Why You Should Clean Your Air Ducts This Spring

Ahhh Spring is finally here! With the days finally warm and sunny, you’re most likely going to want to open up your windows and get some fresh air inside. During the winter months you probably stayed indoors more often, with the windows closed and the air not getting much circulation. If you read our last blog post, you’ll know that this can really have a detrimental affect on your indoor air quality.

Spring is the perfect time to get your ducts cleaned for this exact reason. Especially since spring is a popular season for allergies outdoors, as pollen fills the air and the temperature fluctuates. You don’t want to compound your seasonal allergies with poor indoor air quality! Your air ducts are home to dust, dirt, mould, bacteria, flakes of skin, and other potential allergens. These contaminants are released into the atmosphere of your home, causing indoor air pollution, and environmental sensitivity.  The air ducts require periodic cleaning to reduce these airborne contaminants and to create a cleaner, safer home for you and your family.

You can make getting your air ducts cleaned a part of your regular spring cleaning. Cleaning your air ducts can have some major benefits.

· Removes accumulated dust

· Removes debris and cobwebs

· Increases the efficiency of your system

· Removes contaminates following construction or renovation

· Reduce odours caused by pet smell or pet hair

· Allows you to identify and remove any animal infestations

But the biggest and most important benefit is a dramatic improvement in indoor air quality. You’ll be able to breathe fresh, clean air! Our powerful truck mounted or portable HEPA vacuum systems are designed to handle any size of heating, air conditioning, or exhaust ducts, in homes, hi-rise buildings, commercial buildings, schools, hospitals and factories.

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Our certified technicians are experienced in cleaning all manner of systems. Our modern tools and equipment is among the best in the industry. Robots are used to inspect, clean, sanitize or encapsulate obscure confined spaces. Our Ventri Clean system is a high volume air knife that is used to slice through the dirt in your system. Rotating silica carbide brushes eliminate stubborn pollutants, airless sprayers are used to apply anti-microbial sanitizers and encapsulants.

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

Improve Your Indoor Air Quality for Spring

Throughout the winter, you most likely spent a lot more time indoors. You probably kept your windows and doors closed to keep the warmth in. Your pets also may have stayed inside more, and you probably had guests over during the holidays. Unfortunately, these winter behaviours can lead to a reduction in air quality.

You may not have even noticed your indoor air quality deteriorating as it would have occurred slowly over the winter months, rather than all at once. Skin cells, animal dander, and dust may have settled in your home’s duct-work. Keeping your windows closed will also have prevented the air from circulating properly, especially if you’re in an older house. And with winter comes moisture, so you may even have mould and mildew spores settling in your ductwork.

How do you know if your ducts need to be cleaned, and what are some things you can do to improve your indoor air quality as part of your spring cleaning?

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 buildups 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 the answer is yes to any of these questions, you might need to take some steps to improve your air quality.

• Add some plants to your living space. Plants have been shown to improve air-quality and remove many impurities from the air.
• Avoid smoking indoors. Now that the weather is nicer, you should try to step outside for your cigarette.
• Consider replacing carpet with hardwood flooring. Carpet can be a major trap for dust and allergens. If replacing your carpet is not an option, try vacuuming more often, Many vacuums also have filters that improve air quality as well.
• Reduce humidity. Excess humidity can lead to mildew and mould in your air! Get it under control with proper ventilation or a dehumidifier.
• Bathe your pets often. This one doesn’t need an explanation!
• Keep your house tidy. Regular sweeping, dusting, and vacuuming will greatly reduce dust in the air.

The most important step in improving your air quality is to get your ducts cleaned. Your air ducts are home to dust, dirt, mould, bacteria, construction garbage, flakes of skin and hair. These contaminants are released into the atmosphere of your home, causing indoor air pollution, and environmental sensitivity.  The air ducts require periodic cleaning to reduce these airborne contaminants and to create a cleaner safer home for you and your family.

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 Tips on Getting a Jumpstart on Your Spring Cleaning

As the weather starts to change, and we see longer sunnier days, it might have you thinking about starting your spring cleaning soon. Giving your home a good cleaning is important this time of year, especially for your indoor air quality.. During the winter months you most likely spent more time indoors, and less time opening windows and doors. Your furnace system was probably also running more. Dust most likely has built up on a few surfaces and the air might feel stagnant. To improve this air quality, you can get a start on your spring cleaning a bit early! Follow our 5 tips to make this daunting task a bit easier for you.

Make a plan

Knowing where and how to start tackling the chores is the hardest part of getting the ball rolling. The best thing to do is to sit down and write out everything (even the smallest tasks!) that needs to be done. This lets you break down all of your tasks. It also helps to make a guess at how long something might take, this way if you find yourself with only 10 or 20 minutes you can pick tasks that you can complete during that time.

Work from the top down

Make sure when you pick a place to start it is up higher. If you start with the floors and baseboards, you will end up needing to re-clean them at the end. Start with dusting ceiling fans, wiping walls, the tops of shelves, and countertops.. end with mopping and vacuuming.

Multitask

Multitasking will save you a lot of time on your chores. While you have a load of laundry or dishes going, dust some bookshelves. While a stain remover soaks on some upholstery or clothing, you could clean the toilet!

Blinds & curtains

Blinds and curtains hold onto a huge portion of the settled dust in our homes. Take the time to wipe these areas clean with a microfibre cloth and a vacuum. If you need something stronger, you can create a DIY solution of baking soda and warm water with your favourite essential oils to get a nice scent in your home as well.

Get your ducts cleaned

Your air ducts are home to dust, dirt, mould, bacteria, construction garbage, flakes of skin and hair. These contaminants are released into the atmosphere of your home, causing indoor air pollution, and environmental sensitivity. The air ducts require periodic cleaning to reduce these airborne contaminants and to create a cleaner safer home for you and your family. 

During the winter as you spent more time indoors, there was most likely more contaminants settling in your ducts, so spring is the perfect time to get them cleaned out so you can bring in fresh air during the warmer months. Making sure your ducts are clean will also ensure that your air conditioning system can operate efficiently.

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

Remedy Excess Humidity In Your Home

The right amount of humidity in your home makes you comfortable and healthy… but too much humidity can cause many problems ranging from damage to your home, to damage to your health! If you notice your house has a humidity problem; condensation on the windows and walls, mould or mildew growth etc.. the first thing you should do is find the source of the humidity. Showering, doing laundry, and cooking all generate a lot of moisture that can accumulate and cause issues if not dealt with properly. Running exhaust fans while doing these activities can help reduce the humidity levels.

Humidity can lead to mould and mildew growth which can cause a slew of health problems

ranging from asthma and allergies, to mould toxicity.

If your heating system has a humidifier, the first thing to do is check the setting and make sure it is appropriate for the outside temperature. The colder the outdoor temperature, the lower the setting should be.

Below is a chart for suggested humidity settings.

OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE      RECOMMENDED RELATIVE HUMIDITY

-30C OR BELOW                         15%

-30C TO -24C                                 20%

-24C TO -18C                                 25%

-18C TO -12C                                 35%

-12C TO 0C                                    40%

You can run a dehumidifier to  reduce the humidity in your home. These are usually very effective and some models also purify and filter the air which generally improve air quality.

One of the best things you can do to improve ventilation and air quality indoors is to have your ducts cleaned.Your air ducts are home to dust, dirt, mould, bacteria, construction garbage, flakes of skin and hair. These contaminants are released into the atmosphere of your home, causing indoor air pollution, and environmental sensitivity.  The air ducts require periodic cleaning to reduce these airborne contaminants and to create a cleaner safer home for you and your family. Once they are clean and clear they will also do a better job at ventilating and therefore reducing the humidity in your home to an acceptable level.

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

3 Reasons You Need to Replace Your Furnace Filter

As the height of heating season approaches,  you may start to think more about how to save heating costs and improve the air quality in your home since you may be spending more time indoors. Replacing your furnace's filter is one of the best and easiest things you can do to save money and keep your indoor air clean.

Furnace filters are your home's first line of defence against allergens, dust, and other airborne particles. They also protect your furnace's fans and heating coil from potential damage caused by these particles. So let's take a closer look at the benefits of regularly checking and replacing your furnace's filters.

1. Protection from Airborne Particles. Your furnace works by pulling cool air from your home into the vents and furnace where it is heated and sent back out. The filters protect the fans and heating coils from being damaged by particles that get pulled in with the cool air. A filter's main purpose is the protection of these mechanical parts, and cleaning air is only a side effect. As the filter becomes dirty, your furnace must work harder to pull in the cool air. This results in possible damage to the furnace and a reduced lifespan.
2. Improved Furnace Efficiency = Cost Savings. As mentioned above, when your filter becomes dirty the furnace must work much harder to pull in cool air. This means your furnace is not working as efficiently resulting in higher heating costs. Not to mention the cost of repairing/replacing parts more often as they break down.
3. Improved Air Quality. A nice added benefit of furnace filters is the improved air quality of your home. There are different types of filters available on the market ranging from basic fiberglass to electrostatic and HEPA filters which filter out smaller particles like cigarette smoke and bacteria.

How Often to Replace Your Filter

The frequency at which you replace your filter will depend on the furnace and your home. Some things that might affect how often you need to replace the filter are:

• How many animals you have in the home
• If anyone smokes inside
• How often you have the furnace running
• How dusty your home is
• How often you have windows and doors open

A general guideline is to replace your filter every 2-3 months. For those with smokers inside or more pets, you may want to replace every month. Always check your furnace manuals to see if your furnace requires a particular replacement schedule.

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

Why Fall is a Great Time to Clean Your Ducts!

Fall Duct Cleaning

As winter fast approaches, leaving autumn behind, it is good to know that there is still time to get your ducts cleaned before the heating season truly sets in. You will most likely be spending more time indoors as it gets colder outside and the sun sets earlier. You want to make sure your indoor air quality is up to par during these months, and having your home’s air ducts cleaned is a great way to jump-start healthy indoor air for the winter.

Residential air ducts should be cleaned when the house is new, following renovations, and then approximately every two or three years after that, although many people elect to have them cleaned every year- and fall is a great time for it.

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 fall, while you're tidying up the garden, think about your inside environment and getting it prepared for the winter. Once the temperatures drop and getting fresh air into the house is not a matter of opening windows, you'll feel good knowing that the circulating air in your home is moving through a clean duct and vent system.

Drop us a line and get a free quote 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

5 Ways to Improve Air Quality in Your Home

Indoor air quality starts to become a concern in winter months as we start to spend more time indoors, and less time opening windows to let in fresh air. Here are 5 tips to improving your indoor air quality and ensuring your family stays healthy all winter long.

Keep your house tidy

Regular dusting, sweeping, mopping, and wiping are all effective ways to keep the dust in your home at bay. You do not need to be obsessive about cleaning, but things like removing shoes when entering the house and dusting surfaces once a week will make a difference in your air quality.

Keep your pets bathed and groomed

Fido might be adorable but his dander and fur are not! And as the weather outside gets colder, your pet will most likely be spending more time indoors just like you. Make sure to brush and wash regularly, as well as wash any bedding or soft toys to keep the dander at a minimum.

Keep humidity down

Mould is a serious health risk in itself causing symptoms ranging from a runny nose to asthma attacks and other respiratory tract issues. Make sure the humidity in your home is under 30% in the winter and under 45% in the summer. Use ventilation and fans when cooking, showering, and other activities that generate moisture. Run a dehumidifier if you need to, and make sure there are no water leaks in your house.

Make use of Indoor plants

One NASA study showed that there are some plants that help to purify the air to an extent from chemicals that have been linked to eye irritation and headaches - benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene, xylene, and ammonia. These chemicals can be found in seemingly innocent household objects such as napkins, cabinetry, paints, rubber, and household cleaners. Peace Lily and Florist’s Chrysanthemum are two of the most effective plants for helping to remove some of these toxins from the air.

Have your ducts cleaned

Your air ducts are home to dust, dirt, mould, bacteria, construction garbage, flakes of skin and hair. These contaminants are released into the atmosphere of your home, causing indoor air pollution, and environmental sensitivity.  The air ducts require periodic cleaning to reduce these airborne contaminants and to create a cleaner safer home for you and your family.

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