Spring Cleaning – Why it is a Good Time to get Your Ducts Professionally Cleaned

Spring Cleaning – Why it is a Good Time to get Your Ducts Professionally Cleaned

May 28, 2016 | No Comments

Duct cleaning involves cleaning of both heating and cooling systems and all the respective components including air ducts, diffusers and grilles, cooling coils, heat exchangers, drip pans, fan housing and motor, and the entire air handling unit. For purposes of smooth functioning and good health of residents, duct cleaning is paramount, and all the systems must be properly installed and high maintenance levels ensured. Why you should get your ducts cleaned by a professional today Often, components of your heating and cooling system become contaminated with dust particles, debris, and other impurities and you may not be in a position to tell. With the presence of moisture, microbiological growth is easily facilitated and the end result is spores being released into the immediate environment. Some of these spores can cause allergies to residents once they get exposed, and the consequences are dire. You will be faced with a myriad of offers from duct cleaning companies, but it is your sole responsibility to obtain professional services from a reputable company. The idea should not be to acquire the cheapest services out there, but real value for your money. Professional duct cleaning involves comprehensive cleaning of all the components of the system as opposed to bit-part cleaning that might cause contamination of other components. Methods of cleaning are situation-based, although the industry has set standards involving the use of special tools to get rid of dirt in duct before vacuum-cleaning with high-powered machines. Advantage Air Duct Cleaning is a team of experts that
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Why Dirty Ducts are Bad

February 16, 2016 | No Comments

Heating and cooling systems that are installed in homes serve the purpose of regulating the flow of air in our homes. The ducts installed along the premises of the place, through which air keeps circulating with the functioning of the system must be maintained. Just as regular maintenance of heating systems is essential, duct cleaning for homes is also significant. This is not just a general need, there are several specific reasons why unclean ducts attached to the heating systems can cause serious damage to its functioning and are hazardous for human health as well. Here is an overview of why dirty ducts are bad. Impact of Dust & Dirt on the HVAC Systems The air inside or around a house may seem clean, but may be contaminated with invisible dirt molecules which can’t be seen until they are accumulated in greater amounts. Each time the system is made to run, dirty air gets circulated throughout the house. With twists & turns in the ducts installed & the pressure of circulation, microscopic dust flowing throughout gets accumulated across furnace ends, on air conditioning filters and in vents as well. Also, due to improper cleaning of ducts, along with negligence of changing AC filters, the functioning of the HVAC system is affected with time. This is why it is essential to opt for professional services for duct cleaning for homes. Impact on Human Health with Dirty Ducts It’s not only a generally accepted idea, but a proven study that unclean, dirty
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What to do when One Room in your Home isn’t Cooling or Heating properly

What to do when One Room in your Home isn’t Cooling or Heating properly

September 9, 2015 | No Comments

Many homes that have a central heating unit have a problem with distribution of heating or cooling.  This can become an issue with extreme hot or cold days, leaving you in a situation of discomfort.  When you’ve got a central air conditioning unit, there is generally only one switch that controls the entire temperature for the house.  You can’t just force air into one room, it’s going to produce hot or cold air throughout the entire house.  There are a few different options you have in these scenarios, which we’ll explain below. Get your Ducts Cleaned and your HVAC Unit serviced The first thing to try is simple: get your ducts cleaned!  The problem could simply be that there is dust and debris blocking one specific room, or even the entire wing of your home.  If done properly by a professional, you’ll end up getting the “Central” back in your central air unit.  This is going to be the most cost effective over time as well.  Not only will your unit run smoothly in the future because it’s having to work less hard in order to produce the proper amount of comfortable air, but you’ll get the air into the room within the proper fashion.  Not only this, but the thing most people do in a situation where they’re uncomfortable is that they’ll turn the temperature down or up in the central unit, even though it’s just one room that is out of the temperature range they’re after.  The result
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How Often Should I Change The Air Filters In My Home?

How Often Should I Change The Air Filters In My Home?

July 7, 2015 | No Comments

Studies show that indoor air pollution is one of the top five environmental health risks. Changing the air filters is not all that hard for most people, it takes about five minutes and requires no tools in most cases, but is one of the most important things to keep in mind for your air clarity and your health. The most important things to keep in mind when changing filters is knowing how often to change them, and knowing what quality air filter you’re buying. There are three ratings systems: MERV, MPR, and FPR. MERV Rating (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value)  MERV is the primary rating system used in the industry, both domestically and internationally. Established by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers, MERV rates a filter’s ability to capture and hold particles and pollutants MPR (Micro-Particle Performance Rating)   MPR is a rating system developed by 3M. It rates the manufacturer’s filters and their ability to capture airborne particles smaller than 1 micron FPR (Filter Performance Rating)  is a rating system developed by The Home Depot for brands sold through their stores, including Honeywell. It utilizes a color and number scale from 4 to 10 that closely resembles MERV rating This chart will help you understand how the ratings are comparable to each other MERV MPR FPR Efficiency Frequency 6 300 n/a Captures dust and pollen 30 Days 8 600 5/Green Dust, pollen, dust mites, lint 90 Days 11 1000 7/ Red MERV 8 + mold spores, bacteria,
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Maintain Your Fireplace to Avoid Getting Burned

December 23, 2014 | No Comments

Maintaining your fireplace is one of the most important things you can do in order to keep your home safe.  Not only will you enjoy the comforts of a fire and the savings on the electric bill, but more importantly, you’ll be able to stay safe and have peace of mind knowing you’re not at risk of a chimney fire. The season is upon us to burn in our homes.  Keep your chimney safe by hiring a professional to clean them out.  We utilize special tools to make sure you’re clean and free of Creosote build up. Check out this news site with their advice on Chimney Cleaning.  Then give us a call to set an appointment.
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Fall is for Fireplaces

November 24, 2014 | No Comments

With all of the fires going on around the country this year, fireplace safety should be top of mind. Fireplaces can be a great source of heat, but you need to make sure to do it safely. With a seemingly record number of fires that we’ve seen and have reported on through our social outlets, it seems like now is more crucial than ever to practice fireplace safety. Annual Inspections Make sure you have your chimney inspected annually by a professional.  When we inspect your chimney, we look for creosote, which is a black, oily substance that builds up on the walls of your chimney and is extremely flammable.  Because of this build up, there is a tremendous risk of combustion and is often the result of house fires. Chimney Cleaning (Chimney Sweeping) If there is enough creosote built up, you need to get the chimney professionally cleaned.  When you have a professional do it, we use specialized tools that allow us to get all of the mess out of the chimney, and stay out of your home.  If you try and do it with a vacuum or another do it yourself remedy, you’ll often find a bigger mess in your living room than you thought you had in the chimney.  Plus, you won’t get the entire chimney very clean at all, and most of what is dangerous, the creosote, will remain. Fireplace or Wood Stove Cleaning One thing you can do regularly is to clean out your fireplace or
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What it takes to do chimney repair

July 16, 2014 | No Comments

A chimney is one component of your house that may require frequent maintenance. If you are a Eugene or Springfield resident, you may find that weather damage is often the culprit. However, structural problems, cosmetic issues and internal wear and tear, can all be cause for chimney repair. Most chimney work requires a specific set of skills and tools. It may require the use of chimney scaffolding, roof jacks, ridge hooks and a chicken ladder. Most of these items can be purchased in a hardware store, but some may be more difficult to find than others. Before you get that far, however, your chimney should be inspected, so that the problem can be properly diagnosed. You may need work on any of the following areas: The Chimney cap – chimney caps have the important role of keeping out animals and debris. The flue – whether it’s the structure of the flue or the flue liner that needs to be repaired, both of these components are critical to the function of your chimney. The flue connector – this connects the flue to the fire place. The smoke chamber – this is the area above the damper. The smoke enters this space before heading up the flue. In addition, your chimney may require exterior work that could be cosmetic or structural. Needless to say, chimney repair is labor intensive and risky, if you don’t know what you are doing. A chimney needs to be assessed for structural integrity before, during and after a job, and it’s
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Duct Repair

June 12, 2014 | No Comments

Air ducts are vital components of your home’s heating and cooling system. You may have an efficient furnace, but if your air ducts are not in good condition, your heating and cooling efforts will be limited, and you will likely have an exorbitant energy bill. In addition, damaged ducts could end up pulling dust and debris into your home. Damaged air ducts are not unusual in older homes. Over time, air ducts can suffer from basic wear and tear. Air duct damage is also a common occurrence in homes that have recently undergone repairs or renovations. Ducts can easily be damaged by work crews that are not careful. In most cases, air ducts can be repaired and restored to their original state. We provide comprehensive duct repair service on residential, commercial and industrial properties. We start by assessing your air ducts for damage. By testing the airflow, we detect whether there are any leaks or openings in the ducts. From there, we inspect specific areas that may need to be repaired. Air duct systems can be extensive, and it’s important to be aware of particularly vulnerable areas. If there are any leaks, we will seal them with mastic foam or metal tape, depending on the nature of the leak. We will repair or replace any joints that are unsealed. We will also look at the air duct insulation to see if it needs to be modified or replaced. When we have finished repairing your air ducts, we will test your
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What gets checked during a chimney inspection?

May 8, 2014 | No Comments

What gets checked during a chimney inspection? Homeowners often neglect their chimneys. If there is no visible damage on the exterior, many people assume that everything is in good shape. Meanwhile, there could be hidden structural damage, possible obstructions in the chimney cap, and significant buildup of highly flammable creosote in the chimney flue. The only way to really know if your chimney is in need of maintenance is by hiring a professional to conduct a chimney inspection.What gets checked during a chimney inspection? There are three different kinds of chimney inspections as established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Level one – A level one inspection is a general examination of the interior and exterior of the chimney. The inspector will look at the flue liner, the interior walls, the crown, chimney cap, and the joints, in addition to making a general assessment of the chimney structure. In most cases, a level one inspection is all you need. Level 2 – A level 2 inspection includes all of the level one assessments, but it goes a few steps further. The inspector will examine hidden areas, possibly with cameras or other special tools, to see if there are any possible hazards. A level 2 inspection is often required during the sale or transfer of property. Level 3 – A level 3 inspection is highly invasive. It involves dismantling parts of the chimney in order to reveal possibly hidden structural damage. In general, a level 3 inspection is only needed
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The Importance of a Clean Chimney

April 13, 2014 | No Comments

Homeowners rarely examine their chimneys apart from a quick glance at the exterior. While a chimney may seem like one home feature that doesn’t require regular maintenance, a closer inspection often reveals otherwise. Soot and other particulate matter can build up on the interior of your chimney and any blockage can lead to smoke entering your house, or worse. Whether you use your fireplace three times a year or fifty, chimney cleaning needs to be a regular component of your home maintenance efforts. Soot buildup is normal for any chimney. The natural result of burning wood, soot can accumulate on the inner walls of the chimney and on the chimney cap. Over time, this can lead to reduced airflow. A clean chimney has a reduced presence of soot, which means better performance and less risk for smoke intake. However, it’s not just soot you need to worry about. Creosote is another substance that is often found on the inner walls of chimneys. Another byproduct of smoke, creosote is even more problematic than soot. This is because it is flammable and excessive creosote buildup will not merely reduce the airflow; it can actually start a fire. If you don’t have a chimney cap, soot and creosote may be the least of your problems. Chimneys without a protective cap often have a problem with debris intake and in some cases, animals can get into the chimney as well. Bird nests have been known to start fires in chimneys. Dry leaves and other
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