HVAC Cleaning The Importance of Opening Your Windows Even During Winter

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HVAC Cleaning The Importance of Opening Your Windows Even During Winter

During the winter season, while it might be cold outside, if it’s bright and sunny, it’s the perfect time to open your windows for a short while every day; you’re A/C isn’t operating and there’s no pollen. Fresh air has long been associated with our health and wellbeing, and it’s no different when the air is inside our homes.

Read on to find out more reasons why it can be beneficial to open your windows on a bright, sunny winter day:

Improves the quality of the air inside your home

Did you know that the air inside your home is often full of irritating pollutants? Things like pet dander, mold, dust mites and many other potentially harmful pollutants can all contribute towards poor air quality inside the home, and when exposed to them, you and other members of the household may begin to suffer from a variety of health-related issues. Nausea, allergies, headaches and congestion are all things that you might experience from breathing in polluted air, and often, dirty air ducts in your HVAC system are the culprit.

Aside from having your air ducts professionally cleaned at least once a year (more if you have pets or experience the above health symptoms frequently), you can improve your indoor air quality by simply throwing your windows open every once in a while. How often you do so during the winter may well depend on the outside temperature, but allowing the crisp, cold air to flow through your home will help to cleanse the indoor environment.

Gets rid of nasty odors

During the winter months, odors can easily build up inside your home due to an increase in moisture and humidity caused by the home being sealed for weeks on end. From a musty bathroom, to dirty laundry and damp dogs, opening your windows periodically during this season can help to purify the air and make your entire home smell fresher and more inviting.

Improve your brain power

Science has long proven that fresh air helps to clear your mind and refresh your thought processes, with some studies having shown that students and employees alike, tend to be more productive and learn faster when exposed to air that has been properly ventilated.

Fresh air is also said to help improve heart rate and blood pressure, cleanse the lungs and strengthen the immune system. Just by inhaling clean air, you can boost the levels of oxygen in your blood and promote the release of serotonin, which has the rather pleasant effect of lifting your mood. If outside temperatures aren’t too unbearable, try to open at least some of the windows in your home once a day to help eliminate contaminants and airborne particles that serve only to pollute your indoor air quality. Do also ensure that you have your HVAC air ducts professionally inspected and cleaned at least every six months, to make sure they’re working at their most efficient level, and aren’t responsible for circulating dirty air throughout your home.

Hvac Air Duct Cleaning 8 Things That Can Cause Your Utilities to Spike

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Hvac Air Duct Cleaning

While we all need electricity to power our homes, there are some ways in which we could be misusing it and causing our utility bills to spike, forcing us to pay more than we had anticipated and planned for.

To prevent your utilities from spiking, and to keep your bills at a manageable level, here are 8 things to avoid doing:

  1. Not changing your HVAC air filters

When the mercury rises, a HVAC system that isn’t working efficiently due to dirty filters, can inflate your energy bills. Over time, air filters capture dust, lint, pollen, and other pollutants, forcing the HVAC system to work much harder than it needs to. Try changing your air filter at least once every two months.

  • Letting air leak out

Homes can lose a significant amount of energy as a result of leaks, so be sure to check that all doors, windows and exterior walls are properly sealed, along with sealing and caulking and your attic space. It also pays to check for leaks in your ductwork, as these can cause the AC or heater to run more than normal, and increase your electrical costs.

  • Having poor insulation

Keeping cool air inside during the summer months is essential, but without a properly insulated roof or attic, this can prove troublesome and costly.

  • Not having your HVAC air ducts professionally cleaned

Along with having your HVAC system inspected and maintained on at least an annual basis, if you run your heating and cooling system constantly without changing the air filter, or having your air ducts cleaned, it will not heat or cool your home efficiently, and cause a spike in your energy bills.

Your system sucks in air through your home’s return. That air must first pass through the air filter before making it to the system. Dirty air filter is the equivalent of your system trying to suck air through a clogged straw. System has to work a lot harder to pull in an adequate amount of air to get the job done.

If you suddenly notice a higher bill and remember that you haven’t replaced your filter in months, there’s a decent chance that’s either the problem or contributing to the problem.

  • Failing to address phantom power

Most appliances still draw power even when they’re turned off, and over time, this will add up on your energy bill. While it may not cost you much extra on your utilities, it costs you absolutely nothing to unplug appliances when not in use, so you may as well do so and save a buck or two.

  • Improper usage of thermostats

When you’re tempted to turn down the thermostat to cool your home quicker, try to resist the urge! Doing so has no impact on how quickly your home cools down, and will only force your HVAC system to run for longer, costing you more.

  • Wasting energy cooling an empty home

A programmable thermostat can help you monitor your energy consumption during periods of the day when you’re not at home, and prevent you from wasting energy.

  • Failing to close vents in room that aren’t in use

Closing the duct vents in rooms that aren’t currently occupied, won’t save you money on your utilities, but will cause your HVAC to work inefficiently due to a disruption in the balance of vents.

So, there are a few things you can try to avoid doing in order to keep your utilities at a consistent rate, and avoid costly spikes when you least expect them. Why not start by having your HVAC system inspected and cleaned?

https://www.ductgurus.com/air-duct-cleaning/contact-us-duct-gurus-now/

 

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3 Ways to Keep Your Air Ducts Cleaner for Longer

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3 Ways to Keep Your Air Ducts Cleaner for Longer

Circulating heated or cooled air throughout your home, the air ducts in your HVAC system are a vital component that should never be overlooked or neglected. Failure to keep your air ducts clean could easily (and quickly) result in dust, pollen and other pollutants and particles building up inside the ducts, and not only does this put a strain on the whole system and force it to work harder (resulting in higher energy bills than expected), but it can have a negative impact on your mental and physical wellbeing, too.

To keep your air ducts cleaner for longer, here are 3 simple tips to follow:

  1. Dust and vacuum frequently

Most dust, dander and other particulates are virtually impossible to avoid, and will always accumulate in your HVAC ducts to a certain degree. However, by following a regular routine of dusting and vacuuming, you can do your best to minimize what gets drawn into the vents and forces your HVAC system to work on overdrive while circulating allergens throughout your home.

Keep all indoor spaces as clean as possible to promote healthy air quality and allow your HVAC system to work efficiently.

  • Change air filters on a regular basis

Neglecting to change the air filters on HVAC systems is something that many homeowners are guilty of, but if they repeatedly fail to do so, the filters will inevitably become clogged and dirty. When this happens, the filters will need to be replaced, and ideally, this should be done every 3 to 4 months. If you share your home with pets or there is a lot of dust in the area however, the filters may need to be changed more often.

If you see a layer of dust and debris on your filters, then they will need to be replaced, and checking them regularly is the best way to prevent them from becoming clogged in the first instance.

  • Have your air ducts professionally cleaned

How often you have this done depends upon your home and who you share it with, but the average home can get away with their ducts cleaned every 3 to 5 years. During duct cleaning, the air ducts are sealed and subjected to negative pressure, before a brush-like mechanical device is used by the duct technician to dislodge dust and any other particles present there.

Working much like a vacuum, the negative pressure draws out the particles and deposits them into the trash. If your ducts are particularly dirty, sealant may also be applied to the seams and joints and they may be sanitized to prevent odors caused by mold and bacteria. Keeping your air ducts clean and working efficiently is simple, and if you’ve had your HVAC system for more than 3 years without it being professionally cleaned and inspected, now is as good a time as any to get this done.

Could Dirty Air Ducts Be Harming Your Health?

Could Dirty Air Ducts Be Harming Your Health?

All too often, allergies and other health issues are not considered to be caused by the homes we live in and the air we breathe when in them. However, both research and evidence has consistently shown that in a good number of instances, our homes are responsible for making us sick.

Pollutants carried around our homes via dirty air ducts in HVAC systems, are responsible for causing a multitude of health problems for individuals and families alike, and regular cleaning by a technician, is the only way to resolve the issue and keep the air in your home as clean as possible.

Below are just some of the signs that dirt and debris in your air ducts could be harming your health:

  • Allergies, sore throats, cold and coughs

If you or anyone in your household suffers from allergies and your air ducts are dirty, you or they, will be the first to show signs of suffering, typically in the form of itchy eyes, coughing, sneezing and sore throats.

Circulating allergens and other bacteria can make anyone sick, but especially seniors, children and anyone with compromised immunity or allergies.

  • Respiratory disease

Pet dander, dust, pollen and a whole host of other irritating allergens can build up in air ducts over time and get stuck there if not cleaned professionally, and regularly.

Distributed around your home or place of work, breathing this polluted air over a prolonged period can cause severe respiratory disease.

  • Increased ageing

Tiredness and constant irritability can be caused by breathing contaminated air, and aside from being responsible for serious illnesses, dirty duct air can speed up the ageing process and make you look and feel, far older than you actually are.

Dirty ducts can make your home smell, too

When your air ducts are damp and dirty and left uncleaned for long periods of time, mold and mildew can quickly build up in them, and as well as causing a number of health concerns, this can make your home smell pretty bad, too. You may not notice it yourself, but guests and other visitors will sniff it out swiftly, and you may find your dinner party invites being politely turned down.

Dirty ducts can impede the overall function of a HVAC system

A build up of dirt and debris in your air ducts is not only bad for your health, but can mean that the entire system isn’t working efficiently, resulting in higher energy bills over time, and a poor, to non-existent air filtering function.

What are the benefits of regular air duct cleaning?

Perhaps the most significant benefit is that your health won’t be impacted by poor air quality if you have your air ducts professionally cleaned every few months, and having lower energy bills coupled with a comfortably warm or cool home, is not to be sniffed at, either.

To prevent your air ducts from making you sick and aggravating your allergies, arrange to have them professionally cleaned as often as recommended. While this may be every six months for some households, others may benefit from having it done more frequently; your chosen HVAC technician can advise you on this.

https://www.ductgurus.com/air-duct-cleaning/contact-us-duct-gurus-now/

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How Clean Air in the Workplace Can Boost Productivity

How Clean Air in the Workplace Can Boost Productivity

Did you know that as many as 90% of dust and mold particles found in the US, present a poisoning risk to humans? Dust and mold are more than just an unsightly and inconvenient problem in our homes and businesses, they’re a hazard that if left unchecked, can aggravate allergies, cause respiratory problems and myriad other health concerns for people.

Below are just some of the problems both you and your employees can expect to encounter, if the air ducts in your commercial premises aren’t being cleaned often enough, if at all:

  • Increase in allergens

Invisible to the naked eye, airborne allergens such as dust and pollen can wreak havoc on anyone being regularly exposed to significant numbers of them, and over time, this exposure can make individuals very sick. Healthy people may experience itchy eyes, a runny nose and a sore throat, while for anyone with a compromised immunity or existing allergies, airborne allergens can aggravate symptoms and even cause a number of respiratory illnesses. In the worst-case scenario, some individuals may even require hospitalization.

  • Risk of infection

Mold and mildew spores can be particularly dangerous when individuals are exposed to them over long periods of time. If your air ducts aren’t being cleaned often enough – if at all – then there could be a build-up of mold and mildew inside them, causing the very air your employees are breathing to become dangerous over time. Lung infections caused by frequent or prolonged exposure to mold and mildew spores can be potentially deadly, and no employer wants to expose their workers to this.

Mold infections can also cause a range of symptoms for those already suffering from allergies, such as headaches, sneezing and coughing. If your business is in a particularly humid region, or the nature of the products you manufacture lead to a warm, damp environment, there could very well be mold and mildew in the air ducts.

Simply put, you don’t want mold or mildew anywhere in your building, least of all in your air ducts.

  • Reduction in productivity

It goes without saying that if your employees are breathing in polluted air from the dirty air ducts in a building or room, they’re not going to be able to work to as high a standard. Their concentration will likely be impaired, they may suffer from frequent headaches, itchy eyes or a cough, all of which make it hard to work productively. In some cases, the air may be so unclean that employees are forced to take sick leave or are even hospitalized.

Are the air ducts in your workspace being cleaned frequently, or could you be exposing your employees to the dangers of excess dust and mold spores? Cleaning the ducts regularly can also help prevent fires and improve the overall quality of the air. Why is this so important? Because if your employees aren’t breathing clean air, there’s no way they’re going to be as productive, and that spells bad news not just for the employee, but for you and your business as a whole.

 

Should You Replace or Restore Your Air Duct System?

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Should You Replace or Restore Your Air Duct System?

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In the U.S. alone, more than 30% of adults regularly suffer from allergies, and this number is thought to be even higher in children. While allergies and their symptoms may be mild for some, for others they can be extremely detrimental to their health and can even prevent them from living a normal life. So, what’s causing these allergies?

With the average home in America playing host to more than double the amount of pollutants typically found outside, the very air we’re breathing when we’re relaxing at home, could be responsible for many common but potentially serious allergies.

Some common allergy symptoms include itchy or watery eyes, a sore throat and a cough, and for anyone with a compromised immunity or preexisting health condition, these symptoms can be life threatening. When foreign particles such as dust and mold spores are introduced into our lungs, they can affect our breathing, sleep and overall quality of life; for many, exposure to dust particles and mold spores can make life truly miserable.

If you or anyone in your home is regularly experiencing the following symptoms, it could mean that they are being exposed to foreign particles, and this is most commonly through dirty air ducts in heating and cooling systems:

  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Coughing
  • Sore throat
  • Allergies and asthma

The International Agency for Research on Cancer has also classified the fiberglass used in many air ducts to be a possible cause of lung cancer.

Duct board is commonly used in many U.S. homes in the heating and cooling systems, and is a fiberglass insulator. Over time, the duct material breaks down and tiny particles of fiberglass are released into the air that you and your family are breathing, causing potentially harmful health conditions.

Do your air ducts need cleaning, restoring or replacing?

If you’re worried about the risks your air ducts could be exposing you and other members of your household to, then you should arrange for them to be inspected and cleaned at the earliest. In some cases, the system may need to be restored or even replaced, and only a detailed assessment from a duct specialist will tell you which option is the most viable. Naturally, replacing an A/C duct system can be costly, and most homeowners only go down this route when there is no other option.

If air duct restoration is a possibility, this is what your air duct specialist will do:

  • Use a high-performance coating designed to bridge and reinforce the duct liner
  • The coating will dry to form a flexible and moisture resistant protective coating that will help prevent the buildup of harmful mold and bacteria
  • The duct is lined with a disinfectant spray to reduce bacteria growth in the future

This two-step process costs a lot less than replacing your entire heating and cooling system, and can not only breathe new life into the ducts, but into the lungs of your home’s inhabitants!

If you take one thing away from this article, it should be to never neglect the maintenance of your air ducts. Having them cleaned regularly, or restored where necessary, can help prevent a whole host of potentially dangerous pollutants from entering your home.

We can’t control the air we breathe when we step outside, but we can certainly protect the air inside our own homes!

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How HVAC Duct Cleaning Can Improve Air Quality in Your Home

HVAC Duct Cleaning

The very air we breathe is often responsible for how we feel, both mentally and physically, and that includes the air inside our homes, too. To perform at our optimum every day, we need to reduce the number of pollutants that we’re exposed to on a daily base, and having our HVAC air ducts regularly cleaned can contribute significantly towards this.

Why is air quality in our homes so important?

Poor indoor air quality can have an immediate negative impact upon our health, and can include eye, nose and throat irritation, and even result in symptoms such as dizziness, headaches and fatigue. Due to the fact that many of these symptoms mimic those of allergies or common colds, many Americans don’t even realize that the way they’re feeling could be caused by the poor air quality inside their homes.

For anyone failing to address the causes of poor air quality inside their homes over an extended period of time – such as dirty or blocked HVAC air ducts – they may go on to experience more serious health concerns, such as respiratory diseases, cancer and even heart disease.

What can you do to improve the air quality in your home?

Proactiveness is key when it comes to having good indoor air quality (IAQ) circulating throughout your home, and having your HVAC air ducts cleaned on a regular basis, can help you achieve this safely and efficiently.

How often should you have your HVAC air ducts cleaned?

While the answer may vary for each household, typically, if you notice any of the below issues, you should call a technician and have them come out and clean the ducts as soon as possible:

  • Visible mold on the hard surfaces of your HVAC ducts and other components
  • Clogged ducts – whether from dust or debris, or after a remodeling project
  • Rodents or other pests inhabiting the ducts

Additionally, if you or anyone living in your home suffers from allergies, asthma or chronic illnesses, having the air ducts cleaned regularly can significantly improve the indoor air quality, in turn, minimizing their symptoms.

While the air we breathe outside of our homes may not be within our control, what we can do more to control, is the air inside our homes. If you’re not sure whether your HVAC air ducts need cleaning, or can’t remember when they were last professionally cleaned (if at all), simply call up a technician and have them come out and assess the system for any of the signs mentioned above. If your HVAC air ducts haven’t been cleaned in many months, the chances are that they’ll benefit from being professionally cleaned, and all members of your household will undoubtedly notice the difference, too.

Air Duct Cleaning NJDetailed Guide of Steps Involved in Air Duct Cleaning

Ultimate Guide to Air Duct Cleaning in NJ: Steps for a Dust-Free and Efficient HVAC System

Air ducts are installed and then left on their own in most households. Very few residents understand the concept of dust and dirt accumulation and its repercussions. If you have an HVAC system running 24/7 for the whole year, the chances of it being heavily clogged are very high. This is the reason why HVAC experts recommend periodic air duct inspection and cleaning. Finding a competent air duct cleaning service is a chore and hiring incompetent cleaners does more harm than good. I will be listing down the steps that are involved in a professional duct cleaning procedure so that you can ensure that your selected cleaning service is doing the job correctly.

Duct Inspection

The primary stage of performing a duct cleaning is to meticulously inspect all the ducts connected to the HVAC system. Depending upon the extent of clogging, the cleaning professional may require the use of a camera to inspect the duct. Pre-inspection is done to find out any cracks, leaks, or severe damage to the duct installed in the residence. Before beginning the cleaning process, the duct cleaning professional will plug these persistent leaks and repair the entire duct system.

Leveraging Negative Pressure

Cleaning professionals make use of negative pressure to force out the settled dust, dirt, and debris in your ventilation ducts. Professional cleaning services use (HEPA) vacuum that can effectively remove the dirt accumulation lodged in the crevices of the vents, vent openings, and other difficult-to-reach areas. Firstly, the side and connecting ducts are cleaned, and all the debris is forced down to the main connecting line. Then a powerful vacuuming tool is used to extract all the remaining particles inside the primary duct.

HVAC Cleaning

After cleaning the complete air duct system, the cleaning professionals then move on to inspecting and cleaning the installed HVAC systems and their components. Every major part of the system including furnace, evaporator coil, drain pan, air blower motor, etc is inspected and cleaned, to restore their maximum working potential. The inspection also reveals any inherent flaws in your systems that can be the root cause of the sub-par heating and cooling capacity.

Final Check

After the cleaning of all the air ducts installed in the house and the HVAC system is complete, the cleaning professionals will connect them and observe their working for some time. The final check also ensures that everything is properly fitted and connected, and the house owners do not have to avail of the cleaning or technicians service for the next few months.

Air duct cleaning extends the life of your HVAC system. It also makes sure that the air flowing into your house is free of any allergens and disease-causing microbes, that is seeping into the house via the cracks in the ducts. Periodic cleaning of air ducts helps you save a significant amount on operating costs, and ensure optimum air quality for you and your family.

Pro Tips to Prepare Your Home for Air Duct Cleaning NJ During Covid-19

Air Duct Cleaning

Air Duct Cleaning NJ

HVAC systems receive their fair share of maintenance and repair from time to time but the ducts carrying the air are not maintained like them. Like the HVAC systems, the ventilation ducts get clogged with dust, dirt, cobwebs, etc. when left unattended for a long time. Opting for a duct cleaning service amid this Covid-19 pandemic is another challenge in itself. This post will shed some light on how to prepare your home and yourself if you want to conduct a duct cleaning service.

Cover the flooring and the furniture

Duct cleaning generates a lot of dust and dirt in the air that slowly lodge into every exposed crevice. During Covid-19, it is imperative to avoid any physical contact of your belongings with another person, so covering your furniture and floors completely makes sense. Usually, the professionals would do it for you but your peace of mind and minimizing the risk of contamination, you do it yourself.

Keep the mask on at all times

It seems useless to even tell this one but please keep your face covered at all times with a genuine face mask. Avoid copying the chin mask habit and keep your face covered while interacting with the professionals. Also, restrict the entry of any professional who fails to comply with the basic Covid-19 precautions and report it to the concerned company.

Converse with the duct cleaning company

Before initiating a duct cleaning session, enquire the cleaning service about the precautions that they are taking to prevent the spread of Covid-19 while executing duct cleaning services at your residence. A few pointers to look for including a must-have PPE kit rule for all professionals, periodic temperature checks and usage of safety gear, sanitization of tools and surfaces, and not allowing even mildly sick employees to report for a duct cleaning appointment.

Separate sanitation facilities

Duct cleaning professionals have to put in long hours to make your ventilation spick and span. They will need to use the bathroom during these hours, so it is advisable to designate a separate washroom for the duct cleaning professionals. This way you can keep both your family and the professionals from cross-contamination and spread of the virus.

Clear out the space

Duct cleaning services require bigger space and make sure to clear out the area for the professionals. You can confine yourself in a separate room until the cleaning is complete or can even go out for a short drive to avoid contact with the cleaning service. You can enquire the duct cleaning service about their requirements and the area they need to work in without any disturbance. Make sure to list your concerns before booking the duct cleaning service.

These above mentioned precautions might seem a little excessive but must be strictly followed for the safety of your household and cleaning service as well. An adept duct cleaning service doesn’t take long but still can be there for a whole working day. So, plan and implement all these measures before they arrive.

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Duct Cleaning Services Curb Your Energy Expenses

Duct Cleaning Services Curb Your Energy Expenses

Tried all methods but still are unable to curb your energy expenses? Well, maybe you are putting efforts in the wrong place. HVAC systems pump a lot of air into your home each day using the ventilation system. Over time, dust, dirt, and other particles can accumulate and stick inside the duct system. As your duct keeps getting thick and clogged from inside, your HVAC system has to put a lot of effort to cool the same space. Here are a few reasons why opting for duct cleaning services can help you maximize your energy savings.

Identify and repair leaks

When you conduct a duct cleaning service, the professionals finely scrutinize the entire system for leaks. Even small leaks can lead to a loss of the air that is being cooled and then transferred to the residence. If you have left those crevices unattended, you are wasting a lot of energy to cool your residence. Also, temporarily plugging the leaks with DIY won’t provide the level of efficiency as done by a duct cleaning and maintenance professional.

Clean ducts translate to energy savings

Clogged ducts can impede the fresh air flow into your residence. The result is that your HVAC system has to put a lot of extra effort to supply air and maintain a constant temperature. So, by cleaning the ducts you can restore the natural flow of air and not overburden your HVAC system 24/7. It also adds years to your HVAC system’s life which has to work comparatively less.

Pristine air quality

If your HVAC system is continuing to pump air across the clogged air ducts, it is forcing a lot of contamination into the residence. People with allergies and asthma can quickly fall prey to bad air quality and suffer frequent sneezing, exasperation, and irritation due to the bad air quality. You must opt for a thorough duct cleaning service to keep your ducts free of any build-up that can aggravate the health issues of your family. Furthermore, clean air with minimal pollution levels helps you to be fit and healthy and not damage your lungs in the long run.

Increase air filter life

Air filters play a crucial role in keeping out the debris from entering the HVAC system and damaging intricate components. If you have clean air ducts that are serviced periodically, the air filter will have to sustain less abuse every time it draws in the air via the ducts. Manually cleaning your air filter is also recommended which is fairly easy and rarely requires professional supervision.

The above-mentioned reasons will compel you to at least get an inspection done on your air duct system. Ducts are often misinterpreted to remain top-notch despite any effort, which is not true. In addition to periodic HVAC system maintenance, you should also hire an efficient duct cleaning services company that can restore the clogged air ducts to their original state. Believe me, you’ll notice a substantial decrease in the HVAC system’s energy consumption in the first year itself.