How often do I need to wash the ducts?

This is one of the most common questions and one of the most difficult to answer because it depends entirely upon the AHU System, level of filtration, the cleanliness of the air in the immediate environment of the Fabric Ducting system(s) and the type of material used and also the type of diffusers used. The factory is manufacturing ducts for over 90 countries around the world and who knows what types of environment so it’s sensible for the advice for everyone to be, simply, wash the ducts annually. However if you have a non permeable duct with nozzles in a relatively clean environment it’s highly unlikely you’ll need to wash that duct annually. Fabric Ducts need washing for one of several reasons…… (1) The duct has become blocked with dust and is causing system inefficiency and loss of performance. This is actually rarer than you might think and is commonly caused by poor filtration management on AHU Systems using Permeable Fabric Ducts with Micro-Perforations only. This duct will need turning inside out and vacuuming to remove most of the dust prior to washing. (2) The duct has signs of dirt on the outside and it is no longer aesthetic. This is dust from the room the Fabric Duct is mounted within that has become entrained in the air pattern and settled on the duct usually near the laser cut perforations. There is not normally a loss of performance in this situation and this duct can be wiped down, vacuumed or removed and washed depending upon the internal level of dust build up. (3) The hygiene requirements of the room/system require regular cleaning. This is usually a food or cleanroom situation and the cleaning is undertaken as a requirement of the hygiene systems within the organisation rather than a lack of performance or visible dust deposits. It’s fair to say that eventually most Fabric Duct systems will benefit from being removed and cleaned. The ideal time will be when access is available and the system is not required (unless one has a spare system so that rotational cleaning can take place). For more information, please visit our website – www.prihoda.co.uk or alternatively you can call us on - 0121 320 2496