified company.
Can duct cleaning damage ductwork?
Poor technique can damage fragile or deteriorated
ductwork, dislodge existing material or spread debris
if proper containment is not used.
Should chemical treatments automatically be applied after cleaning?
No. Chemical treatments should not be treated as a
substitute for physical removal of dust and debris.
Any treatment should be selected for a specific purpose
and used according to the product instructions.
We’d Rather Help You Decide First
If you are unsure whether cleaning is appropriate,
DAVESDUCTS can help review the condition before you book
a service your system may not need.
Aeroseal Duct Sealing Questions
Aeroseal is used to seal qualifying duct leakage after
major mechanical defects have been addressed.
What is Aeroseal?
Aeroseal is an aerosol-based duct-sealing process.
The HVAC equipment is isolated and the duct system
is pressurized while sealant particles are introduced
into the airflow.
What problems can Aeroseal help correct?
Aeroseal is intended to reduce qualifying duct leakage,
including leakage at joints, seams and hidden areas that
may be difficult to access manually.
Can Aeroseal repair broken or disconnected ducts?
No. Major openings, disconnected sections, collapsed
ducts and other mechanical defects require physical repair.
DAVESDUCTS addresses accessible major defects before sealing.
How large a leak can Aeroseal seal?
Aeroseal is designed for smaller duct leaks rather than
major openings. Openings larger than approximately
5/8 inch generally require manual repair.
Will Aeroseal coat the inside of my ductwork?
No. The process is designed so that sealant accumulates
primarily at qualifying leak locations rather than creating
a continuous coating over the duct interior.
Is there an odor during Aeroseal?
A mild temporary odor may be noticeable during and shortly
after the sealing process. DAVESDUCTS ventilates and manages
the work area as part of the procedure.
Should people and pets remain in the home during sealing?
We generally recommend that occupants and pets remain
outside the immediate work environment during the sealing
procedure. Tell DAVESDUCTS in advance about infants,
elderly occupants, sensitive pets or medical equipment.
Does HVAC equipment need to be protected during Aeroseal?
Yes. HVAC equipment and accessories are isolated or
protected before sealing. Depending on the system,
accessories may be temporarily removed, isolated or covered.
Should ducts be cleaned before Aeroseal?
DAVESDUCTS generally recommends cleaning visibly dirty
ductwork before sealing so accumulated debris is removed
before duct-leakage remediation. Whether cleaning is
necessary depends on the actual condition.
Can ducts be cleaned after they have been Aerosealed?
Yes. Properly sealed ductwork can still be professionally
cleaned later using appropriate HVAC-system cleaning methods.
How long does the sealant take to dry?
Aeroseal sealant cures quickly after application.
Exact return-to-service procedures depend on the system
and manufacturer process requirements.
Is there a warranty?
DAVESDUCTS currently includes a 10-year limited
duct-sealing warranty with qualifying residential
Aeroseal service, subject to the applicable warranty
terms and conditions.
We Can Test the System and Identify the Right Repair
DAVESDUCTS can evaluate the system, identify major defects
and determine whether Aeroseal duct sealing is appropriate
for the problem you are trying to solve.
NOT SURE WHAT YOUR HVAC SYSTEM NEEDS?
Tell Us What You’re Seeing, Hearing or Trying to Improve
DAVESDUCTS can help determine whether the next step is cleaning,
sealing, filtration, HVAC service or simply further investigation.
