A Dallas area university recently completed a full remodel of one of its residence halls, including a brand new air handling unit. But the project revealed a common and often overlooked issue in construction and renovation projects: new equipment doesn’t mean clean ductwork. The existing duct system remained untouched, filled with dust and debris from the remodel.
With move in only weeks away, the university turned to BMS CAT for post construction duct cleaning to make sure the dorm’s air quality matched the rest of the renovation.
Why Does Ductwork Need to Be Cleaned After Construction?
Construction and renovation work generates dust, drywall particles, and other debris that settle inside a building’s ductwork, even when the work itself doesn’t touch the duct system directly. If that debris isn’t removed, it circulates through the building’s air supply every time the HVAC system runs. For a residence hall about to fill with students, that means the risk of poor indoor air quality from day one, undermining the benefit of the renovation itself.
The Challenge: New Equipment, Old Ductwork
The renovation team installed a new air handler in the dorm, but the existing ductwork, VAVs, and registers throughout the building were left untouched. Construction dust and debris don’t disappear on their own, and if left in place, they circulate straight into the living spaces students would soon call home.
The university needed the entire duct system cleaned before students arrived, and the timeline was tight: just three weeks to complete the work across a fully occupied construction footprint.
The Solution: Full-System Duct Cleaning Under a Hard Deadline
BMS CAT’s team was brought in to clean all ductwork, VAVs, and registers throughout the dorm. The job came with real physical constraints. The dorm’s mechanical layout involved tight spaces, small duct runs, and numerous turning vanes, requiring the team to make multiple access cuts to reach and thoroughly clean every section of the system.
“Because of the way it’s laid out, it’s very tight spaces, very small ductwork, lots of turning vanes,” said Colin Trudo. “We’re having to make lots of cuts in order to make sure we’re doing a thorough cleaning of the system.”
Beyond the physical challenge, the team was working against the academic calendar. With only three weeks to complete the project, success meant more than just clean ducts. It meant full documentation before and after the work, a properly executed cleaning, and a job site restored exactly as it was found.
Does Duct Cleaning Improve Airflow and Energy Efficiency?
A full post construction duct cleaning does more than remove dust, it addresses contaminants that can otherwise linger in a building’s air supply long after construction wraps up, and it can improve system performance.
“By cleaning the ductwork, not only are you improving the indoor air quality, but there have been studies out there that have shown that by going through and cleaning, you’re actually improving the airflow to the system,” said Colin Trudo. Clogged or partially blocked turns are common in ductwork like this, and clearing them allows systems to run faster and more efficiently, which could translate into energy savings for the university.
By the time students moved in, the dorm’s ductwork matched the rest of the renovation: clean, documented, and ready to perform.
Watch the Video and Learn More
Hear directly from BMS CAT’s HVAC team and see firsthand how our duct cleaning process works.
Why Choose BMS CAT for Post-Construction Duct Cleaning?
Post-construction duct cleaning is easy to overlook when a renovation focuses on visible upgrades like new equipment or finishes. But leftover ductwork can undermine indoor air quality and system performance from day one. BMS CAT’s HVAC decontamination services help colleges and universities close that gap, ensuring newly renovated spaces are truly move-in ready.
To learn how BMS CAT supports higher education facilities with post-construction air quality and HVAC duct cleaning, visit our HVAC & Decontamination Services page or call 877-730-1948.