Why do new construction HVAC systems need cleaning?
Because duct systems are usually open during construction and the air handler often runs before the building is finished. Drywall dust, sawdust, insulation fibers, joint compound and general debris enter the ductwork and settle throughout it. Drywall dust in particular is fine, alkaline and pervasive, and it coats coil surfaces and blower wheels. A new system that has never been cleaned can be dirtier at handover than a ten-year-old system in a maintained home.
The handover problem
A homeowner or tenant taking possession of a new building reasonably expects the air system to be clean. Construction debris in the ductwork produces dust complaints in the first weeks of occupancy, and those complaints land on the contractor. Cleaning before handover removes an entire category of callback.
Drywall dust and coils
Fine drywall dust does real damage on a wet coil surface. It packs into the coil depth, restricts airflow and is difficult to remove once it has been through several wet-dry cycles. Cleaning the coil and blower at handover, before the system has spent a season cementing that material in place, is far easier than dealing with it later.
Who we work with
General contractors, custom home builders, developers, property managers, restoration contractors and commercial facility managers. We schedule around your punch list and certificate of occupancy timeline, and we document the work for your closeout package.
At a glance
- Applies to
- New construction and post-renovation systems
- Common contaminants
- Drywall dust, sawdust, insulation fiber, joint compound
- Critical components
- Evaporator coil, blower wheel, plenums
- Timing
- Before handover, coordinated with punch list and CO
- Clients
- General contractors, builders, developers, property managers, restoration contractors
What the service covers
- Full supply and return duct cleaning
- Coil and blower cleaning
- Plenum cleaning
- Register, grille and diffuser cleaning
- Filter replacement
- Closeout documentation
Common questions
When in the schedule should this happen?
After dusty trades are finished and before handover. Cleaning too early means doing it twice; cleaning after occupancy means the occupant experiences the problem first.
Do you work on renovations, not just new builds?
Yes. Renovation within an occupied building is often worse, because the existing duct system is connected to live space while the work is happening. Containment planning matters more in those projects.
Can you provide documentation for our closeout package?
Yes. Photo documentation and a record of scope performed, formatted to drop into your closeout or warranty file.
