Posts Tagged Air

Do you have allergies or are you particularly susceptible to dust build up in your home? You will want to check the air ducts in your home. When was the last time that you had an air duct cleaning? Many people upon buying a new house or long-time residents do not realize how important it is to check the air ducts in their home.

Air ducts in the home are vital to the indoor air quality of the home. In fact, the condition of air ducts in your home often reflects the condition of air quality in the home. As more and more homes are identifying indoor air pollution as a source of allergens and developed sensitivities in people particularly children, senior citizens, and people with allergies, keeping air ducts clean has become a very important step in safeguarding your home and inhabitants from pollutants.

How do you know when your air ducts need to be cleaned? The simplest way to know whether your air ducts need to be cleaned is to go and take a look. Visually inspecting your air ducts will instantly tell you a few things. First of all, if you see large clumps of dust, dirt, debris, soil particles, hair, and water around the air ducts, you will learn that your air ducts are visibly clogged and need to be cleaned immediately. Sometimes, particles and material are not so easy to identify. Loose air handling components of air conditioning and heating units near air ducts can result in the aggregation of dirt and dust around these components, which slowly seep into air ducts. Also, small rodents such as mice find their way into holes in these air-handling components as well as biting holes into air ducts, contaminating these areas with water and fecal matter. When water mixes in with dust, dirt, and debris, bacteria thrives, resulting in mold and mildew. If you see any mold or mildew on the air ducts or on nearby air handling components, you will know right away that your air ducts and surrounding equipment need to be cleaned as soon as possible to prevent the spread of allergens. Otherwise, particle material from bacterial mold, dirt, dust, and soil will travel through air ducts and drift into the air that you breathe.

Utah air duct cleaning services offer you professional and thorough cleaning services so that you can enjoy improved air quality and air flow within your home. Professional air duct cleaning begins with first cleaning out all air handling components that are accessible, followed by washing vent covers, vacuuming air ducts, and then applying a microbial solution for sanitation. Utah air duct cleaners should be effective and powerful, while gentle enough to be used in air ducts. After the air ducts are cleaned, vent areas and filters should be cleaned. Professional and thorough air duct cleaning services allow you to enjoy clean air ducts for a period of an entire year. Some home service companies offer you service packages where you can enjoy multiple services at affordable prices in addition to air duct cleaning and other services.

The old saying has it that we are what we eat, but more and more we’re finding that we are what we breathe. Air quality in the office can have a remarkable effect on the moral and productivity of the average worker. Studies have shown that more is achieved, people are generally happier and there are less sick days taken, all because someone had the forethought to think about improving air quality in their office. Environment is important when you’re looking to make the most out of your office space. Imagine having to come to work in a room smelling of dankness, with little or no airflow and the steadily rising smell of your workmates closing in around you. Add to that asbestos ceilings, poorly cleaned and out-of-date and lack of ventilation and it’s no wonder people hate coming to work. Here’s 5 tips to make sure your office’s air quality is on par:

1. Ventilation and air flow. Many office buildings are built to be closed off entities; they are constructed with non-opening windows and often have two or more doors to open before you enter the main area of the office. In such conditions it is impossible let air flow, let alone feel a breeze. Air flow is important for keeping air from stagnating, and stagnant air is a wonderful breeding ground for bacteria and mold.
2. Proper air conditioning. A few fans here and there will merely circulate air, leaving staff to breathe the same air over and over again. Air flow must be achieved, meaning new air is introduced as old air is taken away. The best solution is a quality air conditioner or heat pump – something which will actually move the air from the office and allow fresh air in – in combination with an exit for the air, such as a slightly open window or exit to the outside via a duct. This is akin to having two windows open on opposite sides of a house, a breeze will find it’s way through.
3. Maintenance. Having your air conditioners, air filters and vents cleaned regularly will keep them clean and stop harmful buildups of dust and mold deposits.
4. Humidity. Maintaining a healthy level of humidity is essential for keeping the air in your office healthy: too damp and you run the risk of mold buildup in air vents and in the dark corners of your office; too dry and workers will be parched and uncomfortable. This can be remedied with a dehumidifier or humidifier respectively. Ensure you maintain these in good working order by emptying water buckets when they’re full and keeping up to date with maintenance.
5. Plants. Having a few plants in your office environment will not only perk up the look of the office, it will provide a vital natural air-cleansing system. There are some plants that are better than others for expunging toxins from the air. Talk to a plant store about your needs or, even better, contact a plant hiring company that will ensure the plants are well cared for.

Clean air goes a long way to making a comfortable workplace. If the office is a pleasant place to be in, your employees and workmates will be kept happy and productive.

Most people have become concerned about the increase in air pollution. We often associate air pollution with the outdoors, but indoor air pollution has become a growing health concern. The air quality in our homes and offices can have an affect on our health. Polluted indoor air can cause a host of problems such as breathing difficulties, allergies, and sinus problems. One method of reducing air pollution is to clean the air ducts.

Health Risks and Dirty Air Ducts

Air ducts can be found in such places as homes, schools, office buildings, hotels, retail establishments, apartment buildings,etc. Contaminated air ducts are often a major a major source of indoor air pollution. Air ducts can provide the perfect environment for the accumulation of allergens, bacteria, fungi, dust, dust mites, mold, and other organisms. Every time a heating and cooling unit runs, pollutants can be pulled in and over time, they will accumulate and flourish. Eventually, these contaminants are blown into rooms where they are inhaled by the occupants. The result will be the development of illnesses and severe allergic reactions.

Poor indoor air quality can cause or contribute to the development of chronic respiratory illnesses such as asthma, bronchitis, lung disease, headaches and migraines, dry eyes, nasal congestion, nausea, insomnia, and tiredness. Biological pollutants such as molds, bacteria, viruses, pollen, and animal dander reduce air quality which can cause serious illness.

Duct Cleaning Benefits

Cleaning your air ducts is a great method of improving the quality of indoor air. It improves air circulation, eliminates the built-up of contaminates, and improves the quality and function of heating and cooling systems. Duct cleaning involves the cleaning and disinfection of the components of a heating and cooling system. This normally includes supply and return air ducts and registers, grills and diffusers, heat exchangers, heating and cooling coils, drip pans, fan motor, fan housing and air handling unit housing. If not properly maintained, the components will become contaminated with dirt and other microorganisms.

Moisture in ducts is a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi which can cause respiratory illnesses when inhaled. If there are mice or rats running through the ducts, they will often leave their droppings in the ducts. Air blowing the droppings can result air contamination and may lead to serious health problems.

Air duct cleaning technicians have the experience and tools to thoroughly clean and disinfect ducts. There are professional cleaners that can clean a variety of ducts such as commercial, residential, and industrial ducts. The outcome will be a cleaner and less dusty home or building because there will no longer be any dust blowing into rooms. The chance of an indoor allergic reaction will be greatly reduced. Dust mites feed on debris found in air ducts. When you eliminate the debris, you will eliminate the dust mites. Newly constructed homes may also need a duct cleaning.

Materials such as plaster and drywall particles, wood, dust, insects and insulation can accumulate in ducts during construction. Removing these contaminants will make breathing in your new home much easier. New homes are now being built to be more energy efficient. This means that they are more air tight. Dirty air ducts in an energy efficient home can seriously affect the health of the occupants.

If left unclean for a long period of time, your air duct system could be a major source of dust and contaminants. For businesses, hiring a professional duct cleaning service once or twice a year will greatly improve the health of employees, clients, and customers. Cleaning home ducts will benefit homeowners, their children, and their pets.

Do you think cleaning lint from your dryer means cleaning the lint trap? That’s what most people think. The dryer vents in your dryer and your home also accumulate lint. Lint inside dryer vents can be a fire hazard and can reduce a dryer’s efficiency. Annual cleaning and/or inspection of these vents is recommended. Disconnecting the dryer hose from the dryer is necessary to get to the dryer vents for cleaning and inspection. A professional dryer duct cleaner is commonly needed for this.  A professional may be needed if you cannot reach all of the dryer vents.

Regularly cleaning or at least inspection is recommended however there are some indications that your vents need to be cleaned. If you are unsure you should consult a professional dryer vent cleaner.

Ways to tell your dryer vents need to be cleaned:

• Your clothes begin taking more time than normal to dry
• Your clothes are hotter than usual at the end of a drying cycle
• The flapper on your exterior dryer vent doesn’t open when the dryer is on

It is important to keep your dryer vents clean for various reasons. Lint is quite flammable, particularly if the clothes have been soiled with flammable materials such as gas, motor oil, cooking oil, wood stains, etc. Heat can accumulate in dryer vents if the airflow is restricted which can cause lint to ignite. Lint build up in dryer vents restricts air flow resulting in your dryer to be less efficient. The tumbling action of dryers is hard on clothes so when your dryer runs longer to dry your clothes they are subjected to extra wear and tear.

There are steps you can take to minimize the chance that your dryer ducts become restricted by lint.

• Rigid metal duct work is less prone to lint accumulation so replace plastic or foil duct work with rigid or semi rigid metal duct work.
• Clean or replace the flexible tube between the wall and your dyer regularly
• Always use a lint trap
• Clean the lint trap before every load of laundry.
• Wash your lint trap occasionally with soap and water to remove fabric softener
• The flap on the outside dryer vent should open and shut freely

General dryer maintenance:

• Have your dryer inspected regularly. The gas line and all connections for gas dryers should be checked for leaks
• Make sure your dryer is properly grounded
• Do not over fill your dryer
• Combustible chemicals should not be store near your dryer
• Do not store flammable items such as boxes or clothing near your dryer
• Operate your dryer only when you are home
• Dryer ducts should be at least 4 inches in diameter

Coil cleaning is equally complicated task and needs special equipments to clean the coils. If you have assessed the need of coil cleaning and duct work cleaning at your home or at the office then you need to get it touch with Utah Air Duct  Cleaning for your home and office.

Commercial cleaners have all the required equipments to do the jobs. When you call for coil cleaning or even duct work you must take free quotation for the work. The cost of coil cleaning and air duct cleaning depends on the area and the complexity of the duct system.

Duct cleaners can prepare a quote for you and when you like the quote then you call us. Be it domestic, industrial or commercial setup, we clean, sanitize and make the ducts odorless. Sanitation is done by professional technicians so that the growth of the microbes does not take place in the ducts.

When it comes to domestic cleaning of ducts, you are the only one who has to decide what services. In commercial and industrial set ups you can ask for annual cleaning programs. You may hire domestic cleaners every year when you think that air duct cleaning is needed in your home.

Utah Air Duct Cleaning can assess the quality of the air indoors and let you know the solutions that can get the air clean. If you have an annual maintenance program that can improve the quality of air from time to time throughout the year and do the cleaning when required. We will also replace grills and filters as per the requirement.

Coil cleaning and duct cleaning in a commercial kitchens uses different methods to remove all the grease and sanitize the ducts of the kitchen. This is a tough job and involves manual and steam cleaning.

All these cleaning services make the duct system completely clean and assure that you breathe in clean and fresh air.  Do a little research on the cleaners and how much they charge for a particular job. Most of them are available over the phone and if you can speak to them about the scale of the work, they may be able to give you more accurate quote.

Dryer vent cleaners can provide an invaluable service to the residents of Utah. The dryer vents are a part of home which should be included in your regular maintenance and cleaning regimen. It is a fact that around 15,000 residential fires are caused because of the dryer vents which are not cleaned properly. These fires result in damages of 90 million each year in the US which is one of the main reasons why it is important to ensure that the dryer vents at your home are cleaned professionally on a regular basis. Homeowners should be aware about the procedures and recommendations for cleaning their dryer vents which would keep them safe at home. There are a few facts that you should learn about dryer vents which would help you and your family be safe at home.

When Would Your Dryer Vent Need to be Cleaned?

If you are not sure when you would need to get your dryer vents cleaned, then dryer vent cleaners can come to your home and take a look at them. If your dryer takes longer than usual to dry a single load then it is an indicator that your vents might need to be cleaned. Generally, vents must be cleaned once every six months. Keep a record of when the vents had been cleaned last so that you would know when to schedule the next cleaning.

Why Should Dryer Vents be Cleaned?

Taking help of dryer vent cleaners on a regular basis to keep your dryer vents clean is very important. Every time that your clothes dry in the machine, they would produce lint. There is a lint trap in the dryers but they would not be able to catch all the lint that would pass through the dryer. If you keep the vents clean, then you would be able to remove the excess lint which would be blocking the passage of hot air. The vents which are located behind the dryer and the route of the vents that leads outside the home should be cleaned regularly for the best results.

You can either take help of professional cleaners or if you want, you can hire the right tools and clean the dryer vents at home yourself. You would be able to find the tools at home improvement and hardware stores and even online. These tools are made specially for cleaning vents. However, it is best not to do this job on your own unless you have some experience with it. You would need horizontal and circular brush with a flexible handle which would be able to reach inside the vents. Fortunately, there are quite a lot of good cleaning companies in Utah that can provide you these services. With a simple step, it is easy to prevent a fire at home. Dryer vent cleaners too can help you prevent a fire at home quite easily.

As the use of the modern air conditioning systems is on its peak in the 21st century there are many different manufacturers who are introducing new and improved models of air conditioning systems. Due to the immense high temperatures in hot regions, people cannot even spend a day without these modern air conditioners. Air conditioners have become one of the most used items in household appliances nowadays. Different air conditioner manufacturers have manufactured their own unique designs of central air conditioners to provide people with the high levels of air conditioning in their houses and their work places.

More energy efficient and dependable air conditioning units have been introduced in recent years. Amongst many different air conditioning brands there are only a few who are providing complete services and warranties along with the purchase of their products. Central air conditioners are becoming the most popular type of air conditioners amongst masses. The duct works is the backbone of the central air conditioning systems being manufactured nowadays. No central air conditioning systems can work properly if there is sub standard duct work in any house or building where these systems are to be installed to provide comfortable working environments.

Without a proper duct work even a high quality central air conditioner cannot work properly. State of the art duct work is to be laid in the particular place where a central air conditioner is to be installed. This is to ensure the proper airflow and to maintain good air circulation and ventilation. To maintain a good quality air conditioning indoors, it is always necessary to have proper air conditioning duct cleaning. If a proper air conditioning duct cleaning is not maintained there are always high chances of having low quality central air conditioning. The ducts are made laying carefully designed polyurethane and phenolic insulation panels inside the air conditioning duct work.

Fancy vets are attached with the ducts to maintain good quality air flow inside your house. Special duct cleaning companies are fast trend in the air conditioning industry. There are trained contractors and experienced professionals who perform these services at your door. Good quality duct cleaning is now available at affordable prices in the market. The facility of good duct cleaning was not so easy in the past because there were no proper tools and working professionals available in the market for this purpose. Today fiberglass duct boards’ insulation of the duct work are also available in the market at affordable rates.

Due to the ease of the modern technology and the internet facilities available it is very easy to have a team of professional air conditioning duct cleaning contractors at your house. Every company has their own specially designed website for these services. You just have to simply log on to the internet and make an appointment with these companies to send their extremely talented and experienced duct work cleaners at your door step. A properly maintained and clean duct work will definitely improve the working quality of your central air-conditioning system.

Dryer vent cleaners can provide an invaluable service to the residents of Utah. The dryer vents are a part of home which should be included in your regular maintenance and cleaning regimen. It is a fact that around 15,000 residential fires are caused because of the dryer vents which are not cleaned properly. These fires result in damages of 90 million each year in the US which is one of the main reasons why it is important to ensure that the dryer vents at your home are cleaned professionally on a regular basis. Homeowners should be aware about the procedures and recommendations for cleaning their dryer vents which would keep them safe at home. There are a few facts that you should learn about dryer vents which would help you and your family be safe at home.

When Would Your Dryer Vent Need to be Cleaned?

If you are not sure when you would need to get your dryer vents cleaned, then dryer vent cleaners can come to your home and take a look at them. If your dryer takes longer than usual to dry a single load then it is an indicator that your vents might need to be cleaned. Generally, vents must be cleaned once every six months. Keep a record of when the vents had been cleaned last so that you would know when to schedule the next cleaning.

Why Should Dryer Vents be Cleaned?

Taking help of dryer vent cleaners on a regular basis to keep your dryer vents clean is very important. Every time that your clothes dry in the machine, they would produce lint. There is a lint trap in the dryers but they would not be able to catch all the lint that would pass through the dryer. If you keep the vents clean, then you would be able to remove the excess lint which would be blocking the passage of hot air. The vents which are located behind the dryer and the route of the vents that leads outside the home should be cleaned regularly for the best results.

You can either take help of professional cleaners or if you want, you can hire the right tools and clean the dryer vents at home yourself. You would be able to find the tools at home improvement and hardware stores and even online. These tools are made specially for cleaning vents. However, it is best not to do this job on your own unless you have some experience with it. You would need horizontal and circular brush with a flexible handle which would be able to reach inside the vents. Fortunately, there are quite a lot of good cleaning companies in Maryland that can provide you these services. With a simple step, it is easy to prevent a fire at home. Dryer vent cleaners too can help you prevent a fire at home quite easily.

A clean dryer vent can save your family and your home from an expensive repair or the destruction of your home.

Duct cleaning is actually a misnomer; to improve your air quality and the energy efficiency of your AC system, a complete HVAC system cleaning is required (HVAC is an acronym for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning).

Duct Cleaning Affects AC System Efficiency

According to the EPA, a build up of just over four-tenths of an inch of dirt on the cooling coils can result in a 21% decrease in the efficiency of the coils. Yet duct cleaning alone never touches the cooling coils. The cooling coils are what remove the heat and humidity from the air in your home. If they are not working efficiently, your AC system has to work harder, run longer, and use more electricity to cool your home, not to mention the fact that the air you breathe passes over the dirt on these coils. Air duct cleaning without addressing the coils would be like cleaning your vacuum cleaner hose without emptying the bag; pretty much a waste of time and money. Your air ducts might be clean, but your air handler (which includes the blower, cooling coil, and plenum box, where all of the ductwork originates) would still be working inefficiently and compromising your air quality.

In our opinion, the cost of air conditioner duct cleaning is not worth the cost. Your entire system needs to be cleaned in order to reap the benefits of better indoor air quality and better energy efficiency.

The air from your home enters your AC system through the return grill, the large vent with the filter inside. The most common fiberglass filters are only 7% efficient at stopping dirt from passing through them. If they were too effective, they would also restrict the air flow to your AC, and it would have to run longer to cool your home. The air is drawn into the blower and forced through the cooling coils. It is when the air comes in contact with the chilled coils that the heat and moisture is removed. The moisture runs down the coils into the condensate pan, much the way moisture condenses on and runs down your bathroom mirror during a hot shower. Here it is plumbed to the outside of your house. Since the coils are always wet, they tend to pick up the dirt in the air more quickly than a dry surface and are a good breeding ground for microbial growth. The conditioned air then enters the plenum box where it is distributed to your air ducts and AC vents. The blower, cooling coils, and plenum box are all in one unit and together are called the air handler. This is the heart of your AC system.

Not all duct cleaning services are equal.

The problem is that in many states, unless a company has an HVAC license, they are not permitted to access or clean these components. This is to protect you from having your system accessed by someone who doesn’t know what they are doing. So in these states, all an unlicensed duct cleaner can do is reach what they can from your AC registers, and the rest of the system goes untouched. So you can see that duct cleaning without cleaning the air handler components is totally inadequate.

However, entire HVAC system cleaning by a licensed company is definitely worth the cost, especially compared to the cost of not doing it. The Louisiana Coop Extension Service estimates that 9 out of 10 HVAC system failures are caused by dust and dirt. A dirty system has to work harder and run longer than a clean system. Add to that the fact that the EPA has found indoor air to be 70% more polluted than outdoor air, and that the average house collects 40 pounds of dust a year (Discover Magazine), and you can see the importance of maintaining and cleaning your system.

Start with your local BBB website to find a reputable air duct cleaning company that is licensed to perform the entire job, and begin to save energy and breathe easier.

Duct cleaning is actually a misnomer; to improve your air quality and the energy efficiency of your AC system, a complete HVAC system cleaning is required (HVAC is an acronym for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning).

Duct Cleaning Affects AC System Efficiency

According to the EPA, a build up of just over four-tenths of an inch of dirt on the cooling coils can result in a 21% decrease in the efficiency of the coils. Yet duct cleaning alone never touches the cooling coils. The cooling coils are what remove the heat and humidity from the air in your home. If they are not working efficiently, your AC system has to work harder, run longer, and use more electricity to cool your home, not to mention the fact that the air you breathe passes over the dirt on these coils. Air duct cleaning without addressing the coils would be like cleaning your vacuum cleaner hose without emptying the bag; pretty much a waste of time and money. Your air ducts might be clean, but your air handler (which includes the blower, cooling coil, and plenum box, where all of the duct work originates) would still be working inefficiently and compromising your air quality.

In our opinion, the cost of air conditioner duct cleaning is not worth the cost. Your entire system needs to be cleaned in order to reap the benefits of better indoor air quality and better energy efficiency.

The air from your home enters your AC system through the return grill, the large vent with the filter inside. The most common fiberglass filters are only 7% efficient at stopping dirt from passing through them. If they were too effective, they would also restrict the air flow to your AC, and it would have to run longer to cool your home. The air is drawn into the blower and forced through the cooling coils. It is when the air comes in contact with the chilled coils that the heat and moisture is removed. The moisture runs down the coils into the condensate pan, much the way moisture condenses on and runs down your bathroom mirror during a hot shower. Here it is plumbed to the outside of your house. Since the coils are always wet, they tend to pick up the dirt in the air more quickly than a dry surface and are a good breeding ground for microbial growth. The conditioned air then enters the plenum box where it is distributed to your air ducts and AC vents. The blower, cooling coils, and plenum box are all in one unit and together are called the air handler. This is the heart of your AC system.

Not all duct cleaning services are equal.

The problem is that in many states, unless a company has an HVAC license, they are not permitted to access or clean these components. This is to protect you from having your system accessed by someone who doesn’t know what they are doing. So in these states, all an unlicensed duct cleaner can do is reach what they can from your AC registers, and the rest of the system goes untouched. So you can see that duct cleaning without cleaning the air handler components is totally inadequate.

However, entire HVAC system cleaning by a licensed company is definitely worth the cost, especially compared to the cost of not doing it. The LCES estimates that 9 out of 10 HVAC system failures are caused by dust and dirt. A dirty system has to work harder and run longer than a clean system. Add to that the fact that the EPA has found indoor air to be 70% more polluted than outdoor air, and that the average house collects 40 pounds of dust a year (Discover Magazine), and you can see the importance of maintaining and cleaning your system.

Start with your local BBB website to find a reputable air duct cleaning company that is licensed to perform the entire job, and begin to save energy and breathe easier.