Installing Duct Access Doors For Easy and Fast Air Duct Cleaning

A building's heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system provides conditioned air throughout the facility's occupied spaces. It is an essential part of commercial facilities due to promoting good indoor air quality and air circulation. 

Despite its significance, there are still instances where building managers tend to neglect or delay necessary inspections for their HVAC units. Maintaining a commercial building is an overwhelming task, but disregarding the benefits of a well-maintained ventilation system will do more harm than good — especially for the building's daily operations.

Since most Americans spend 90% of their time indoors, indoor air quality (IAQ) is undoubtedly paramount for people's health and well-being. Contaminated air can lead to adverse health issues such as allergies, respiratory illness, and skin irritations. The growing awareness of the dangers of indoor air pollution and the concern for maintaining a clean ventilation system has significantly increased the demand for HVAC cleaning providers and duct access doors and panels for easy cleaning access.

HVAC CONTAMINANTS

Though we cannot isolate poor IAQ to HVAC systems alone, a thorough cleaning service and an expert IAQ evaluation can substantially reduce the risks of indoor air pollution. These risks primarily refer to contaminants that infiltrate commercial ductworks and other parts of the HVAC unit. They may be organic or inorganic and can take the form of solids, liquids, and gases. 

Within the scope of mechanical air conditioning cleaning, the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) describes contaminants as any substance that is not intended to be part or inside of the HVAC unit. While the range of possible contaminants is seemingly endless under this definition, we can itemize potential contaminants under five categories:

• Aerosols: solid or liquid airborne particles

• Biological contaminants: Biological hazards include bacteria, fungi (mold and mildew), viruses, animal dander, mites, insects, pollen, and the by-products of these elements.

• Bioaerosols: This contaminant includes airborne particles of biological origin.

• Debris: Debris contaminants refers to any solid material, including particulate substances and biological contaminants

• Fungi: Any group of saprophytic and parasitic spore-producing plants, including molds, rusts, mildews, mushrooms, and yeasts

Commercial air conditioning systems inherently collect some or all of these contaminants over time — especially if the unit is improperly installed, lacks convenient access, and has an inadequate filtration system. As a result, the ductwork will serve as a collection and distribution center for indoor air pollutants. 

The most common contaminant found in many commercial HVAC units is dust particles. The accumulation of dust within the system can significantly grow over the years, or even less when the HVAC filter is inefficient and incorrectly implemented building maintenance.

Many building managers think that a simple dust build-up does not necessitate a cleaning service; however, excessive dust accumulation can eventually lead to other forms of severe contamination. After some time, dust particles can pave the way for mold, fungal, and bacteria growth, detrimental to people with allergies and asthma. 

SYSTEM INSPECTIONS

Since HVAC systems are primarily responsible for air circulation, it is crucial to have regular inspections a part of the building's overall IAQ inspection program. The entire system must be cleaned when a specific cleanliness inspection indicates a considerable accumulation of contaminants. 

NADCA recommends that commercial, industrial, and healthcare facilities conduct a cleanliness inspection every year on their air handling unit, supply ductwork, and exhaust system. The person running the assessment must avoid disrupting indoor operations through settled dust disturbance and further amplifying the number of contaminants in the unit. The air handling team must inspect all components, including:

• Air bypass and filters

• Heating and cooling coils

• Condensate pans and drain lines

• Humidification system

• Acoustic insulation

• Fan compartment

• Dampers

• Overall unit integrity

Indoor air quality inspection plans that include preemptive maintenance and cleaning programs are beneficial in reducing the recurrence of contaminants in your commercial HVAC system. 

HVAC CLEANING METHODS AND TOOLS

Certified HVAC cleaning providers employ various power and hand tools and various methods on a standard cleaning service. There are currently several proven methods used by cleaning contractors, but the technique must entirely depend on the client's requests and the result of a prior air quality assessment. For your reference, here are some of the commonly used cleaning methods for HVAC systems.

• Vacuum Collection - The vacuum is the most commonly used device in the HVAC cleaning industry. It is a critical piece of equipment for controlling dust and debris inside the air conditioning unit. However, a vacuum device will only be as effective when used with efficient collection equipment and a systematic cleaning method.

• Brushing - Technicians will typically use a variety of hard and soft bristle brushes to remove a stubborn dust build-up physically. While there are no standards in defining the effects of different bristles on different duct surfaces, many cleaning contractors rely on experience to determine which brush is suitable for a particular surface.

• Compressed Air Washing - Compressed air services are a mechanical means to effectively dislodge contaminants from the interior surfaces of an HVAC unit. The compression level primarily depends on the type of debris in the system and the internal material. 

• Hand Washing - While cleaners employ high-tech cleaning devices, sometimes the most effective way of cleaning or removing a build-up is by using your hands. It usually involves brushes, sponges, or damp cloths where the contractor washes the surface using their hands.

• Power Washing - The most potent and effective way of cleaning specific areas of your commercial HVAC system is power washing. It involves spraying a jet of water to remove contaminants from a particular site successfully.

HVAC ACCESS

In most cases, the cleaning of HVAC units requires access doors. While contractors can reach the components through other openings such as vents and grills, installing a dedicated access point makes the whole inspection and cleaning process faster and more convenient.

Carelessly cutting an opening into the air conditioning system may compromise its structural integrity. Therefore, it is crucial to construct the doors under industry standards. Regardless of the type of access created, all entry points must have the following qualities:

• Air-tight sealed

• Panels must not interfere, limit, or modify the airflow within the system.

• Proper insulation to contain heat loss/gain or condensation on surfaces within the system.

• Openings must not leave any exposed fibrous glass edges within the system. 

• Entry points must not compromise the structural integrity of the system.

Generally, there are two kinds of HVAC access openings: those that can be opened and those that cannot. Removable access doors are typically used in limited areas where a standard swing panel is unsuitable. The access door may also be used for gaining future access to frequently serviced components. 

TAKEAWAY

There are several ways to clean a commercial HVAC system effectively. Many cleaning providers employ the use of power tools and mechanical devices to ensure the success of the sanitation service. However, even the most efficient washing tool or cleaning program is futile if you don't have an access door to reach all components.

HVAC access doors have become an integral part of commercial air conditioning units. If you are currently looking for a quality access panel, you can rely on Best Access Doors to provide you with industry-leading products. Talk to us by calling (800) 483-0823 and order yours today!