Archive for the ‘Duct Cleaning’ category

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Did the Clean Up Crew Miss a Spot?

January 30th, 2012

Remodeling projects and repairs leave a big mess in the home especially if the repairs involve drywall. Drywall dust and debris can get all over everything and if your contractors did not take the necessary steps to prevent making a mess, you could have this stuff all over your home and the clean up won’t be easy. You may think that they cleaned everything up but a few cycles of the furnace will prove that they missed a very big spot. The duct work and the furnace are probably filled with debris from your construction project and the only way to get rid of it is to have a professional cleaning performed.

HVAC Clean Up:

  • Duct Cleaning: Every time air circulates through the home it will pick up debris from the job that was done. This along with years of dust and other debris may be lurking in your HVAC reeking havoc on the air quality in your home. A professional duct cleaning will clear out everything that is inside your ducts and collect it safely outside the home for disposal. This will leave you with much cleaner air inside the home.
  • Heating and Cooling Systems: Now that the ducts are clean lets take a look at the furnace and air conditioner. Many homeowners use cheap fiberglass filters that do little to protect the furnace from the particles that flow through the air in the home. All of that construction debris may have found its way into your heating and cooling systems and it needs to be cleared out. A dirty furnace or air conditioner cannot do its job properly or in an efficient matter. You will end up wasting money on excess energy use that could have been prevented with a simple cleaning. » Read more: Did the Clean Up Crew Miss a Spot?

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Posted in Air Conditioning, Air Purifier, Air Quality, Duct Cleaning, Heating, Home Services, Maintenace

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Wrong Duct Work for Your Dryer Vent

November 2nd, 2011

Many homeowners think that their home is basically fire proof because they have taken some basic fire prevention precautions. You have the furnace cleaned out yearly, blow out candles, and use space heaters properly. You may even have smoke detectors and fire extinguishers all throughout the home, but if you haven’t checked your dryer vent, all of those protective measures could quit literally go up in flames. The dryer vent is the duct work that your clothes dryer uses to exhaust combustion fumes to the outdoors. Most homeowners don’t even know that they have this line of duct work in their home, but neglecting it could cause a major home disaster.

Accordion Duct work and Your Dryer Vent

Accordion duct work consists of some sort of material like plastic or aluminum that is coiled to form a long tube. It is flexible and can be easily installed, but it should never be used to vent a dryer. This type of duct work is usually safely used for add on duct work in the HVAC system, but there are two reasons why it should not be used to vent combustion gasses from your dryer.

  1. Friction: The coiled design of this type of duct work encourages lint to become lodged within the duct. Overtime this can be what creates a buildup of lint within the vent. Lint is extremely flammable and a simple spark of static can set your dryer ablaze. » Read more: Wrong Duct Work for Your Dryer Vent

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Posted in Consumer Protection, Duct Cleaning, Home Services, Maintenace, Safty

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Outdated Duct Work

October 10th, 2011

So you are purchasing a new HVAC system for your home, and you have already found the perfect furnace and air conditioner to replace your old outdated units. You have the systems installed, but once you really start using them, you don’t notice much of a difference between the way the old units worked and the way the new systems work. Sure the energy bills are a little bit lower, but did you really get the return on the investment that you were expecting? If not, the problem may not be with your new systems. The problem is probably located in the most commonly neglected portion of the HVAC system: the duct work.

Assessing the Ducts

            The duct work is more important most homeowners think. Sure, the ducts may not have any fancy gadgets, but their ability to transport air effectively is crucial to the efficiency of your heating and cooling systems. If the air they are conditioning cannot get to the target rooms effectively, you will pay more every month for wasted energy that could have been saved by simply caring for this part of the system. The first step towards getting your ducts working the best that they can is to have them inspected by a professional. A true pro can give you an honest assessment of your ducts, and if they can be salvaged, the repair job is simple. If some parts need to be replaced, it may take a bit more effort, but it is necessary to complete so you can get the most out of your new heating and cooling units. » Read more: Outdated Duct Work

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Posted in Duct Cleaning, Furnace, Go Green, Home Services, Insulation, Money Saving

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Imbalanced Blower Motors

August 24th, 2011

Furnaces and air conditioners can make many different noises, but when the source of the noise is your furnace, odds are the blower motor is having a problem. This fan is probably the one part of your HVAC system that is worked the hardest and longest. Whether you are using the air conditioner or the furnace, the blower motor is up and running pushing air throughout the home. The slightest disturbance in the rotation of this blower can devastate the part and require replacement.

Costly Part Replacement

What kind of things can disturb your blower motor? Well, years of caked on particles and small pieces of debris that find their way into the blower compartment are enough to throw the blower off balance. These find their way to the blower through your ducts, and more often then not, the problem is caused by a lack of maintenance to the HVAC system. The slightest imbalance will cause the part of burn out much earlier than it would if it were balanced, and trust us, you don’t want to replace that blower motor more than necessary. » Read more: Imbalanced Blower Motors

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Posted in Air Conditioning, Duct Cleaning, Heating, Maintenace

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Start the Spring Off Right!

March 1st, 2011

Spring signifies a new beginning for everything around us. The trees and flowers begin to bud, and we will soon start the yearly ritual of cleaning the home top to bottom. However, spring cleaning isn’t just a time to rid your home of dust bunnies. It is also a chance to improve your home’s carbon footprint! There are several ways that you can do this and some cost more than others. But, there isn’t a better time to start making some of these improvements in your home, and it all starts with the HVAC system.

  • Change the Thermostat: If your home still relies on an old dial thermostat to regulate the temperature in your home, you could be wasting energy. Those old thermostats are incredibly inaccurate when it comes to temperature control, and yours could be off by 3 to 5 degrees in either direction. That means that the home has been overheating all winter and will over cool all summer. » Read more: Start the Spring Off Right!

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Posted in Air Conditioning, Duct Cleaning, Go Green, Money Saving

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Scammers Target Seniors

February 9th, 2011

Duct cleaning services are one of the most popular ways remove harmful contaminants from the air in our homes. Those of us that have allergies, asthma, or other respiratory problems rely on services like these to offer some relief from the symptoms of these illnesses. As a result, scam artists have latched onto this industry, and use it as a way to manipulate hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars out of the hands of unsuspecting customers. Senior citizens are among the most vulnerable people in our society, and they have become the perfect target for illegitimate duct cleaning companies. » Read more: Scammers Target Seniors

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Posted in Air Quality, Consumer Protection, Duct Cleaning, Information, Money Saving

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4 Ways to Relieve Winter Allergies

January 6th, 2011

Winter allergy relief can be hard to find, but what many people don’t realize is that taking care of the HVAC systems can have several benefits upon the air quality in the home. Improving indoor air quality is a great way to improve your allergy symptoms. Here are four ways that that you can help relieve your indoor winter allergy symptoms:

  1. Duct Cleaning: Having a duct cleaning performed will rid your home of excess dust and debris that may be lingering in the air ducts. Most allergy symptoms are caused by dust, mold, dander, and pollen, and a professional duct cleaning service can safely and effectively remove all of these particles from your air duct system.
  2. Installing an Air Purifier: After you have the duct work cleaned, it is also important to install an air purifier. The air circulating through the duct work was also full of dust, mold, dander, and pollen, and a whole house air purifier will pick up any remaining particles that were floating in the air outside of the duct work. » Read more: 4 Ways to Relieve Winter Allergies

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Posted in Air Purifier, Air Quality, Duct Cleaning, Furnace, Maintenace

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Filter Confusion

December 15th, 2010

Ever notice how your thermostat will occasionally will flash the word “filter?” If you have a digital thermostat, chances are your thermostat has this capability, and if you have been ignoring it, now is the time to pay attention to it! That flashing word is a maintenance reminder for you to check the filter on the furnace. Depending on the type of filter you use, you may have to change it more or less frequently than the reminder advises. However, neglecting to change the filter enough can cause serious damage to the furnace and to the air quality in the home. So how do you know how frequently to change it?

Unfortunately, there isn’t one clear cut answer to that question. You should check the recommended filter life on the manufacturer’s packaging, and consult a professional if you are not sure. However, there are many factors that could contribute to more frequent filter changes. These include: » Read more: Filter Confusion

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Posted in Air Quality, Duct Cleaning, Furnace, Information, Maintenace

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What you should ask your Furnace and Air Duct Cleaning Technician before allowing them into your home

October 6th, 2010

Q. How often should I have my furnace and ductwork cleaned and inspected?

In the Furnace and Air Duct Cleaning industry, a reputable company will help you decide how often, based on your families health concerns, environment, pet dander, remodeling projects and personal preference. Hire a company that doesn’t try to mislead you or use other “scare tactics” but prefers to establish a long term, trusting relationship with you, regardless of what your needs may be.

Q. Will you have the equipment needed to properly clean my system when you arrive?

A. Hire a company with a fleet of service vehicles each supplied equipment and enough hoses and lines to be able to thoroughly clean all your ductwork. Avoid hiring a company that uses inexpensive, portable equipment and is unable to reach all the components of your heating and cooling system. » Read more: What you should ask your Furnace and Air Duct Cleaning Technician before allowing them into your home

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Posted in Air Conditioning, Air Quality, Consumer Protection, Duct Cleaning, Heating, Information

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Winter House Fire Precautions

September 29th, 2010

Winter is on the way, and that means trading in our tank tops for thick sweaters and our sandals for snow boots. We also need to take certain precautions to prevent house fires. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, the winter months have the highest occurrence of house fires. Initially you may think that this is a result of all of the holiday decorations, candles, and fireplaces, but there is one cause of house fires that you may not even realize. This appliance causes 15,000 house fires a year, and it is responsible for 15 deaths and around 400 injuries a year as well. Any guesses?

Although you may not have guessed it, your clothes dryer is the offender. There is a spike in dryer related fires in the winter as well. Maybe it is because of all of the lint filled sweaters and blankets that we constantly use during these months, but whatever the cause, you need to protect your family from clothes dryer fires. This type of fire is very preventable if you take notice of the warning signs, and have your dryer vent cleaned regularly. » Read more: Winter House Fire Precautions

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Posted in Contractors, Duct Cleaning, Information, Safty

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