Optimize Facility Performance with Outside Air Intake Cleaning and Air Handler Maintenance

When it comes to indoor air quality (IAQ) and energy efficiency in commercial buildings, most conversations revolve around filter replacements or coil cleanings. But one of the most critical—and frequently overlooked—components is the outside air intake. The outside air intake introduces fresh air into the HVAC system and directly impacts the performance of your air handling unit (AHU).

Routine outside air intake cleaning and air handler cleaning are essential elements of a comprehensive facility maintenance program. These services ensure clean airflow, reduce equipment strain, and help your building stay compliant with industry codes.


What Is the Outside Air Intake—and Why Is It So Important?

Every commercial building in Colorado (and nationally) is required by code to bring in outdoor air to dilute indoor contaminants. This is achieved through the outside air intake, a designated opening in the HVAC system that draws outside air into the air handler.

The outside air intake supports:

  • Lower CO₂ levels
  • Removal of airborne pathogens
  • Reduction of VOCs and off-gassing from furnishings
  • Control of humidity and odors
  • Improve overall ventilation rates in compliance with ASHRAE and local codes.

But here’s the problem: Fresh air isn’t always clean. Without routine outside air intake cleaning, the system can become a source of contamination rather than ventilation.


What Gets Pulled into Your Outside Air Intake?

Your building could be pulling in:

  • Dust and dirt from traffic, construction, or high winds
  • Cottonwood fluff clogging screens during spring
  • Leaves and organic debris, especially in landscaped areas
  • Insects like gnats and moths
  • Birds and wildlife, often nesting near warm HVAC enclosures
  • Industrial pollutants, including exhaust and manufacturing debris

Intakes located near loading docks, roof drains, or HVAC exhausts are especially vulnerable. Without proper maintenance, these contaminants enter your AHU, reducing airflow and efficiency.


Why Intake Screens Aren’t Enough

Most systems use metal mesh intake screens to block large debris, insects, and animals from entering the air handling unit. But these screens accumulate compacted debris over time, restricting airflow and reducing ventilation performance.

Without outside air intake cleaning, you may face:

  • Increased energy consumption due to restricted airflow
  • Reduced ventilation and comfort complaints
  • Accelerated wear on air handler components
  • Poor IAQ that leads to occupant dissatisfaction
  • Frequent filter changes and higher maintenance costs
  • Possible non-compliance with ventilation standards

The Colorado Climate Challenge

In Colorado’s semi-arid and high-debris environment, outside air intakes clog faster than in many other states. Cottonwood, dust, and seasonal weather shifts make routine maintenance not just recommended—but necessary.

Left uncleaned, clogged intakes contribute to:

  • Stale or musty indoor air complaints
  • Shortened HVAC equipment lifespan
  • System inefficiencies that drive up operational costs

The Solution: Annual Outside Air Intake Cleaning

Adding outside air intake cleaning to your facility’s annual maintenance schedule is a high-impact, low-cost investment in building health and operational efficiency.

Key Benefits:

  • Restores proper airflow to the air handling unit
  • Improves energy efficiency by reducing static pressure on fans
  • Protects internal components from contamination or damage
  • Supports better IAQ, especially in densely occupied or sensitive environments
  • Prevents costly repairs and unplanned system downtime
  • Keeps your building in compliance with ASHRAE 62.1 and local codes

At Ductworks, Inc., our intake cleaning service goes beyond the surface. Our team thoroughly removes compacted debris, inspects for pest issues and structural concerns, and provides full photo documentation for your facility records.


When Should You Schedule Intake Cleaning?

Perform a visual check the next time you’re near your air handler. If the outside air intake screen looks clogged, if airflow seems restricted, or if pests have made their way inside, it’s time for action.

Remember: By the time airflow is noticeably reduced, the damage to your system may already be underway.


Schedule Your Outside Air Intake Cleaning or Request a Free Inspection

Protect your building, your equipment, and your air quality. Contact Ductworks, Inc. today to schedule outside air intake cleaning, or to request a no-obligation facility inspection.

Fiberglass Air Duct Liners | A Serious Indoor Air Quality Concern

Most commercial air duct systems are internally lined with fiberglass duct liners.  Deteriorating fiberglass duct liner is a very common cause for indoor air quality complaints and adverse health effects.

Fiberglass Duct Liner

Fiberglass internal duct liner is commonly used in many commercial heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system.  Fiberglass duct liner provides sound attenuation by dampening noise from HVAC equipment, and sound from adjacent office spaces.  Fiberglass duct liner provides thermal insulation for air ducts, preventing the air ducts from losing expensive conditioned air.

Fiberglass Duct Liner Deterioration

Over time internal fiberglass duct liner is exposed to varying degrees of air turbulence, temperature and humidity.  These environmental changes take its toll on the duct liner, breaking down its primary seal.

The primary seal is a black gritty coating on the surface of the duct liner which locks down the fiberglass fibers.  Deteriorated primary coating migrates through the ventilation system depositing within HVAC components and eventually entering the indoor air.

After the primary seal has fully deteriorated, it allows raw fiberglass fibers to be exposed to the airstream.  Turbulent airstreams wick the raw fiberglass fibers through the ventilation system, creating additional deposits within HVAC components and exposing building occupants to raw fiberglass fibers.

Health Effects of Fiber Glass Fibers

Health effects from exposure to fiberglass can be different depending on the fiber size and type of exposure.  Fiberglass, at a minimum, is an acute physical irritant to the skin, eyes, and upper respiratory tract.

  • While no long-term health effects should occur from touching fiberglass. Rashes can appear when the fibers become embedded in the outer layer of the skin.
  • Eyes may become red and irritated after exposure to fiberglass as occupants touch horizontal surfaces with deposits of fiberglass fibers, and rub their eyes.
  • Soreness in the nose and throat can result when fibers are inhaled. Asthma and bronchitis can be aggravated by exposure to fiberglass.
  • Temporary stomach irritation may occur if fibers are swallowed.

How Can Fiberglass Air Ducts Be Repaired?

If caught in the early stages of deterioration the internal fiberglass duct liner can be repaired.  Fiberglass duct liner can be resurfaced with an encapsulate specifically designed for HVAC systems.   Initially a commercial air duct cleaning needs to be performed to remove the foreign debris from the air duct surface to ensure for a proper bond.  After the air duct system is cleaned, the encapsulate is applied to the air duct surface locking down the fiberglass fibers.

If the internal fiberglass lining to too deteriorated, the lining must be removed and replaced.  If the damage is localized,  new internal internal insulation can be installed within the ducting.  If the damage is extensive, consider removing the damaged insulation and wrapping the air ducts with an external fiberglass insulation.