Duct Detectives

Why Now is the Perfect Time to Get the Ducts at the Office Cleaned

Spring has definitely arrived, and summer is just around the corner. This is the best time to have a commercial duct cleaning service take care of the ductwork in your office building. Pollen counts are high, allergens are in the air, and spring cleaning contributes its own negative effects to the quality of the air inside your building.

Sick Building Syndrome

Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is a condition that affects many office buildings, which is often caused by poor indoor air quality. SBS causes the occupants of the building to experience elevated allergy symptoms or general feelings of malaise whenever they enter the office. The symptoms tend to improve when they leave. Commercial duct cleaning can address the underlying environmental causes of SBS.

Indoor Air Quality and Duct Cleaning

Commercial duct cleaning addresses many of the culprits that cause poor indoor air quality. Not only do dust and particulates build up in ductwork, but they can eventually create an environment ideal for microbial organisms and mold. Duct cleaning eliminates soil and cleans the environment inside the ducts, which improves indoor air quality.

Don't Wait for Duct Cleaning

There's no reason not to have the ductwork in your building commercially cleaned now. Waiting can only exacerbate indoor air quality issues. Older buildings with aged HVAC systems and newer buildings with poor ventilation can both benefit from commercial duct cleaning services. The occupants of your office building will be healthier and more productive in this improved environment.

Duct Detectives provides commercial and industrial duct cleaning services to our clients. Visit us online to learn more about what we do, or schedule an appointment with us when you call (407) 965-1156.

The Importance of Keeping Your Dryer Vents Clean and Clear

Dryer vent cleaning performed by a certified technician can improve safety and efficiency in your workplace. Review the following threats associated with dirty dryer vents to understand the dangers they pose to your building.

• Clogged Dryer Vents Pose Huge Fire Risks: Like most appliances that circulate air, dryers use vents to filter lint and debris produced by daily use. Unfortunately, the consequences of restricted dryer vents can be deadly. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reports that an average of 15, 600 dryer fires cause 15 deaths and 400 injuries each year. The same report points toward insufficient cleaning as the leading cause of these structural fires. Additionally, these fires cause over $8,000 dollars in damage to surrounding structures on average. Compare these costs to the annual fee charged by a technician for quick, professional dryer vent cleaning.
• Dirty Vents Decrease Dryer Efficiency: Loss of life and property isn’t the only impact business managers face when dryer vents go without maintenance. A clogged dryer requires far more energy to operate without the accessible airflow of a clean vent. This excess energy use is bound to make monthly utility bills skyrocket. If your business’ electricity bills are unusually high, a dirty dryer vent may be to blame.

Clogged vents also reduce your workers’ productivity. If you manage a hotel and rely on clean linens throughout the day, an inefficient dryer can cause a huge inconvenience. Your dryer may need to run for much longer or through multiple cycles to get linens completely dry if the vents are clogged. If your sheets and towels are coming out wet, this is an early warning sign that your dryer’s vent may be obstructed.
In addition to regular vent maintenance, FEMA offers numerous tips for keeping employees safe from dryer fires. Be sure to clear the lint filter before each use. This screen serves as the first line of defense against an overheated dryer.

Chad Cowan's Duct Detectives is a leader in commercial duct cleaning. Utilize our affordable services to prevent overheated appliances from threatening your building. Schedule a maintenance checkup ASAP by dialing (407) 965-1156.

How Will the Duct Detectives Clean Your Ductwork?

Having the ductwork in your building professionally cleaned is a great way to improve the efficiency of your HVAC system and make your building healthier and safer for its occupants. Air ducts come in many different shapes and sizes, so only the professionals can get every last speck of dust and debris.

Duct Detectives employs certified staff that are trained according to several national standards, including certification from OSHA and the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA). Below are a description of several of the methods we use to ensure that our commercial duct cleaning services get the job done right.

Vacuum Equipment: Small ductwork can be vacuumed using vacuum collection equipment. This helps remove the initial layer of soil. For larger ductwork, technicians enter the ducts themselves and thoroughly vacuum the area.

Manual Cleaning: For thorough removal of soil, many commercial duct cleaning services are performed by hand. This includes HVAC units as well as ductwork. NADCA standards state that dirty ductwork should be addressed using source removal methods, often requiring a manual touch. This ensures that every last bit of soil has been cleaned.

Compressed Air and Power Washing: Many types of ductwork can be cleaned using compressed air or power washing equipment. This helps remove especially stubborn soil and loosens debris from hard-to-reach areas. Power washing can be useful for commercial duct work in the hospitality or industrial spheres, where environmental conditions can cause grease to make soil harder to remove by other methods.

If you would like to learn more about the comprehensive methods that Duct Detectives use when we perform commercial ductwork cleaning, visit our website. Our photo galleries show before and after examples. Contact us at (407) 965-1156 to schedule your cleaning with us today.

Clean Ducts Can Increase Office Productivity and Decrease Spending

As mentioned in our recent blog posts, regular ductwork cleaning and maintenance has many positive outcomes and should be of high importance. If you would like to learn more about the hazards posed by particulate buildup in ductwork and the energy costs you will save by keeping your HVAC system clean, the following resources will be of interest to you. For more information about commercial ductwork cleaning services in the southeastern United States, call Chad Cowan and the Duct Detectives at (407) 965-1156.

• The Environmental Protection Agency recommends having your air ducts cleaned if substantial microbial growth, an excess of dust and debris, or the presence of vermin is detected in your ductwork. Find out more with the help of this consumer resource.

• According to this website, dirty air ducts are one of 11 hidden hazards that have an adverse impact on human health. To avoid exposing your employees to this hidden danger, have a professional from Duct Detectives routinely inspect and clean your ductwork.

• This Angie’s List article discusses the energy-saving benefits associated with routine duct cleaning.

• Check out this article to find out why allergy problems have kept duct cleaners busy so far this spring.

• To learn about the importance of choosing a NADCA-certified HVAC service professional to clean and maintain the ductwork in your commercial or industrial building, visit the National Air Duct Cleaners Association’s website.

Dirty Ducts Ideal Breeding Ground for Bacteria, Decreasing ProDUCTivity

When dust and debris accumulate inside your company’s ductwork, your energy bills increase and the health of your employees is put at risk. In order to avoid HVAC unit inefficiencies, health hazards and fire dangers associated with poorly maintained and irregularly cleaned ductwork, contact a duct cleaning professional if and when you detect any of the following signs.

Accumulation of Contaminants

The quality of the air you and your workers breathe could be severely compromised by the presence of dust, mites and other allergens in your air ducts. If an unusually high number of workers in your office are having allergy problems or regular coughing fits, buildup of contaminants in your ductwork may be to blame.

Evidence of Microbial Growth

Dark, damp and undisturbed by human traffic, air ducts are ideal breeding grounds for bacteria, fungi, mold and spores. Heightened ailments that are linked to mold and mildew buildup can not only impact the health of your workers and lower their productivity, but also be downright dangerous and have long-lasting effects. By having your ductwork professionally inspected and cleaned on a regular basis, you can detect the presence of and eradicate mold before it inflicts long-lasting illness on you or your employees.

Particulate Discharge

If visible dust or other particles are being discharged from your air vents, your ducts need to be cleaned. Particulate discharge can be an especially serious problem in healthcare facilities.

Passage of Time

High-traffic commercial and industrial air ducts are much more prone to the collection of dirt and dust than they are in the common home. All commercial, industrial and healthcare operations should have their air ducts inspected and cleaned a minimum of once per year.

Are you looking for a commercial duct cleaning service professional to ensure that your company’s ductwork is squeaky clean and your HVAC system is operating efficiently? Serving the greater southeastern United States, Chad Cowan’s Duct Detectives are trained and equipped to meet all of your HVAC maintenance and cleaning needs. To find out more about our services, call (407) 965-1156 today!