Duct Cleaning Skipper Balls - Why Agitating Tools are Important

When it comes to cleaning the air ducts of your HVAC system, it is important to choose appropriate pneumatic tools. For example, duct cleaning skipper balls and soft bristled brushes will ensure that one does not cause damage onto the insulation of the air ducts. Sheet metal is a common material used in supply and return ducts, but they are installed with interior insulation. The fiberglass duct board provides excellent sound attenuation; however, it can be impaired with the use of improper cleaning tools.

Importance of agitating tools in duct cleaning

Numerous types of air tools and equipment are used to clean air ducts.   A set of multi-purposeful tools are important for removing caked-in dirt and dust on the walls of the air ducts. Just as there are numerous types and sizes of air ducts, there are also an abundance of cleaning tools, such as the typical brushes that are powered through an electric motor. Mechanical brushes are used for aggressive cleaning techniques on air ducts made from sheet metal. Pneumatic agitating tools include Duct cleaning skipper balls, air whips and compressed air nozzles. These pneumatic cleaning tools are used on fiberglass-lined air ducts, duct boards and flex line air ducts to prevent damage onto the insulation.

Duct cleaning skipper balls are sphere-shaped devices that are attached to the end of a rod. Duct cleaning skipper balls are used to remove dirt from ducts and vents. Duct cleaning skipper balls can either be reverse blowing skipper balls, forward skipper balls and side winder self-propelled duct balls for the flex line. The beauty of Duct cleaning skipper balls is their ability to fit inside small-sized ducts to clear dirt. Its spinning action comes into contact with every part of the wall without damaging the fiberglass insulation.

Another pneumatic tool that is frequently used for air duct cleaning is the brush system. The rotary brush is made from a soft brush that is connected to a long cable powered by compressed air from a truck-mounted compressor system. There are several choices for brushes according to the size of the duct; however, the round rotary brush only works well with round ducts. If one possesses a square duct, it might not properly eliminate dirt and debris on the corners of the ductwork. The air whip system is a modern form of technology that is composed of a metal air nozzle with a piece of rubber tubing at its end. Compressed air is blown through the nozzle and tubing, and this occurs because the piece of rubber tubing can flail and clear all the dirt from the walls of the duct. The air whip system works perfectly on cold-air returns and main trunk lines usually found in the basement.

However, the air whip does not work well with round ducts. This is the reason why the professional air duct cleaning provider does an inspection of duct work prior to cleaning.  As a result, the air duct cleaning provider can determine what type of pneumatic tool will be necessary. In order to provide optimum service, the professional air duct cleaning providers often have both types of brush systems for cleaning projects.