Flats, duplexes and bungalows each have their own layout
Milwaukee's older housing comes in a few familiar shapes, and the ducts follow the shape. A Polish flat or an upper and lower duplex often has a separate heating system for each unit, so cleaning one flat does not clean the other. A bungalow usually has a compact system with ducts tucked into the basement ceiling and short runs up to each room. Before you book anything, know which system serves which space.
Converted heating leaves odd ductwork
Many older homes started out with gravity furnaces or boiler and radiator heat and were later converted to forced air. Ducts added to a house that was never designed for them tend to follow whatever route was available. Expect long horizontal runs across the basement, tight turns, and panned joist returns, where the space between floor joists is closed in with sheet metal and used as a return air path. Those panned spaces can collect decades of construction dust and plaster dust, and they are hard to clean well, so tell your cleaner about them up front.
Be careful with old wrap, tape and insulation
Older ductwork can be covered in wrap, tape or insulation that may contain asbestos. You cannot tell by looking. If you see old white or grayish wrap, cloth-like tape or crumbling insulation on ducts or around a furnace, do not touch, scrape, brush or vacuum it, and keep the area closed off. Have the material tested and, if needed, handled by a licensed asbestos professional before any duct cleaning starts. Our cleaning work does not include asbestos testing or removal.
Common questions
Does each flat in a duplex have its own ductwork?
Often, yes. Many upper and lower flats have a separate furnace and duct system for each unit, though some older buildings share parts of a system. Ask the owner or a heating professional how yours is set up before anyone plans the work.
My old house was converted from boiler heat to forced air. Is that a problem?
Not by itself, but converted systems often have odd routing, tight bends and ducts squeezed into spaces that were never planned for them. Those spots can hold more dust and be harder to reach, so mention the conversion when you ask for a quote.
What should I do if I think my duct wrap contains asbestos?
Leave it alone. Do not scrape, brush, cut or vacuum it. Keep people away from the area and have the material tested and handled by a licensed asbestos professional before any duct cleaning begins.
Can I just replace old ducts instead of cleaning them?
Sometimes replacement makes sense, especially where ducts are damaged or poorly connected. That is a question for a licensed heating contractor, who can look at the whole system and tell you what it needs.
Want a hand? See our cleaning services or where we work.