Tuesday 17 June 2014

Ontario Duct Cleaning Buyers Beware!

There are some great duct cleaning and furnace servicing companies out there in Ontario - and there are some that should be closed down.
The good duct cleaning companies are run with integrity, transparency and are motivated to help people by offering the best customer experience, great service and products with absolute professionalism.
Unfortunately the duct cleaning side of our HVAC industry is unregulated and as a result there are many companies out there who are not in the business to offer a service with integrity and honesty. 
They are motivated only by money. So you have to watch out for them. I'm giving you this advice because I don't want you to fall for the scam.  As we often get the phone call afterwards from the homeowner afterwards to tidy up the mess.  They always say they wished they would have called us in the first place, and if they did, our quote, which can be a little higher but it's honest and we have a local guarantee for our customers.
Watch out for the scams - Here are some typical examples you can spot with these companies:
  • They do aggressive telemarketing, often from overseas
  • Advertising duct cleaning for the whole house for $99 dollars - often this is impossible
  • Advertising duct cleaning for $39.95 plus $7.95 per vent - not good
  • They use mail coupons and Groupons and do not seem to be present on the internet - they have to have a good website - don't you think!?
  • They do not have a truck marked with a company name, and maybe they don't have any official name that can be scene and viewed
  • They have a negative air machine and do not use compressed air or brushes to clean you vents
  • They shove a vacuum hose down your heating vents and thats all they do
  • They claim that duct cleaning takes under 1 hour to complete
  • Telemarketers calling your home randomly to offer you they’re unbelievable deals on duct cleaning - often saying their truck is in your area and they will give you a special price

There are a number of other obvious and not so obvious scams and such going around ... So here are some key questions to ask when looking to hire a duct cleaning company.
  1. Do they use compressed air or brushes to agitate the dust in you ducts?
  2. Do they have a negative air machine either portable or truck mounted to recover the dust and debris from your ducts?
  3. Are they local?
  4. How long does the cleaning take? On a home of 2500 Sq Ft and under it should take no less then 2 1/2 hrs and that is for a very basic and efficient duct cleaning

Checkout our Website at www.georgianductcleaning.ca we use all the proper methods and equipment and we have videos from the manufacturer of our equipment that give you complete transparency of our methods and equipment so we can clean your homes heating and or cooling ducts.
This link takes you to a video from Marketplace on CBC. It’s a great piece they did on exposing these blow and go companies in the Toronto area, You can be sure that we have plenty of the same kinda companies across Ontario. http://www.cbc.ca/marketplace/episodes/2013/01/when-the-repairman-knocks-3.html

Please feel free to contact us anytime if you have any questions about proper duct cleaning methods, equipment and pricing. Call us at 705-722-5952 for a FREE QUOTE.

Sunday 8 June 2014

Prevent Dryer Fires - Have Your Vented Cleaned and Monitored with LintAlert

Over a period of time, dryer vents become plugged with lint, hair and dust. ​ If the dryer vent is not cleaned regularly, it will eventually become blocked, restricting the airflow that may cause a serious fire hazard.

Every year fires caused by plugged dryer vents account for loss of life and millions of dollars in property damage. Every bend in the duct-work, the length of the duct, birds, rodents, malfunctioning dampers and the frequency of use are all contributing factors to lint accumulations. The lint trap only catches a small amount of dust; the rest ends up inside the dryer exhaust duct where it accumulates. 

When lint builds up it can cause the dryer to overheat resulting in a fire. ​

LintAlert for Dryers: LintAlert is a device we install on your dryer to monitor the air flow through the unit and to warn you if there are any blockages that can lead to fire or poor dryer operation. Plugged dryer vents also increase the drying time for every load of laundry, at the end of the cycle the clothes may still be wet. Your laundry may take multiple cycles to thoroughly dry. This increases operating costs and the amount of energy used. ​ To reduce these hazards, dryer manufacturers recommend a regular inspection and cleaning to the dryer vent.

Your dryer vent should be cleaned at least once a year and more often with heavy use. ​

The Cleaning process: A powerful HEPA filtered "Lintvac" is attached to the dryer exhaust duct. A compressed air powered air-brush is fed through the dryer exhaust; it blasts compressed air and rotates inside the vent, breaking up all the attached lint. As it is loosened the vacuum removes the lint. The cleaning is completed by removing the dust from the area behind the dryer, the dryer duct is re-attached and the dryer returned to its original position. ​

LintALert After the cleaning is completed, we recommend installing a "LintAlert" to the dryer vent.

With every load the LintAlert checks the exhaust vent and warns you when it is starting to plug up again, so you can save energy and improve home safety. ​ Dryer vent cleaning is offered at a discounted price along with air duct cleaning, or it can be scheduled as a stand-alone service. Georgian Duct cleaning also has the ability to clean large Laundromat and laundry plant exhaust systems. ​

Our team of fully trained, certified technicians would be happy to provide any of our services in your home or commercial building. ​ We recommend the installation of LintAlert to monitor the safety of your dryer vent. Please review the video for more information or call us if you have any questions. (705) 722-5952