5 Tips on Hiring an Air Duct Cleaner

When hiring a duct cleaner there are certain steps you can take to make sure you hire the very best duct cleaning company for your situation. To name just a few:

• Ask for a detailed description of the duct cleaning service they will provide for you.
• Get an approximate estimate for your project. Ideally, they will be able to give you a quote over the phone.
• Dos the price include tax?
• Are they able to provide other services related to duct cleaning like chimney cleaning, dryer vent cleaning, furnace cleaning, etc.
• Let them tell you as much as possible about their duct cleaning company and the services they provide. This way you can determine if they match your criteria.

These are just 5 of the 20 Tips on Hiring a Duct Cleaner article found on the website.

Are You Looking for a HVAC Contractor?

The heating season is here and it's definitely time to start thinking about your HVAC (Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning) system. It seems like everyone I've been talking to is thinking about air duct cleaning, furnace filters, furnace tune-ups or buying a new heating and cooling system. Of course, I work in the business, but even so, people are certainly thinking about their heating system.

Now is a great time to get your air ducts cleaned and your furnace tuned-up. For as little as $189, you can have a professional air duct cleaner use a rotobrush to scrub your ducts clean. Generally speaking, air duct cleaners are trained and equipped to do more than just clean duct work. They typically do an excellent job of giving your furnace the much needed annual tune-up.

We subscribe to numerous HVAC magazines, and are constantly reminded of the importance of annual furnace tune-ups. If only we could get the word out to more homeowners about the importance of having your heating system checked out on a yearly basis.

Babies and Children More Vulnerable to Indoor Air Pollution

Children are more exposed to air, water pollution and pesticides because pound-for-pound, children breathe in more air, drink more water, and eat more food than adults.

Their bodies are growing and developing more rapidly, so chemicals that can harm their physical development can do maximum damage at this critical time.

Children also play on the floor, where allergens, such as dust, dirt, pet hair and other heavier-than-air chemicals settle and collect.

Then there's natural behavior: Putting everything in the mouth is a crucial part of normal development, the way a baby learns about the world.

For $189 ($99 for the air sweep and vacuum method) you can have all your air ducts thoroughly brushed clean using the roto-brush method. If you are concerned about your family's health, and would like to find out how you can have clean air ducts, call the pros at Duct-911.com today for more information: 651-653-4704.

Duct-911.com Partners with New York & Atlanta Air Duct Cleaners

In an ongoing effort to bring high quality and low priced air duct cleaning to homeowners all across the USA, Duct-911.com has now partnered with companies from Staten Island, New York and Atlanta, Georgia.

In New York you will now be able to get whole-house air duct cleaning from D&H Air Duct Cleaning for $99! They cover more than just the Staten Island area, they also work much of NYC and NJ. To setup an appointment to have your air ducts professionally cleaned call 718-475-5662.

In Atlanta you can get the same low price of $99 from Dr. Air Duct. Servicing all of the Atlanta metro area, like our New York air duct cleaning partner, they also clean dryer vents and are certified chimney sweeps. You can arrange an appointment with them if you call: 404-348-0111.

If you are from another area not yet serviced by Duct-911.com, please be patient. They are rapidly expanding and hope to have established relationships with air duct cleaners in your area soon. So, be bookmark their site and check back often!

Dryer Vent Cleaning and Air Duct Cleaning

As long as the allergy season is here and people are thinking air duct cleaning and furnace tune-ups, I thought an article about dryer vent cleaning might be useful information for homeowners as well

Cleaning your Dryer Vent
DIY Product reviews

This annual or semi-annual cleaning is easy to forget about, but is very important. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission over 15,000 fires and 19 deaths are related to dryer venting each year. In addition to the danger of a clogged dryer vent is a huge energy loss. A clear vent will allow moisture to escape better and the clothes will dry faster.

Inside the dryer clear any visible lint with a long handled brush or vacuum attachment. Clean the lint trap after the each load to reduce the lint build up.

On the venting leading outside of the house be sure to inspect a few different areas. First, make sure the venting to not kinked or bent. This would also be a good time to replace plastic or foil venting with a stronger solid or semi-ridig metal. Next, look at the exit on the outside of the house. Bird screens are notorious for collecting link and reducing air flow. Finally, if you have a long vent you need to it cleaned also. Professional air duct cleaning services or a chimney sweep can do this. You can also clean it with a shop-vac or an electric leaf blower. Remove the out side vent cover so the entire 4-inch vent is exposed. Move the dryer so you can get to vent with the equipment. Attach the end of the blower on the vent and seal it with a clamp of duct tape. Make sure the vac is set on blow not suck. Use the lowest setting to start and let it do the work. You will be amazed by the amount of link you will find it you grass.

There are some cleaning kits that use an auger brush and a drill to clean long runs, but they are expensive and could damage your venting without you seeing it. Solid and semi-ridig ducting can tear or separate it poked hard enough with a metal stick.

Heating and Cooling Tips from the Maryland Public Services Commission

Heating/Cooling Systems

If your home is heated or cooled by an electric heat pump, following these tips can help reduce your electric bill:

• Clean or change filters monthly; keep return air grilles and room registers clean.

• Make sure ductwork is properly sealed and insulated to prevent leakage, especially around the return. Check ductwork in attics and crawl spaces.

• Keep plants, shrubs, and other obstacles at least two feet away from the heat pump; keep the outdoor unit clear of snow and ice in the winter.

• Make sure your furnace has a pre-season check-up for efficiency and safety; ensure that a trained service technician checks your unit at least once every three years.

• When replacing your heating system, consider a multi-fuel furnace.

Remember—don’t turn off your heating and/or cooling system when you are not at home. Instead, turn the thermostat up or down a few degrees. Turning the system off means that is has to work twice as hard to get the rooms up to temperature; this uses more electricity. Turning back your thermostat by just a few degrees in the winter and up a few degrees in the summer can help save energy. Changing the thermostat frequently can also increase your energy costs. Instead, consider buying a programmable or adaptive recovery thermostat.

Ceiling and fl oor fans spread cool and warm air throughout a room and can assist your heating or cooling system and help keep your energy bill down. However, electric space heaters should be used sparingly, as these units can increase your energy use and your electric bill.

Looking for Air Duct Cleaning Testimonials?

Oftentimes we prefer to do business with companies that have more than just great ads and "catchy" slogans. Now days, most people prefer to do business with companies on a word-of-mouth basis. Here are two websites in the air duct cleaning industry that have testimonial after testimonial. Both websites have air duct cleaning testimonials and also heating and cooling installation testimonials:

CleanMyFurnace.com - Air Duct Cleaning Testimonials - Minneapolis and St. Paul
Duct-911.com - Air Duct Cleaning Testimonials - Nationwide (coming soon)

The latter company has just recently expanded their air duct cleaning services nationwide. For now they only have Minnesota air duct cleaning testimonials, but with the great service they provide, they will soon have scores of testimonials about air duct cleaning.