Careful consideration should be taken before allowing the application of chemicals within your air ducts.  Due to the varying ranges of temperature, humidity and air turbulence there are very few chemicals that are approved for the use within ventilation systems. 

Some companies will apply antimicrobial chemicals to the interior surface of the air ducts, to treat microbial contamination such as fungi (mold), viruses or bacteria. Many of those chemicals produce off gassing. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted as gases from certain solid and liquids. Even a nearly odorless material can cause significant problems when re-circulated through air ducts in a closed environment.  VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects. 

“Just because you can’t see it or smell it does not mean it is not dangerous to your health!” – The Silent Killer 

Today’s homes and buildings are built air-tight and contain a long list of pollution sources. 

 “Wall to wall carpet, poorly ventilated fireplaces, heaters, mold and bacterial toxins, dust mites…An almost endless collection of highly allergenic products have invaded our homes and we have sealed them in with deadly precision,” says the The Wall Street Journal 

“It is hard to come up with another problem that affects more people than indoor air pollution. – Professor of Environmental Health Sciences

 EcoClean does not recommend the use of any sanitizer or disinfectant products in air ducts. We clean using brushes and air tools to clean your system.

 www.EcoCleanAirDuctCleaning.com

The frequency of cleaning depends on several factors, not the least of which is the preference of the home owner.

• Smokers in the household.

 • Pets that shed high amounts of hair and dander.

• Water contamination or damage to the home or HVAC system.

• Residents with allergies or asthma who might benefit from a reduction in the amount of indoor air pollutants in the home’s HVAC system.

• After home renovations or remodeling.

• Prior to occupancy of a new home.

Some home owners prefer to get their ducts clean every year, others have them cleaned every 3-5 years.

Call EcoClean to discuss the cleaning process and schedule your cleaning. 720-299-7782

There are many sources of indoor air pollution in any home. These include combustion sources such as oil, gas, kerosene, coal, wood, and tobacco products; building materials and furnishings as diverse as deteriorated asbestos-containing insulation, wet or damp carpet, and cabinetry or furniture made of certain pressed wood products; products for household cleaning and maintenance, personal care, or hobbies; central heating and cooling systems and humidification devices; and outdoor sources such as radon, pesticides, and outdoor air pollution.

The relative importance of any single source depends on how much of a given pollutant it emits and how hazardous those emissions are. In some cases, factors such as how old the source is and whether it is properly maintained are significant. For example, an improperly adjusted gas stove can emit significantly more carbon monoxide than one that is properly adjusted. Some sources, such as building materials, furnishings, and household products like air fresheners, release pollutants more or less continuously.

Other sources, related to activities carried out in the home, release pollutants intermittently. These include smoking, the use of unvented or malfunctioning stoves, furnaces, or space heaters, the use of solvents in cleaning and hobby activities, the use of paint strippers in redecorating activities, and the use of cleaning products and pesticides in housekeeping. Denver Air Duct Cleaner EcoClean will remove all the pollutant concentrations that can remain in the air for long periods after some of these activities.

www.ecocleanairductcleaning.com

All of us face a variety of risks to our health as we go about our day-to-day lives. Driving in cars, flying in planes, engaging in recreational activities, and being exposed to environmental pollutants all pose varying degrees of risk. Some risks are simply unavoidable. Some we choose to accept because to do otherwise would restrict our ability to lead our lives the way we want. And some are risks we might decide to avoid if we had the opportunity to make informed choices. Indoor air pollution is one risk that you can do something about.

In the last several years, a growing body of scientific evidence has indicated that the air within homes and other buildings can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air in even the largest and most industrialized cities. Other research indicates that people spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors. Thus, for many people, the risks to health may be greater due to the exposure to air pollution indoors than outdoors.

People who may be exposed to indoor air pollutants for the longest periods of time are often those most susceptible to the effects of indoor air pollution. Such groups include the young, the elderly, and the chronically ill, especially those suffering from respiratory or cardiovascular disease.

EcoClean fresh air products, provide fast relieve for your home.

While pollutant levels from individual sources may not pose a significant health risk by themselves, most homes have more than one source that contributes to indoor air pollution. There can be a serious risk from the cumulative effects of these sources. Fortunately, there are steps that most people can take both to reduce the risk from existing sources and to prevent new problems from occurring.

Contact EcoClean today let us help you reduce those health risks.    www.ecocleanairdcutcleaning.com

How to check to see if your system is dirty

So how clean is the heating and cooling system in your home?  Here is a quick way to check.  Remove a vent cover and use a mirror and flashlight to look inside.  Or use a small digital camera to take a picture of the inside of your duct.  If your ducts are dirty it is time to have your air ducts cleaned.  Periodic air duct cleaning keeps your homes heating and cooling system clean and operating at peak efficiency.

How does an HVAC system Work?

Now you might be thinking “We keep a really clean home, shouldn’t out ducting heating and cooling system be clean to?”   To answer that question we have to start by looking at how you’re heating and cooling system works.  Think of your homes heating and cooling system as the lungs of your home.  The system pulls air from the rooms of your home through the return ductwork, and then the air passes through the filter before reaching the air handler or furnace where it is heated or cooled depending on the season.  Once the air is heated or cooled, it is blown through the supply ductwork and back into your home.  Some of the components of the furnace are used only during heating, others only during cooling, and others operate all the time.  Although the air is filtered, the fact is that filters cannot remove all the contaminants from the air, the system will get dirty through normal use.

HVAC components that get dirty:

• Return air ducts
• Filters
• Blower
• Heat Exchanger
• Cooling coils
• Supply ductwork

Where Does Dust Come From?

So where does dust come from?  Consider that up to forty pounds of dust is created each year from in the average six room home, this normal household dust is unavoidable as it is created by everyday living.  Every time we open the door, walk across carpeting, scratch out dry skin, or unroll paper towels we contribute to airborne dust.  Of course pets and dust emitting activities such as remodeling make the problem worse.  In fact, it’s not uncommon to find construction dust in a homes heating and cooling system years after the house was built.  On average, this contaminated air recalculates throughout your home five to seven times per day.  Why does it matter? This can develop into a serious problem.  The build up of these contaminants on components such as blowers and cooling coils can lead not only to unhealthy air for your family to breathe, but also to higher energy bills.  These contaminants can cause your system to work harder and run longer shortening the life of your equipment.  Perhaps most importantly the heating and air conditioning system needs to be cleaned to provide the thermal comfort you expect.

The US Department of Energy calculates that one hundredth of an inch accumulation of material on your evaporative coil can reduce energy efficiency by 20%. The DOE recommends it gets checked at least once per year. Industry surveys such as WI Public Service put the additional energy costs of a dirty condenser coil at an average $250 per year.

To get a free estimate call EcoClean 720-299-7782

1. Debris in dryer vents is a serious fire hazard!
Each year in the US, clogged dryer vents are responsible for approximately 24,000 fires and $50 million in damage, according to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission. Most dryer vent fires start with a buildup of lint, which blocks the flow of air and ignites when it becomes too hot. To protect your family from the hazards of a fire, dryer vents should be cleaned to remove lint, dust and other debris that accumulate in the vent. A “Dateline” investigation revealed that dryer fires start easier and spread faster than most people might think.

2. Clogged vents restrict the airflow to your dryer.
Have you ever noticed that your clothes might take two or more cycles to dry? One reason for this might be that your dryer vent is clogged with lint and other debris. Removing the contaminants will allow the air to circulate and properly dry your clothes in one cycle, saving you money on your energy bills. Clothes dryers are one of the most expensive appliances in your home to operate. The longer a clothing dryer runs, the more money it costs you. If a dryer vent has not been cleaned, it could cost you even more money.

3.A clean dryer vent will allow the dryer to run more efficiently.
Imagine placing a week’s worth of garbage under the hood of your car. Can you imagine how your car would run? The same is true of your dryer vent. Every time you run your dryer, lint and debris make its way through your dryer and becomes lodged in your dryer vent. And just because you can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not there. In fact, it’s what you can’t see that should concern you.

Call today to get your dryer vent cleaned! 720.299.7782

www.EcoCleanAirDuctCleaning.com

1. Vent bathrooms, kitchens, toilets and laundry rooms directly outdoors.  Use energy efficient and quiet fans.
2. Avoid locating furnaces, air conditioners and ductwork in garages or other spaces where they can inadvertently draw contaminants into the house.
3. Properly vent fireplaces, wood stoves, and other hearth products; use tight doors and outdoor air intakes when possible.
4. Vent cloths dryers and central vacuum cleaners directly outdoors.
5. Store toxic or volatile compounds such as paints, solvents, cleaners, and pesticides out of the occupiable space.
6. Minimize or avoid unvented combustion sources such as candles, cigarettes, indoor barbecues, decorative combustion appliances or vent free heaters.
7. Provide operable windows to accommodate unusual sources or high-polluting events, such as the use of home cleaning products, hobby activities, etc.
8. Use sealed-combustion, power-vented or condensing water heaters and furnaces.  When natural-draft applications must be used, they should be tested for proper venting and should be located outside the occupied space when possible.
9. Put a good particle filter or air cleaner in your air handling system to keep dirt out of the air and off your ductwork and heating and cooling components.
10. Distribute a minimum level of outdoor air throughout the home using whole-house mechanical ventilation.

Source: ASHRAE Standard 62.2 Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality on Low-Rise Residential Buildings, and 2001 ASHRAE Handbook, Fundamentals, Chapter 26, Ventilation and Infiltration. Ductworks.

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Biological Air Pollutants ~ Biological pollutants are or were living organisms. While all of us are exposed to biological pollutants in one form or another, the effects on our health depend upon the type and amount of biological pollution and the individual person. Two conditions are essential to support biological growth – nutrients and moisture. Keeping an area clean and dry is the best method to prevent biological air pollutants.

Common biological air pollutants: • Pet Hair & Pet Dander • Mold • Dust Mites • Pollen • Insect parts

Chemical & Gas Air Pollutants ~ Chemical and gas pollutants are the most hazardous of all air pollutants as they are often odorless, tasteless and invisible. Ensuring proper exhaust, using building products with low levels of volatile organic compounds, and prohibiting smoking indoors are the best methods for preventing chemical and gas air pollutants.

Common chemical & gas pollutants: • Carbon Monoxide • Radon • Smoke • Building Materials with volatile organic compounds

Particulate Air Pollutants ~ Particulate air pollutants are particulates that have the ability to become air born when disrupted. The size of particles is directly linked to their potential for causing health problems. Particles that are 10 micrometers in diameter or smaller are of greatest concern because they can pass through the throat and nose and enter the lungs. Some people are extremely sensitive to these pollutants. Good house keeping and construction containment practices are the best methods for lowering particulate air pollutants.

Common particulate air pollutants: • Drywall • Fiberglass • Concrete • Carpet fibers • Sawdust Cleaning your air ducts and a quality air purifier are great ways to reduce or eliminate the pollutants in your home or office.

Cleaning your air ducts and a quality air purifier are great ways to reduce or eliminate the pollutants in your home or office.  www.EcoCleanAirDuctCleaning.com