After water damage, check the air system before you run it
When water reaches the ducts, the air handler or the duct insulation, running the system can spread moisture and mold through the house. CDC advises having a flooded HVAC system checked and cleaned by a professional before you turn it on. We inspect, clean what can be saved, tell you what must be replaced and document it for your insurer.
What’s different at this moment
A wet system spreads what grows in it
CDC: if your HVAC system was flooded, turning it on can spread mold throughout the house. Have it checked and cleaned first.
Source: cdc.gov
Some materials can’t be saved
EPA: duct insulation or lined ductwork that got wet or moldy can’t be cleaned effectively and should be removed and replaced. We show you which parts those are.
Source: epa.gov
Time matters
EPA recommends drying water-damaged areas within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth. Call early, even while the drying crew is still working.
Source: epa.gov
What we do
- Inspection of ducts, plenums, air handler, coil and drain pan, with photos
- Moisture readings on duct insulation and nearby materials
- Cleaning of hard surfaces that can be saved, under negative pressure
- A written list of components to replace, for your insurer
- Photo report and itemized invoice for the claim
- Mold projects of 25 sq ft or more follow Texas (TDLR) rules; we explain them before work starts
Every item is listed on your written estimate before work begins.
Good timing
- Call before you turn the AC or heat back on.
- If a water-mitigation company is drying the home, we coordinate with their dry-out.
- Keep your photos and our report together for the claim.
Seven steps, documented in photos
Assess
We inspect the system and photograph what we find before anything is sold. If cleaning isn’t warranted, we say so.
Protect
Shoe covers at the door, floor and furniture protection along every path, registers sealed while we work.
Contain
A HEPA-filtered collector at the main trunk holds the whole system under negative pressure, so debris moves out, never into your rooms.
Remove at the source
Rotary brushes and compressed-air whips, branch by branch, the source-removal method described in NADCA’s ACR standard.
Restore the air handler
Blower, evaporator coil, drain pan and condensate line: the parts that decide airflow, efficiency and moisture.
Verify
Every component inspected again and photographed after cleaning, against the same angles as the baseline.
Document and advise
A photo report and completed checklist, plus honest recommendations on filtration, humidity and what can wait.
What homeowners say
“Clean Air does great work!”
“Issac and his crew were reliable, knowledgeable, efficient, patient…”
“Professional, on-time, did a great job, cleaned up following the work…”
Questions
Can I run the AC to help dry the house?
Only if no part of the system got wet. EPA advises not using an HVAC system that was affected by the water to dry the house; have it checked and cleaned first.
Will insurance cover HVAC cleaning after water damage?
That depends on your policy and the cause of the water. We provide the photos, findings and itemized invoice your adjuster asks for.
Do you also dry the house?
Yes. Our water damage drying service extracts the water and dries the structure, and the HVAC check can be part of the same job.
Related services
- Water Damage Drying: Extraction, moisture mapping and drying, with documentation for insurance and property managers.
- Mold Remediation: Find and fix the moisture first, then contain, remove and clean, including mold in the HVAC system.
- Air Duct Cleaning: Every duct, register, blower and coil, cleaned under negative pressure with before-and-after photos.
Other situations we help with
Book a free in-home visit
45 minutes to an hour. We inspect, explain what we find and give you a written price for the whole job. Book on a route day and save up to 15%.