Clean Your Air Ducts When You Spring Clean Your Home

Spring.. even though we haven't had any warm spring days yet, it won't be long until you want to open the windows and air-out the house. There's a wonderful feeling of renewal and energy in the spring, and if you are ready to take on spring cleaning you might want to consider having your air vent ducts cleaned as part of the annual routine.

Here are some questions to ask yourself.

1. Do you suffer from allergies?
2. Do you often sneeze when you are at home?
3. Do you have a lot of dust in your home?
4. Is your home new or has it had recent renovations?
5. Are you concerned about build-ups of dirt and debris in your ducts?
6. Would you feel better knowing your ducts are clean when you hear the furnace fan come on?

If you answer yes to any of these questions, you could benefit from air duct cleaning in your home.

Your air ducts are home to dust, dirt, mold, bacteria, construction garbage, pet hair...  These contaminants are released into the atmosphere of your home, reducing the freshness of indoor air quality and increasing environmental sensitivity.  Your home's air ducts require periodic cleaning to reduce these airbourne contaminants and to create a cleaner safer home for you and your family.

Residential air ducts should be cleaned when the house is new, following renovations and then approximately every two or three years after that.  Modern construction may leave a large amount of drywall dust, insulation, shavings and various food debris, often left by construction workers.

The Technical Safety Standards Association  (TSSA) now requires that air ducts be cleaned following construction, especially if the furnace was used during construction. In a new home the building debris leaves a film of dust on hardwood floors and all furniture.  This can leave your skin feeling dry and itchy and can cause your furnace to malfunction.  This dry dust, draws moisture from the air providing a perfect breeding ground and nutrient source for bacteria and microbial contamination.

 In older homes, the dust accumulates to significant, measurable levels, often several inches deep.  The dust forms on all surfaces significantly reducing airflow through the system.  This causes the furnace and air conditioner to work harder and longer to bring the house to the desired temperature.  You may also notice that the furnace has become noisy… This may be caused by dust accumulating on the fan blades, throwing the fan out of balance.

The solution to dirty air ducts is a professional cleaning from Georgian Duct Cleaning.  The areas leading air duct cleaning company has been in business for over 22 years (since 1991), serving Simcoe, Muskoka, Haliburton, Grey/ Bruce, Dufferin and North York.

The fleet of custom-built vacuums is specially designed to clean your entire heating and ventilation systems.  The duct cleaning machines among the most powerful in the industry, include truck-mounted vacuums and portable HEPA filtered vacuums.

The uniformed cleaning technicians, attach an eight-inch hose to your air ducts.  All vents are sealed and then compressed air powered agitation tools are fed through the ducts.  These tools operate on high pressure and high volume, as they travel through the ducts they brush and sweep all attached dust and debris.  The loosened dirt and contaminants are sucked out of the air ducts by the powerful vacuum system.

The owner of Georgian Duct Cleaning invented and refined many of the tools that are now found throughout the industry in North America.

GEORGIAN DUCT CLEANING - SIMPLY THE BEST THERE IS!  Our team of fully trained, certified technicians would be happy to provide any of our services in your home or commercial building.

Georgian Duct Cleaning is a family owned business in Simcoe County with over 20 years experience working with residential, commercial and industrial HVAC ducts. Call us for a free quote or for more information.  (705) 722-5952 Or 1-800-363-2563

Top 10 Contributors to Poor Indoor Air Quality

The air we breathe is directly linked to our health. And in a recent study, it was proven that healthy air has a direct effect on our life expectancy! So what does this mean for you?

The average person spends 90% of their time indoors, so identifying and eliminating toxins and contaminants in your home is an important step in improving your overall health.

Not sure what potential contaminants are affecting your indoor air quality? Here's our top 10 list of the worst offenders:

1. Asbestos
2. Dust Mites
3. Mold and Mold Spores
4. Drywall Dust
5. Chemicals
6. Cigarette Smoke
7. Animal Dander
8. Bacteria and Viruses
9. Formaldehyde
10. Paints and Fumes

If you’re experiencing symptoms of poor indoor air quality, such as dryness and irritation of the eyes, headaches, fatigues, shortness of breathe or sinus congestion, you should take some steps to make improvements. Check out our blog, “How to Improve Your Home’s Indoor Air Quality” for some ideas on small improvements you can make that will have a huge impact on your air quality.

Air duct cleaning is number one in our list of steps to improve indoor air quality. Air ducts can become clogged with contaminants including any of the items listed above! Every time your heater operates, these toxins are fed through your heating system and into the air you breathe. Regular cleaning of your air ducts will eliminate these contaminants and drastically improve your home’s air quality.

In order to eliminate the threat of mold, bacteria or viruses in your ducts, we can also use our Benefact Herbal Based Sanitizer. The sanitizer contains thyme oil, an effective germ-killing ingredients that is less toxic than vinegar. Benefact kills over 99.99% of bacteria and surpasses Health Canada’s efficacy requirements for a broad range of disinfectants.


Are you ready to drastically improve your home’s air quality? Contact us today for a free estimate for residential duct cleaning!

Georgian Duct Cleaning is a family owned business in Simcoe County with over 20 years experience working with residential, commercial and industrial HVAC ducts. Call us for a free quote or for more information. (705) 722-5952 Or 1-800-363-2563

Protect Your Home and Family From Dryer Fires with LintAlert

How would you rate your dryer’s performance?

Dryers that feel hot to the touch or take more than one cycle to dry a load indicate a serious problem.  Poor dryer performance indicates dryer lint build-up, and since lint is highly flammable, this build-up can increase your risk of fire.    

Lint build-up can lead to fire as it causes a blockage in the dryer exhaust system, restricting airflow and causing the dryer to overheat.  In addition to annual dryer vent cleaning and recognizing signs of poor dryer performance, your can install a dryer monitoring system to help reduce your risk.

LintAlert® is a dryer monitoring system that constantly monitors airflow and shows the exact pressure in the exhaust system.  It allows you to save energy while ensuring that your dryer is operating safely.

How does LintAlert work?

Air Pressure Sensor

LintAlert® accumulates information through a highly discriminating digital pressure sensor. It detects small changes in the water column inch (WCI) pressure by sampling minute amounts of airflow, which the small volume of air is sampled. There is no impact to the air pressure in the duct.

Onboard Computer

Air pressure samples are taken to be analyzed by a programmable integrated circuit. The onboard computer evaluates data to show whether the dryer is on and how much the exhaust system is performing. 

LED Indicators

The changes are show through LED indicator lights. This is where the green indicators turns to yellow, and then to red as pressure becomes a problem. Once you see two or three green indicator lights, this means it’s a good time to clean the dryer and ducts system to stay energy efficient and safe. If the vent system is NOT cleaned at this point then the yellow and red indicator lights will illuminate. Once the pressure becomes dangerous, all LED lights will flash and an audio alarm will sound

We strongly recommend the use of the LintAlert monitoring system with annual dryer vent cleaning to reduce your risk of a dryer fire.    

Contact us today for more information or to schedule a dryer vent cleaning!

Georgian Duct Cleaning is a family owned business in Simcoe County with over 20 years experience working with residential, commercial and industrial HVAC ducts. Call us for a free quote or for more information. (705) 722-5952 or 1-800-363-2563

How To Improve Your Home's Indoor Air Quality

The average person spends 90% of their time indoors!  Healthy indoor air can make a huge difference in your overall health. 

How would you rate you indoor air quality?

Take the Lung Association’s Healthy Home Tour to take closer look at different areas in you home and how they contribute to your indoor air quality.  Designed to help you find out what can be harmful to you and your family, the Healthy Home Tour is the perfect tool to help you determine the quality of your air.  

  

You can also follow these tips for improving indoor air quality:

Clean your air ducts!  Air ducts can become clogged with pet hair, dust, building materials, mould, bacteria and fungal growth.  Every time your heater operates, these contaminants are fed through your heating system and into the air you breathe.  All forced heating systems require periodic cleaning.    

Clean your floors regularly.  Vacuum one – two times per week with a HEPA filter to ensure dust and debris is not blown back into the air.  Finish with mopping to catch any left over debris.  You can even mop with plain water or even use a microfibre mop.

Check your humidity levels.  Homes with high levels of moisture in the air are more likely to have issues with mould.  Controlling humidity will help you limit mould growth – consider using a hygrometer to measure humidity levels and a dehumidifier to reduce high humidity.

Avoid Chemical Pollutants.  Smoking isn’t the only potential pollutant of indoor air.  Harsh chemical cleaners should also be avoided, or minimized, due to their strong synthetic fragrances that emit chemicals into the air.  The Lung Association recommends making your own cleaning solutions using ingredients such as baking soda, vinegar or lemon juice mixed with water.

Improve Ventilation.  Poor ventilation is a contributor to mould growth and has a huge effect on indoor air quality.  Make sure you home is letting in enough fresh air while also using exhaust fans that vent to the outside.  Exhaust fans that vent to the outside are incredibly important for venting moist air from your bathroom or above your stove.

Bring in Houseplants.  Houseplants can help clean the air in your home by filtering out different pollutants.  Check out these 15 houseplants that help improve indoor air quality via the Mother Nature Network.

Avoid Scented Candles and Air Fresheners.  Commercial air fresheners can release harmful chemicals and pollutants in the air, with some even containing phthalates.  Scented candles may also contain similar pollutants, with the addition of soot residues.  If you can’t give up your candle or fresheners, look for a natural alternative such as essential oil diffusers or soy based candles.

Georgian Duct Cleaning is a family owned business in Simcoe County with over 20 years experience working with residential, commercial and industrial HVAC ducts. Call us for a free quote or for more information. (705) 722-5952 or 1-800-363-2563 

5 Signs it’s Time to Clean Your Dryer Vents

When was the last time you had your dryer vent cleaned?

Dust, lint and debris can build up in your dryer vent over time, restricting air flow and creating a serious fire hazard. Length of the duct, malfunctioning dampers, frequency of use, and critters in the duct work, are all factors that contribute to lint accumulation and dryer overheating.

Here are 5 signs that its time to clean your dryer vent:

1. It takes a long time to dry your clothes. If you’re clothes are still wet at the end of the drying cycle and it takes your laundry multiple cycles to dry, your dryer vent is likely clogged. Not only does this present a fire hazard, but it also increases your operating costs and energy use.

2. Your dryer and clothes feel hot. If the outside or top of your dryer feels hot during the cycle, or your clothes are too hot to touch after the drying cycle, your dryer’s venting system may not be exhausting properly.

3. Lint is everywhere, except on the lint trap. If you've noticed that the lint trap has not been collecting any lint, or if there is lint debris outside of the driver vent opening, this is a sign that lint and dust are accumulating in the exhaust duct.

4. Your clothes have a musty smell. Lint and debris trapped in a dryer vent can sometimes have a musty and damp scent. When your dryer is running, the odour is pushed back onto your clothing, leaving them with an unpleasant scent.

5. It’s been over a year since you’ve had your vent cleaned. Dust, lint and debris can plug dryer vents over a period of time. Regular cleaning will prevent blockages and airflow restriction.

To reduce the risk of fire, manufacturers recommend a regular inspection and cleaning of the dryer vent, a minimum of once per year or more with heavy use.

Georgian Duct Cleaning offers residential dryer vent cleaning in Central Ontario. We use a powerful HEPA filtered “Lintvac” with a powered airbrush to blast compressed air and rotate inside the vent, effectively breaking up attached lint.

We also offer the LintAlert to monitor the exhaust vent and warn you of blockages.

Georgian Duct Cleaning is a family owned business in Simcoe County with over 20 years experience working with residential, commercial and industrial HVAC ducts. Call us for a free quote or for more information. (705) 722-5952 or 1-800-363-2563

How to Improve Air Quality in Your Office With Air Vent Duct Cleaning

During the winter months, we recirculate up to 85 per cent of indoor air!

This recirculated air is mixed with outdoor air, filtered and conditioned several times each hour to provide comfort and ventilation.

Recirculated air can come into contact with pollutants and contaminants, especially if Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning systems (HVAC) are not properly maintained. Not only can this impact employee morale and productivity, it can also create a negative image that affects your bottom-line.

Schools, offices and commercial buildings often have complex mechanical systems that require expert cleaning and maintenance to ensure that contaminants are properly removed. It is important to clean your HVAC system annually, but if you notice any of the following signs, you should clean your system as soon as possible.


Four Signs You Should Clean Your HVAC:

1. Visible stains on walls and ceilings

2. Poor indoor air quality

3. Occupant discomfort including health-related concerns

4. Employee absenteeism

Occupant discomfort is one of the more serious signs of poor indoor air quality that often leads to absenteeism. Symptoms that mimic a colds or the flu including headache, fatigue, sinus congestion, coughing, and sneezing can all indicate occupant discomfort.  If your employees get sick and miss work often, investigating air quality may be a great option for boosting their morale.

Georgian Duct Cleaning has the expertise to navigate the large and complex systems used by office and commercial buildings. A review of blueprints combined with visual or robotic inspection of interior conditions will determine recommendations for a suitable cleaning program for the affected area of entire building if necessary.

Our commercial duct cleaning services have been employed in Schools, Hospitals, Nursing Homes, Daycare Centers, Banks, Restaurants, Shopping Malls, Churches, Automotive Dealerships, Arenas, Fitness Centers and Large Sports Venues.

Georgian Duct Cleaning is a family owned business in Simcoe County with over 20 years experience working with residential, commercial and industrial HVAC ducts. Call us for a free quote or for more information (705) 722-5952 or 1-800-363-2563

We Offer Homeowners Benefact Herbal Based Sanitizer

For homeowners concerned about the presence of mold or bacteria in their homes duct system we offer an optional herbal based sanitizer by Benefect.

Benefect Botanical Disinfection Technology contains Thyme Oil as the active ingredient. They are the largest purchaser of Thyme Oil in the world because Thyme Oil is an effective germ-killing ingredient that is less toxic than vinegar!

Plants produce germ-killing essential oils to protect themselves against microbes in a similar way we produce antibodies for our protection. Benefect is a blend of herbal extracts that achieves efficacy without synthetic chemicals.

Benefect is proven to kill over 99.99% bacteria and surpasses Health Canada's efficacy requirements for a broad range of disinfectants.

Indoor air quality is not just about dirt particles suspended in the air it is also about things you can't see like bacteria and microbes. You want to get rid of mold and bacteria off the surface of your air ventilation system but you don't want to use harsh or even toxic chemicals to do so.

We recommend Benefect because it is safe and effective. It's used by hospitals, schools, municipalities, and other institutions where sanitary conditions are desired without introducing harmful chemicals.

If you would like to learn more about Benefect visit their website or call us to discuss the product and application.