Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: HVAC supply/return vent cleaning

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Topic: HVAC supply/return vent cleaning

Jason Black
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1723
From: Myrtle Beach, SC, USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 08-25-2002 02:58 PM

An often overlooked item of maintainence is cleaning the HVAC system supply and return vents in your building. It is far beyond time for mine to be done, yet I can find no-one with the experience or proper "know-how" to get this accomplished in a 'cost efficient' manner.

If *any* of you out there have any insight of a somewhat easy method of cleaning dust/minor mildew buildup from a supply/return register (vent) in a 25-30' ceiling, please let me know. We have an A'Frame extension ladder that will get us up to where we need to be if we used a vacuum method, but seems that we'd have to have a very high HP vac. to pull thru a 30'+ hose (at ceiling level). I plan to have whomever takes on this task spray the supply registers with a 50/50 water/bleach mix to kill help kill off any mildew/mold that is present.

I figure in doing so, the units themselves won't be starving for air (on the return side anyway) and overall fresh air circulation should improve enough to be noticed.

Any and all hints/tips/advice are welcomed.

Thanks!

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Kyle Caudill
Film Handler

Posts: 92
From: Wichita Falls, TX
Registered: May 2002

posted 08-26-2002 12:35 AM

Rent Scalfolding(spelling?), its cheap. Safer than an A frame in my opinion, but can a pain sometimes to move and or break down and build back up.

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Lance C. McFetridge
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 135
From: Penn Yan, New York
Registered: Jul 99

posted 08-26-2002 07:15 AM

Jason,
One of the most frequent overlooked maintenance item is the replacement of filters in the rooftop units. These should be done 3 times a year and are cheap insurance. Actually more if conditions require. I have found that the fiber duct that has been so popular because of the insulation properties will retain smoke and odors over a period of time which make it very hard to deoderize. As for the A frame ladder, sounds like a comp claim to me. Use a HVAC professional. They will have the equipment and the proper chemicals to eliminate any mildew. Maybe this will help http://www.carolinacool.com/about.htm

lance

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Jason Black
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1723
From: Myrtle Beach, SC, USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 08-26-2002 08:14 AM

Thanks guys. I'm familiar with Carolina Cooling, as they do my backflow preventor recert's each year. My regular HVAC folks are working up something right now to present to me (pricewise). Scaffolding is really the only true *safe* way to go, I knew that, but in the interest of both time and money, it may not be an option. Not that I want to have anyone doing it in an unsafe manner, but setup and tear down time of scaffolding in each house to clean each of the supply/returns would be quite entailed.

I'll keep looking here for more suggestions, as many more people should hit the site today being the first of the workweek for many folks. Well, regular folks, not us "exhibitionists"

At any rate I'll give Carloina Cooling a call and see what they may have to offer. Thanks again!

Forgot to mention, we do chnage filters regularly. Being 1 mile off the beach menas chnaging out every month during from May-Sept. The fall/winter months don't dirty up the filters as much for some odd reason.

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John Pytlak
Film God

Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 08-26-2002 10:13 AM

Some links to HVAC duct cleaning services:
http://www.nadca.com/
http://www.freshairduct.com/
Yahoo Duct Cleaning Directory
http://www.appliedbldgtech.com/hvac.htm
http://www.guardiandallas.com/duct.htm

------------------
John P. Pytlak, Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services, Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69, Room 7525A
Rochester, New York, 14650-1922 USA
Tel: +1 585 477 5325 Cell: +1 585 781 4036 Fax: +1 585 722 7243
e-mail: john.pytlak@kodak.com
Web site: http://www.kodak.com/go/motion

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Mike Spaeth
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1129
From: Marietta, GA
Registered: Jul 2000

posted 08-27-2002 01:27 AM

I use an A-frame for this type of thing all the time, and don't see what's so dangerous about it.

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Mike Williams
Master Film Handler

Posts: 255
From: Knoxville, TN
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 08-27-2002 11:54 AM

One thing we used to do at my theater was buy a feather-type duster from the store and duct tape it to the poll used for changing letters on the marque. It definitely takes care of the dust. We used to have an usher go around every month to do this.
The only problem with this is the dust comes flying down so you need to mop up or vacumm afterwards.

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