How To Know If Your Ducts Need To Be Cleaned

When to clean your air ducts

Do you notice dust coming out of the air ducts in your home every time you turn on the HVAC system? Have you seen any dust or pet hair trapped in the vents or dirt on the grill for the air register? This might be an indicator that your ductwork needs to be cleaned.  So, how can you be sure?  Read ahead for some sure-fire signs that you have dirty air ducts in your home.

The Presence of Mold in your HVAC system

Your home ventilation system needs to be cleaned and serviced twice a year to keep it running correctly and cleanly. Since both air conditioners and furnaces can develop condensation, mold growth is a possibility, especially if you live in a humid climate. If mold is found in your air handler, it does not guarantee that your ductwork has been affected, but it increases the chances. An air duct cleaning technician will be able to get rid of mold and prevent its return.

A Brand New Home Or A Major Reconstruction 

Even if a construction crew is extremely careful about clean up, dust and debris will find its way into the air vents. If the HVAC system is not turned on and covered, the dust will get into the ductwork. Construction dust can be toxic, so it is best to get this issue remedied quickly before respiratory problems develop.

You Have A “Naturally Dusty” Home

If you find that your home is always dusty no matter how often you clean, you probably need your ducts clean. Take a quick look around your house and check the supply and return vents as well as the ductwork. Are they dirty and dusty? If the answer is yes, call a duct cleaning expert to get them cleaned as soon as possible.

Rising Heating And Cooling Costs

If you have received a heating or cooling bill that is noticeably high, check your records from the previous year. If it is not consistent from the same time last year, your home ductwork may be to blame. Sometimes, ductwork becomes so dirty that the air isn’t able to flow through the HVAC system efficiently. When this happens, the air conditioner or furnace is forced to work harder to maintain temperature, thus using more energy. This means higher utility bills for you and your family.

A visit from a professional air duct cleaning service every 3 to 5 years on top of your scheduled maintenance can prevent many problems before they start. You will also save money on your heating and cooling bills. Your system will be better and reliable, you will have fewer expensive repairs, and your home will be easier to clean.

The bottom line is the cleaning of your HVAC system is not a DIY project. This needs to be handled by a professional with industry-standard equipment made to handle the size of all kinds of homes. Remember, do not hesitate. If you believe your ducts need cleaning, make an appointment to have them cleaned as soon as possible.

 

 

 

5 Types Of Molds That Are Commonly Found in Your Air Ducts

One of the most significant and frequent problems homeowners face when it comes to home maintenance is mold issues. Mold is hazardous for anyone living in the home. Mold can be complicated to spot at the outset and much harder to remediate later on.

Mold grows in areas of your home that are dark, damp, and colder than the rest of the building. It can occur in any part of the house, even in appliances if not attended to appropriately.

Although mold can be found anywhere, one of the most common places that it spawns is in air conditioners and air ducts. Because of the nature of air conditioners, it is easy for mold to prosper and difficult for homeowners to deal with. This is because air conditioners generally stay damp all day and they continuously have moisture running through them. Compared to the rest of the house, temperatures inside air conditioners are significantly lower, making it an ideal spot for mold to grow and spread.

Before you can take care of the problem of mold in your air ducts, it is essential to know the most common types of mold and what they look like. Below you will find five examples of the most commonly found mold types that are found in air ducts, air conditioners, and vents.

Aspergillus

Aspergillus is one of the more complicated kinds of mold to identify because there are so many forms that it can take on. There are several colors that this type takes on, most commonly green, yellow or white.

Chaetomium

Chaetomium most commonly grows on walls, but it can appear in ducts and vents. It most often looks like a brown cotton-like substance. The problem with Chaetomium is that the color changes over time, making it harder to distinguish.

Alternaria

Alternaria is arguably the most commonly found type of mold. It is green or brown and has a velvet texture. This kind of mold grows in areas that are moist for a significant amount of time, namely air ducts and vents.

Fusarium

Fusarium is a type of mold that tends to grow in spots where there has been water damage, usually on walls. However, it is also prevalent in places where water is continuously running through a space such as air vents if there has been any water damage to them.

Acremonium

Acremonium is a common type of mold that grows in areas that are damp and wet. This particular type of mold is highly toxic and grows over time, taking on the appearance of a white powdery substance.

Exposure to mold is hazardous. This is why it becomes incredibly important to make sure you have your ducts cleaned regularly. At Willard Duct Cleaning our expertise lies in ensuring that your ducts are cleaned properly and efficiently. All of our staff are equipped with special tools to identify and deal with mold efficiently and safely without exposing you and your family to the toxic spores.

 

 

 

 

Leading Portland HVAC Cleaner Warns About The Importance Of Indoor Air Quality As Hay Fever Season Approaches

Portland, OR – Willard Power Vac, a leading provider of HVAC cleaning services, is today highlighting the importance of ensuring good indoor air quality, as the pollen counts start to rise. According to the local weather experts, 2018 is shaping up to be one of the worst allergy seasons in recent memory. For people who suffer from allergies and hay fever, this is news that they will be dreading, but rather than suffer through the spring and summer, Willard Power Vac are advising people to take proactive action.

HVAC systems when functioning correctly provide allergy sufferers with one of the best weapons in their battle against pollen and other causes of this exhausting illness. Willard Power Vac is a locally owned and operated company, with many years of knowledge and experience dealing with this type of problem, and their first piece of advice would be to invest in professional air duct cleaning.

Many people believe that nothing can be done, other than popping anti-allergy pills which can leave them tired and exhausted all of the time. Don’t simply assume that your indoor air quality is excellent. Air quality testing is an great place to start, and can provide the answers to many of the questions sufferers may be asking.

“As a local company, with many years of experience in the field, we understand just how debilitating and exhausting the spring and summer months can be for allergy sufferers,” said a Willard Power Vac Inc representative. “We have verifiable evidence and testimonials from our customers, who cannot believe the difference utilizing our services made to their life. Never assume that your indoor air quality is good or excellent, have it regularly tested, and be proactive when it comes to cleaning out your HVAC system.”

Willard Power Vac, Inc was established in 1975 and is a leading provider of HVAC cleaning for both residential and business premises, in Portland Oregon. They aim to provide customers with an honest and trustworthy service. Willard Power Vac always strives to provide their clients with the best possible work when cleaning commercial, residential and industrial HVAC systems. For more information about the company, visit their website at willardductcleaning.com.

<Source: https://amp.kptv.com/story/38254736/leading-portland-hvac-cleaner-warns-about-the-importance-of-indoor-air-quality-as-hay-feve>

Duct cleaning could solve many indoor air quality woes

A growing concern in the indoor air quality business, is that in IAQ investigations the hvac systems are so frequently overlooked.

After attending courses on IAQ and talking with the industrial hygienists, hvac contractors, building engineers, and others related to the field, I find an alarming number of IAQ investigators are finding the cause but are overlooking the need for an hvac cleaning company to clean the systems.

sick building syndrome indicatorsIn most cases of SBS (sick building syndrome PDF) or where there is an IAQ problem, the need to have the duct system professionally cleaned is being grossly overlooked. Also, the need for adequate air filtration is being ignored.

By having 18 years of experience in the hvac cleaning business, I have been involved in numerous stages of IAQ investigations and almost every time, the ventilation system was overlooked. in most cases the ductwork, heating units, and air filters were so poorly maintained and dirty that they often were the cause of SBS.

In most cases, once these systems are professionally cleaned and the proper air filtration installed, the SBS and IAQ complaints go away.

I look at these IAQ courses being held all over the country and I think there needs to be a block of instruction on the importance of cleaning and maintaining the hvac systems from an IAQ perspective. In our high-tech world, too often people look for complicated solutions, when it is often very simple.

The advantages of a clean hvac system for building engineers who are having problems with balancing a system and answering all the complaints would be to have a much-more-efficient system with less complaints and a much more cost-effective system.

For building owners, the advantages are again more-efficient, less-costly systems and happy tenants — also, a lower risk for lawsuits.

I personally have been involved in several phase-one IAQ investigations, and in most cases, solved the problem before it got out of control by simply cleaning the system.

Matthew E. Willard
Willard Power Vac, Inc.
Portland, Oregon