Here you can find information about Air Duct Cleaning Cost, Process, Dryer Vent Cleaning Kits, How to Clean Air Ducts, what is Air Duct Cleaning Services and More.
Why should I clean my dryer vent?
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that clothes dryers are associated with approximately 15,600 fires annually, causing 15 deaths and over 100 million dollars in damages. Lint built up is the most common cause; and it’s not just in the lint filter. Dangerous amounts of lint can build up behind the dryer and inside the vent system, clogging the vent hose.
Fires can occur when lint builds up in the dryer or in the exhaust duct. Lint can block the flow of air, cause excessive heat build-up, and result in a fire in some dryers. Because lint is easily combustible, fires can start quickly. Flexible plastic hosing is the next thing to catch on fire and then it spreads quickly.
Safety is the main reason to have your clean your dryer vent professionally cleaned at least every other year. WellDuct uses professional dryer vent cleaning kits and HEPA certified vacuums to keep your house clean and fire-safe.
What can we do to avoid the need for duct and system cleaning?
Dirt, debris and microbiological growths can be minimized by:
- well-maintained filter systems
- using filters rated at MERV 6 or greater
- regular HVAC maintenance
- providing good housekeeping in the occupied space
- locating air intakes in non-contaminated locations
- keeping all HVAC system components clean and dry
What is Air Duct Cleaning?
Duct cleaning typically consists of contaminant removal (e.g., through brushing/vibration plus extreme negative pressure).
If duct cleaning is performed by contractor personnel, ask them about the following typical good practices:
- Will they keep the ducts being cleaned under negative pressure during the cleaning operation? (This minimizes the discharge of dirt and dust into the occupied space.)
- Will they protect the duct system? (Avoiding unnecessarily cutting holes in the duct or duct liner, for example.)
- Are the vacuum and collection equipment located outside of the building? Where vacuum collection equipment is inside … is HEPA filtration provided for the discharge?
- Is the vacuum coupled with brushes to lift the settled materials from the inside of the ducts? (Vacuum cleaning alone is not very effective.)
- Will they avoid using sealants to cover interior-contaminated ductwork? (Sealants have not been shown to be effective as a barrier to microbiological growth, their long-term health effects are unknown, and they may void fire safety ratings.)
- Are they removing (rather than cleaning) water-damaged or bio-contaminated porous materials?
You definitely would want to provide cleaning (or possible duct replacement) if:
- there is permanent water damage
- there is slime growth
- there is debris that restricts airflow
- dust is actually seen emitting from air supply registers
- offensive odors originate in the ductwork or HVAC system
Does UV really work?
UV has been proven under numerous studies for its ability to destroy the DNA of germs: viruses, mold, spores, fungi, and bacteria. It works at different levels depending on what one wants to accomplish.
Example 1: In the commercial world, i.e. hospitals, clean rooms and food processing plants, the objective would be to have instantaneous kill. Therefore, UV lights would blanket the air passage system and the airflow directed over and between lamps, which provide for maximum kill of air pollutants. This process is expensive.
Example 2: In residential applications, the objective is to create a cost effective and continuous method of cleaning the air. The kill rate of air pollutants is a function of space, time and the intensity of UV. Because UV has been proven to work in a cumulative manner, the polluted air is cleaned over time and subsequent passages over the UV lamp – the same way like we wash our hands more than once a day to periodically get rid of germs. Germs are constantly growing in our indoor environment and pollute the air we breathe. UV technology gives us the opportunity to clean the indoor air continuously in a cost effective manner.
Is UVC similar to ozone?
No! Ozone is a chemical; UVC is electromagnetic energy, or rays. Ozone, as a chemical, can mix with the air and travel by air currents into the breathable air space. Ozone oxidizes or alters the chemical structure of material it contacts. UVC does not mix with the air, but travels by wave energy. To be effective, that energy has to be in the line of sight. Further, the UVC energy degrades within a few feet of the light source.
What is dryer vent?
Your dryer vent is the vent found behind the dryer, which carries moisture and lint through its length and expels these materials out of the home. (All gas dryer vents should vent to the outside of the home according to U.S. and Canadian law. This ensures that any potential carbon dioxide produced is vented away from the home).
Why should I have my chimney inspected?
According to the National Fire Protection Association, chimney’s should be inspected or cleaned annually. The chimney and fireplace / furnace system is quite complicated and an inspection can alert you to a potential problem before it becomes a costly repair or a safety issue. Many times homeowners are unaware of problems that may exist. It is always a good idea to schedule your inspection and cleaning in the late summer or early fall, before you begin using the chimney or furnace during the heating season. At Nayaug, many of our customers request to be on a regular annual schedule for this work. Another important time to schedule an inspection is if you have changed to a new furnace or if you have just purchased the home and want to be sure about the condition of the chimney system.
What is Creosote, how does it get in the chimney and why is it dangerous?
The CSIA (Chimney Safety Institute of America) recommends that masonry chimneys should be cleaned when 1/4" of sooty build-up and creosote is present. Factory built insert fireplaces can actually become a hazard with a much thinner build-up on the inside walls. Either type can reach a dangerous level after burning as little as a cord of wood, so your cleaning schedule may end up being 1 or 2 times per year. Even if you don’t use your chimney much, there is always the chance that animals have built nests during the summer that can form a blockage or things like leaves can accumulate during the Fall.
Natural gas is cleaner than wood, but the fumes actually create more water vapor than wood burning fires. This means more condensation in the chloride containing fumes, which can create a hydrochloric acid coating on the furnace flues. This is a highly corrosive agent and these systems should be checked at least once a year.
Are there standards for duct cleaning and duct cleaners?
Currently, official standards and guideline are not yet available to determine when duct cleaning is necessary. Common sense and the ground rules provided here can help you decide when cleaning is necessary.