Need Your Dryer Vent Cleaned? Leave it to the Professionals

When was the last time you cleaned your gutters? How about the last time you serviced your furnace? Have you had your air ducts cleaned lately? What about your dryer vent, have you cleaned that in a while? All of these kinds of jobs are things that need to be done regularly but they are chores that we tend to overlook or put off.

You can do most of these jobs yourself, including cleaning your dryer vent, but that doesn’t mean you will ever get around to it. There are several steps to cleaning a dryer vent. In fact, according to some online “how to” guides there are 14 different things from start to finish that you need to do to clean your dryer vent. Of course, you could take the time and effort to do it yourself, but there is another way.

Cleaning a dryer vent can be a big job, but there are a lot of companies who clean dryer vents for a living, including many air duct-cleaning companies. These companies are professionals and they know what they are doing. If you need your dryer vent cleaned, contact a professional in Vancouver/Portland. Save yourself a lot of time and headache and make sure you get the job done right.

Are You Ready for Spring?

Waterfront Park Portland OR

Spring is almost here, which means the annual ritual of spring-cleaning is about to be getting underway. There are many aspects of spring-cleaning that are important, but one place you may not have thought about when you start preparing for the warmer weather is your air ducts. Getting your air ducts cleaned during the winter can save you time and possible problems in the spring.

In fact getting your dryer vent and air ducts cleaned will help the air flow in your home as the weather starts to change and pollen begins to fill the air. That pollen can build up, which means those who suffer from allergies may be more likely to suffer, even when they stay inside.

Cleaning your air ducts at least once a year allows the air to flow more freely in your home and it could help prevent those who live there from suffering from as many colds and allergy symptoms. It can also eliminate mold and mildew, as well as remove any undesirable odors.

So if you’re ready to start your spring-cleaning soon, then add a good air duct cleaning to your list of things that need to get done. But remember to contact professionals to make sure the job gets done right.

Get an Inside View of Your Ducts With a Video Inspection

When you get your air ducts cleaned in Vancouver and Portland, whether it’s for a commercial or residential job, you need to make sure the job is done right. One way to ensure that your ducts are cleaned of all debris is by using video inspection.

When an air duct cleaning company comes to your home or office they can use this video equipment to first inspect your ducts and identify any possible problem areas. They can also use it to show you firsthand the difference after they have cleaned your ducts. Many times, problem areas can be in locations that can’t be accessed by a contractor, but they can be found with video equipment. With this helpful video equipment in place a duct cleaning company can:

  • Scan your duct work for mold or other contamination
  • Inspect duct work to see if it actually needs to be cleaned
  • Inspect insulation of your duct system

This high-tech video equipment can go a long way in effectively inspecting, diagnosing and treating any problems in your air ducts. Cleaning your ducts properly can help result in better air circulation, which can improve your energy bill and help prolong your system’s life. That in turn will help keep you and your family feeling comfortable throughout the year.

Air Duct Cleaning

air-duct-cleaningAir duct cleaning is happening every day in neighborhoods all over Portland and Vancouver. This short story should help with what to expect when scheduling your duct cleaning service. The vent cleaning in an 1800-2200 sq ft home takes two technicians three to four hours, it can be done by one tech but it would take longer. Using a Hepa filtered negative air machine is the EPA’s preferred method for duct cleaning. After separating each side of the HVAC system and attaching the negative air machine to one side either supply or return, the techs should then seal every vent in the home and starting with the duct as far away from the system as possible navigate air whips from each register in the home all the way back to the furnace. The rest of the work is done in and around the furnace itself and back from the return and supply plenums. The right duct cleaning companies will show you each step of the process and should be able to show you what comes from the ductwork and they should never add fees to the the original service. This said, there are no $99 or funnier yet $59 whole house duct cleaning specials, this is impossible for a company to maintain, there is just too much work involved in a full service. There are resources available to research the guys you can trust. You may check Angie’s List if you’re a member, if not, there is the Better Business Bureau or reviews on Yelp and Google+! The service is awesome and should be done once every 3-5 years. Good luck to all!

Dryer Vent Cleaning

Dryer vent cleaning is a service that should be included with each and every whole home air duct cleaning service. The company that is there providing the service was hired to clean the ductwork in the home, and the duct that leads from the back of your dryer to the outside of your home is typically one of the dirtiest. When cleaning a dryer vent the technician should first check inside the dryer where the lint trap is and using a long, thin brush clean under the lint trap. Then turn the dryer on and check the connections in the back of the dryer to make sure none of the dryer exhaust leaks into your home. Then begin the actual dryer vent cleaning by running a brush (with little metal burrs on the edges to scratch the inside of the duct) through the duct cleaning it from the outside to make sure that all of that lint stays out of your home. This brush is attached to Revolution rods that run from the outside of the vent all the way back to the back of your dryer polishing each inch of the dryer vent itself. This process may need to be repeated several times to assure a clean dryer vent. Finally the technician should confirm the air is flowing like it should be out of the back of the dryer all the way through the duct out of your home.

Negative Air Machine

4200-turbojet-air-scrubberThe air duct cleaning process does have many steps and in a home there is often more than one way to complete the task properly. We believe the absolute, most important piece to the air duct cleaning is the technicians performing the work. That is the case with most if not all work done any day any where, you can tell the difference when someone takes pride in their work. This is very important when looking to hire an air duct cleaning company for your home. The EPA’s preferred method of air duct cleaning is known as the push-pull method, which involves attaching a negative air machine to the plenum where all the air comes from before it enters your duct work and eventually into your home. This process we call putting the duct work under negative pressure. The Turbo-jet 4200 is one of the negative air machines we commonly use. The Turbo-jet 4200 is the most powerful negative air machine made by the industries leader in duct cleaning equipment and technology. It has twin motors that run with normal 120 volt power which the machine converts to 220 volt three phase power to run the three phase motors. The twin three phase motors allow for smooth start-ups while not damaging any of the electrical power in the home. These twin motors produce both high static pressure and lots of airflow between 3,000 and 5,000 cubic feet per minute. The Turbo-jet 4200 is large but not to big to fit in most doorways and even in those hard to get to basements where the furnace may be located. It has convenient stair climbers built in that make it easy to get up and down stairs. Combine a well trained and thorough technician with the Turbo-jet 4200 and it’s time for air duct cleaning!