5 Reasons to Keep Your Ductwork Clean

9/28/2017 (Permalink)

(By Hewn and Hammered)

The air quality in your home is important. Keeping dust, pollen, pet dander, and other irritants out of the air you breathe involves more than changing the air filter. What about the air ducts? Contaminants collect in the duct system too, and regular cleaning of the air channel is important.

Improving Health

As you know, many irritants hang in the air we breathe. Not only that, these minute particles of dirt and bacteria settle into your HVAC system and when you turn the system on, these contaminants blow into your home. These particles enter your lungs, worsening allergies and asthma. If your family suffers from frequent bouts of congestion, sinus infections, colds, or the flu, your air ducts probably need cleaning.

Many allergies sufferers trace their health issues back to the many types of fungi and bacteria in air duct systems. And indoor air pollution causes up to 50 percent of illnesses we catch. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, poor indoor air quality ranks among the top five environmental risks to your health.

Energy Consumption

Dirty HVAC systems consume more energy than clean ones. Older ductwork starts leaking and not only do irritants enter through cracks, but air escapes too. Dirty ductwork also impedes airflow that drives up energy bills as much as 20 percent. Plus, dirt stresses your system causing frequent breakdowns. Clean ductwork helps lower your utility bill and helps your HVAC unit last longer.

Smelly Air

If someone in your home smokes that cigarette or cigar order hangs not only in the air but in the ductwork. Likewise, if you burned something on the stove, the smoke must go somewhere. These smells and other household odors collect in the ductwork and get circulated five to seven times per day, on average. Odors continue to plague your home long after you remove the offensive item.

More Reasons

Mold and mildew grow in your duct system especially if your home suffered recent water damage from flooding or foundation cracks. Home renovations and repair often lead to contaminants settling in your air system, and newly built homes need the air ducts cleaned before occupancy.

Call the Professional

Air duct cleaning is not an easy job. It needs special vacuum hoses and tools to reach throughout the system. This is not a do-it-yourself task. Contact SERVPRO of Arlington Heights/Prospect Heights and schedule a professional cleaning. Have your system cleaned every three to five years and more often if your family suffers from severe allergies or asthma, includes a smoker, or you have pets that shed a lot.

You need to know the air you breathe at home is free from contaminants. What you don't know will hurt you. Make sure you contact a certified HVAC technician for ductwork cleaning. Another helpful idea is to buy a high-quality air filter like the ones sold at home improvement stores. Look for pleated filters costing around $15. Not only do these last a little longer, these filters also catch more debris, including bacteria and viruses, before you breathe it in.  

Why You Should Clean Your Dryer Vent

8/15/2017 (Permalink)

5 Reasons You Should Get Your Dryer Vent Cleaned

Cleaning out the lint trap of your dryer is second nature to most. We often do it after each load.

Why?

Because it helps our dryer work more efficiently and we know it’s a safety hazard if we don’t.

The same holds true for your dryer vent. This is the tube that runs from your dryer to the outside of your house. It helps remove hot air and moisture. If this vent gets clogged it can lead to many complications.

Here are the top 5 reasons why it’s important to keep your dryer vent clean and free from clogs and lint.

1. Safety

The number 1 reason on our list is safety! Dryers run hot and lint is highly flammable, which makes for a dangerous combination.

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, clothes dryers are responsible for more than 15,000 structure fires each year and 80% of those are due to clogged dryer vents. This is a preventable problem.

There is also the possibility of fumes backing up into your home through clogged vents. The gasses and carbon monoxide that should be released outside could potentially back up into your home causing an air quality issue for you and your family.

2. Low-Efficiency

We all want our appliances to work as efficiently as possible. A clogged dryer vent could mean your clothes will need multiple cycles before drying correctly or will need to run longer. This is because the proper amount of hot air is not reaching your dryer.

Multiple cycles and extended drying times mean additional energy spent and could lead to an increase in your electrical bill.

3. A Clean Dryer Vent Means a Longer Life for Your Dryer

We already pointed out that a clogged vent means a less efficient drying cycle. If your dryer is running longer than normal or more than one cycle per load, your slowly decreasing the life of your dryer. It’s essentially working double-time!

A dryer that is overworked will add considerable wear and tear to your machine. This could lead to malfunctions and needed repairs. Allowing your dryer to run this way can also cause a complete breakdown of your machine over time.

4. Mold

The purpose of the dryer vent is to release moisture and hot air outside. The moisture can sometimes create wet spots inside the tube. Built-up lint can get caught in these wet spots and create mold.

This wet lint can also stick to the inside of the vent’s tube making cleaning more difficult.

5. Less Maintenance

Like any other appliance or machine, your dryer will last longer and work better if it’s properly cared for. Cleaning the vent regularly will help ensure that your clothes are being dried in a timely manner and you aren’t wasting unnecessary energy. Extended drying times can even cause strain on your fabrics.

A dryer that continues to run with a clogged vent can cause internal problems that require repairs. This means more money for you.

Your dryer vent should be cleaned once a year. If you’re unsure of how to clean your vent or want professional assistance, contact a cleaning specialist like SERVPRO today!

What's lurking in your Air Ducts?

6/28/2016 (Permalink)

Air duct cleaning refers to the cleaning of various components of heating, cooling and ventilation systems like air ducts, grills, registers, diffusers, heat exchangers, drip pans, heating and cooling coils, and air handling unit housing and fan motors.

There were times when people used to think of it as an unnecessary task as long as the systems are working well but now people are much more aware of its importance. Air duct cleaning has become a necessary evil these days as more and more pollution enters our homes and work places. Almost everybody knows the benefits of cleaning air ducts; that it increases efficiency of the systems, reduces workload on the system, lowers electricity bills, increases life of the system and is compulsory for the health of the family. The  most common question that comes up is how often should you clean your air ducts. 

A plethora of companies in the business of air duct cleaning recommend different intervals extending from yearly to even a span of 3 to 5 years. Obviously the later one makes little sense. Usually an air duct cleaning on an annual basis or at least every other year should keep your system in good working order and you and your family healthy.  However, there are exceptions to this as there are situations that would require  more frequent cleaning of the air ducts.

Weather Conditions: If you live in an area subjected to severe climatic conditions then you need to clean your air ducts more  frequently especially when the climate is hot and humid.

Pets: If there are shedding pets in your home, their dander may contaminate air ducts through the air that is circulated and therefore require  more frequent cleaning of your air ducts.

Construction & Renovation: A recent construction and renovation of the home you live in makes an important consideration for an air duct cleaning. Similarly if you are moving into a new house, you may want to consider air duct cleaning because you never know what's in your ducts.

Smoking: If you smoke then a more frequent cleaning session is suggested.

Illness: If someone in the family is suffering from some respiratory disease or is an allergy sufferer, then air duct cleaning should be on the top of your to do list at the start of every season.

Your systems give clear indications about the right time to go for air cleaning duct session. Here are few of these:

Less air flow: Air flow from the vents is greatly reduced if ducts are dirty. You can feel it by putting your hands by the vents.

Smelly Odor: If you smell an odor within your house, perhaps it is time to get your air ducts cleaned.

Moist ducts: This is the ideal condition for mold growth and a clear indication that it is time to get your air ducts cleaned.

Debris Accumulation: Air registers show the sign of the need to clean your air ducts when they get dirty with debris.

Allergic Reactions: Another important reason for considering an air duct cleaning is allergic reactions with no apparent reason. This may indicate poor indoor air quality  and an immediate need to clean the air ducts.

Did you know SERVPRO provides air duct cleaning? View our website for more information on this service!

http://www.SERVPROarlingtonheightsprospectheights.com/airduct-cleaning