Dealing With Fiberglass Insulation in Air Duct Cleaning
Many commercial air duct cleaning contractors encounter fiberglass insulation rising handlers, plenums and ductwork whatever the HVAC systems they are cleaning. Engineers originally designed in fiberglass insulation in HVAC systems for acoustical reasons (help control sound) and thermal reason (to prevent temperature loss). Coping with fiberglass insulation can be a real challenge. It can be damaged or degraded by:
• Air erosion off of the fan in the air handler
• Smoke contamination from a fireplace
• Mold or microbial contamination cause by the combination of excessive moisture and a microbial source of food (dirt).
What now? Let us identify the your options? In all cases, the very first thing you want to do is to examine the fiberglass to find the condition it’s in. Would it handle the rigors of cleaning or does it crumble whenever you touch it? Could it be wet?
In air handles and huge plenums/ductwork that you can crawl, you’ve the following options to contemplate:
• In case the fiberglass insulation is in good shape and may handle the rigor of cleaning you’ll be able to clean the insulation or clean and coat the insulation.
• If the fiberglass insulation is just not in good condition and cannot endure the rigor of cleaning you can remove the insulation or remove and coat the sheet metal or remove and replace with new insulation or remove and replace with new coated material or remove and replace with close cell material. 
• If the insulation is wet you’ll be able to set aside the insulation or remove and coat the sheet metal or remove and replace with new insulation or remove and replace with new coated insulation or remove and replace with close cell material.
In ductwork that is not big enough to crawl you have the following options to consider:
• In case the insulation is contained in good shape and might manage the rigor of cleaning you can clean the insulation or clean as well as coat the insulation.
• When the insulation is just not in fine condition and cannot stand up to the rigor of cleaning you possibly can eliminate the ductwork and replace with new ductwork (with insulation on the exterior).
• If the insulation is wet you possibly can eliminate the ductwork and replace with new ductwork (with insulation on the lateral side).
Normal cleaning methods include contact vacuuming or cleaning generated a powered brushing system/robotic system develop a nylon brush after which air washing. This removes the dirt/contamination from the surface of the insulation but doesn’t set aside the dirt/contaminating from the interior whatever the fiberglass insulation. To keep this dirt/contamination in the interior no matter what the fiberglass insulation from turning into future problem you can coat the mechanical insulation. The avantages of coating include:
• Locking down any remaining loose fiberglass fibers after cleaning.
• Locking in the dirt/microbial spores/smoke contaminates inside the interior whatever the fiberglass so we will not smell the smoke particulate plus the microbial spores can’t mix with moisture and grow.
• Providing a much stronger air steam surface that is a bit more immune to air erosion and moisture and is less troublesome clean within the future.
• A way to increase the lifestyle no matter the HVAC system for the storage shed owner at a much lower cost than replacing ductwork, air handlers and other system components.
An alternative choice to cleaning and coating would be to swap out the damaged/degraded mechanical insulation with closed cell insulation. You remove the present insulation; measure and cut the suitable size close cell material; then glue and rivet the close cell insulation in position; seal all exposed edges and butt joints. The avantages of relining with closed cell include:
• You’ve eliminated the damaged fiberglass insulation altogether.
• Providing a much stronger air steam surface that is more immune to air erosion and moisture and it is much better to clean in the future.
• A way to extend all the memories no matter the HVAC system for the storage shed owner at a far less cost than replacing ductwork, air handlers together with other system components.
When you’ve got any questions about cleaning and coating damaged fiberglass insulation, Eco Smart Contractor. Call us TODAY to summon an estimate or schedule your service appointment!
