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Quality Air Duct Cleaning (no bait and switch here)

Posted By on April 10, 2012

I usaully dont get too surprised by the crazy competion in the Air duct cleaning industry. But I had a customer Angie Walltrip tell me she was quoted $1700.00 from one of these companies that wants the Utah air duct cleaning customer to believe they have mold in there air ducts. First its incredibly hard to have this be the case inside an air duct. Second it is not possible to clean mold in the way this company told her. After there cleaning the ducts they said they would fogg the vents and 10 0r so feet of duct with a disinfectant. This is not the propper way to remedy mold if there was mold there in the first place. I told this customer the sad truth is this industry is filled with companies pushing the upsell of mold remedy. Its a bait and switch tactic where the home owner receives a coupon for a low amount to clean the home owners vents and some of the duct work. Then when the tech gets to the home to clean they figure they have the customer right where they want them;( they have already taken the time and effort to schedule this appointment and are not goingt to reschedule with someone else to possibly go through the same tactics) so the tech tells them its extra to clean the cold air returns. This doesent even make sense, its like going to the car wash to have your car cleaned and half way through the cleaning the machine stops and says you need to pay more for the whole car to be cleaned. A reputable company will never charge you extra to clean all trunk lines and returns. Second they do a test for mold by using a thermal testor that will test for moisture at which point they will cover there tester with there thumb and the moisture from his thumb will set the beep off. (The only way to test for mold is through getting lab results) At this point they hit you with all the info on the dangers of mold and what it can do to your lungs. All true, if mold was really present. Here at All clean air duct cleaning we see this all the time prospective customers will call in for an estimate, hoping to find a cheaper price than the $1700.00 quote they have received from one of the many bait and switch companies here in Utah. We are one the companies certified to do mold remedy correctly, in fact our president Daryl Olsen is a trainer for mold and flood restoration. As we cleaned Angie’s walltrips ducts we were able to clean the whole system all trunk lines, cold air returns, and all vents for a fraction of what she was quoted by the other company.

Black Mold Invasion and Threats

Posted By on March 29, 2012

One popular threat that may have swarmed over our residences is the toxic black mold. They turn up to have greenish-black color and are stuck on walls, crevices, and other penetrable materials they can stick on. At one scan, they may be undamaging, but with their strange looks, they bring an actual threat to our health.

This organism is found in damp or humidity locations such as the bathroom, in the sink area or kitchen, and other corners where water leak through. They develop in bigger maps whenever floods take place and the waters have passed through into your walls, roofing system, or flooring.

Why have these bacterias become a nuisance to us? Actually, a house is really never get rid of this mold even how clean your house may be. When they have withered and have eventually combined with the air that we inhale, that’s the time they give the toxin.

We may not notice its threatening consequences. Probably we have deal with common colds, or cough; however these signs may develop and will eventually turn into pneumonia or something severe. The black mold is mainly responsible in plaguing us with respiratory tract problems of which the causes we can’t thoroughly unfold.

At other times, skin allergies unexpectedly develop from nowhere. Just when you thought you don’t have any allergies with specific food types, you may be surprised that you have experienced skin discomforts or lesions that will not fade with over the counter medicines. Your skin may turn out reddish and the sensation of itchiness will become uncomfortably bothersome. Your hunch of mold attack may be feasible then.

There have been studies made verifying that the occurrence of black mold is associated to the deterioration of an individual’s reproductive organs most especially among the women. The medical studies further revealed that women who have been exposed to this organism have disorders directly refering to their uterus or ovaries.

Expecting women are also sensitive to miscarriage while the fetus will acquire lung bleeding. There are yet a lot of other dreadful effects leading to the exposure of this menace. For this reason, homeowners have now watched and are going after for solutions to ward off this dilemma. People are presented a lot of options to repel the development of mold. There is even help and advice that relates to only cooking area resources as powerful tools in stopping mold growth.

More ways are left to the management of the experts. These mold specialists are qualified and are well equipped with effective supplies that can terminate the spread of mold. You can choose between those employing harsh chemicals that could as well jeopardize your jeopardized health or pursue the services of those that are using natural treatments to combat mold.

It is essential therefore to submit your house or specific locations that you think have been mold infested, to go under mold examining. This begins the project of mold professionals. It is also through this test that the experts will ascertain how to counter the mold predicament and what to use in the mold treatment program.

Don’t wait for your health to deteriorate. Now is the time to act and be free from the underlying health dangers being posed by the toxic black mold.

Should You Have Your Air Ducts Professionally Cleaned

Posted By on August 11, 2011

If you are like many, your air ducts are a frequently part of your house. Air ducts are hidden and are not likely to break so it is easy to overlook them when it comes to cleaning and maintaining your house. The result is that most home owners only clean their air ducts after an issue is detected. Even the U.S. E.P.A suggests on an as needed basis but this reasoning has one possible flaw.

This strategy is only if the cleaning is performed as a preventative procedure in response to a certain incident or situation but not as a reactive response to an incident or condition. This won’t prevent you and your family from being exposed to unhealthy air inside your home if it is not the result of to a particular situation. It is not unusual for mold to build up from expected deterioration of your cooling system, a roof leak and pipe leaks which can exist for many years before they are found. Rodents and insects may be in your air ducts on and off for years without detection.

Black Mold Symptoms & Removal Tips

Posted By on July 30, 2011

Learn about symptoms and removal tips of black mold, which is grows indoors and high altitude. There are many and knowing the dangerous and obvious ones could be helpful in dealing with black mold or mold removal.

Mold is the most common fungus in the world, able to grow indoors and at high altitude. Black mold develops and produce on surface in the form of powdery or downy substance.  It typically produces in damp condition and can be found on sheet rock, drywall, insulation, carpet or wood. Black mold exposure in humans generally leads to a variety of physical symptoms. Mostly, they revolve around problems with the airway, nasal passages, and lungs. Black Mold has a many symptoms like a Uneasiness in respiration, Headaches, Cough, Red eyes, Development of rashes and hives on skin, Nausea, Memory loss, in some cases, people experience bleeding in lungs, Lethargy, Dizziness, Lack in concentration, and Problem caused due to irritation in mucous membranes.

Mold Abatement – On Your Own

Posted By on July 15, 2011

Mold abatement can be accomplished on your own if you understand how to protect yourself and your home from more contamination. Do it yourself mold abatement starts with finding the moisture source that is allowing the mold to grow and thrive.

Mold needs food which is any kind of organic matter including household dust. Mold must have oxygen which is all around and mold needs moisture!

The only controllable aspect of mold growth that can be solved is the moisture. The moisture issue could be humidity, it could be a leak in the roof, leaky shower, leaking pipes, and it could be a leaking foundation too. You probably have a good idea about your moisture issue, unless it is just an overall musty basement.

The damp basement needs a de-humidifier and you must stop condensation on the walls and floor from the changes in humidity versus the constant temperature of the basement walls. Of course this includes your crawl space too. So you may need to add ventilation to your basement or crawl space, but at least de-humidify it all year.

Once the moisture problem is solved, it’s now time for mold abatement. Areas of mold that are one foot by one foot in area, simply take a see through garbage bag and tape the opening to the area around the mold. This serves as a protective barrier. Once you start cleaning you will be causing a microscopic dust storm of mold spores. The plastic barrier keeps them from contaminating your home.

Next make sure you have a mold cleaner such as bleach or an off the shelf mold remover that will not harm the finish of where you are cleaning. Cut the plastic with a opening large enough to get your hand and arm. Soak the area and let the cleaner have enough kill time to allow for the best mold abatement.

Clean the affected area with a rag or paper towel. Once complete leave the rag inside the containment and take your hand out. Position another plastic bag over the slit and pull the rag out into the plastic bag. Quickly tie up the bag and dispose of outside.

Next, I take a Lysol type of spray and completely spray within the containment and let it work for a while. Then I dispose of the containment.

Larger Mold Abatement

Bigger areas require you build a large plastic barrier using paint tarp type of clear plastic and duct tape. If you are in the wall, you cover all around the affected area. You install a plastic floor, ceiling and then attach around the moldy target. You leave an overlapping flap as an entrance.

You will be wearing old disposable clothes or a bunny disposable suit. Wear a N-95 mask, goggles without holes and place all of your rags and equipment inside the bubble. Take down the wall and throw drywall away in a plastic bag while still in the containment. Once finished tie up the plastic bag. Spray down the moldy area and clean it up per instructions on your Moldicide.

Now you will decontaminate the inside of your barrier. Saturate it completely and wipe it up. Throw everything away in a plastic bag and tie it up. Now remove your protective clothing and throw it away also. Finally wipe down the garbage bags and immediately have an assistant remove the bags to outside of the house.

Carefully break down your containment and bag it too. Throw it away outside as well.

For better mold abatement results, once the barrier is built, create a negative pressure by installing a plastic pipe line to a window. All serious containment have a HEPA filter that draws its air from inside the containment and blows its exhaust outside. That will keep spores inside the containment at worst and it will evacuate them outside at best.

Why Choose An Experienced Mold Inspector

Posted By on July 12, 2011

During active growth molds produce microbial volatile organic compounds as part of their metabolic process of breaking down their nutrient source. These microbial volatile organic compound chemicals are volatile, this means they are readily released directly into the air. These chemicals have a moldy or musty odor. Such odors have been shown to contribute to allergy like health complaints and even are associated with the development of asthma in children. If you have such odors in your home, then it is possible that mold is growing somewhere.

Some health problems caused by molds are listed below:

- Molds contribute to breathing and upper respiratory problems such as allergy and asthma.

- If the immune system is weak, mold may produce infection especially in the lungs.

- Children and elderly persons are more prone to mold infection.

- Long term chronic exposure can lead to hypersensitivity pneumonitis; short term heavy exposure can cause flu like organic dust toxic syndrome.

- Consuming toxic molds that produce mycotoxins may cause a variety of short-term and long-term adverse health effects. These range from immediate toxic response and immune-suppression to potential long-term effects which would include cancer.

- In this mold inspectors experience people living in moldy homes also appear to have increased cases of colds and sinus infections. It has been proposed by allergy doctors that mold allergy causes temporary damage to the protective mucous membrane linings thus letting in more infectious viruses and bacteria. This hypothesis may support and explain the inspectors personal observations.

All these problems will result in diminished health if left unchecked. However, the sad news is that most of the people are unaware of the fact that these problems are caused by mold. Only after proper removal of the mold from your home will your health problems clear up.

In order to detect mold that may be hidden in walls or AC coils, or to find the cause of a mold problem or water leak, or to identify the numbers and types of spores that may be floating as microscopic invisible specks in your air, you should obtain the services of a experienced certified mold inspector or, where applicable, a state-licensed mold assessor to take inner wall samples or air samples, and most importantly to provide a detailed inspection.

Inexperienced mold inspectors often rely heavily on testing you air and may not provide the detailed inspection that is often needed to uncover the root cause and location of mold problems.

Even mold training schools and the teachers they employ often have no clue as to how to inspect for mold. Many certifications firms and mold training schools often are out to make a quick buck from this industry and provide notoriously poor training.

Though no inspector can guarantee that he or she will be able to find all hidden mold, experienced mold inspectors know what to look for and where to look.

An experienced inspector knows to look:

- On the bottom of AC coils

- Inside the supply plenum

- Inside the return Plenum

- Under peeling corners of wall paper

- On furniture

- Even on the back side of furniture

- On clothes in closets.

- And hundreds of other places where mold or indications of moisture, mold, or humidity may reside.

Molds and moisture will destroy your walls from the inside out and make you feel ill without you even knowing you have a problem, thus it is wise to check the home using an experienced mold inspector before buying a home. Health issues or strange odors in an existing home are other reasons to have a property inspected.

An inspector will not know where to sample if they do not know how to inspect for clues of possible locations of mold or moisture issues.

Certified mold inspectors can also perform after the mold has been removed by re-mediators, this is done to insure that removal was successful.

How to Clean Your Air Conditioning Ducts and Vents

Posted By on July 9, 2011

Sometimes we take the simple act of breathing for granted. We don’t have to worry about it or think about it, it happens automatically. What happens, though, when what you once thought was a natural function of air into and out of your lungs becomes difficult? Asthma, the common cold virus, dust, mites, pollen, pet dander and the like can all make it extremely hard to breathe, and rarely are we aware of how frequently we come into contact with some or all of those pollutants like those mentioned. Even the tidiest homemaker is likely to have at least microscopic organisms like mold and germs in her house. Why? No matter how clean your house is kept, unless you clean your air ducts and vents, contaminants get into your home through your HVAC – your heating and cooling system.

If your heating and cooling ducts and vents are dirty or contain bacteria, mold, fungus or dander, or any kind of other pollutants, these vents and ducts will carry those impurities right into the air you and your family breathe in every day. We have all heard of the dangers of mold and mildew, and we all know what it is like to experience the temporary breathing difficulties associated with something as simple as the common cold. Think about how debilitating it could be to have a more permanent respiratory condition such as asthma, bronchitis, or a persistent allergy-induced cough. If you don’t properly clean your air vents and air ducts, you are subjecting yourself and your children to an increased likelihood of suffering from one or more of these distresses.

To make sure everyone stays as healthy as possible, you should routinely have your AC ducts and air ducts professionally cleaned. Some estimates put the percentage of illnesses caused by contaminants in the air as high as 50%; it is simply logical that cleaning your air ducts and vents may help everyone in your household feel better each and every day of their lives.

However, the health benefits to people are not the only advantage to keeping your HVAC ducts and vents spic and span. A clean heating and air system can also help keep our environment healthy. That’s right, the cleaner your ducts and vents, the better your system is likely to run. The better your system runs, the less energy is used, and that is a great way to support our world. When your energy usage decreases, the thickness of your wallet increases because your utility company will get less of your hard-earned money. Also, clean machines run better than dirty ones and therefore last longer. Making sure your air ducts and vents are regularly maintained is likely to add years to the life of this major appliance.

Who should have these air ducts cleaned? The simple answer is everyone, but there are also some lifestyle choices that increase your need for air duct and vent cleaning. If you or someone in your household is a smoker, you should definitely tie to it that your ducts and vents get inspected and have a thorough cleaning done regularly. Similarly, if your family enjoys the friendship of a canine or feline friend who sheds hair – don’t they all? – You should definitely have your system cleaned. Hair and dander can accumulate in the air ducts and vents and adversely affect your system’s performance and your family’s health. In addition to smoke and pet hair, water can also wreak havoc on the air ducts and vents in your home. Where there is water that is allowed to sit and fester, mold and mildew cannot be far behind, so if your house has had some type of water damage, be sure to seek the advice of a professional duct and vent cleaning company.

How exactly do these professional cleaning companies clean your forced air ducts and air vents? The process of air duct cleaning can be similar to cleaning your carpet. A trained professional uses a device similar to a huge vacuum cleaner that can “inhale” the dirt and germs out of your air vents and ducts. Sometimes the duct or vent-cleaning contractor will have this vacuum machine hooked to the company’s truck, so you don’t even have to worry about using your electricity. In addition to cleaning ducts and vents, most professional cleaners will also clean the other components of your system.

Whenever you decide to hire anyone to perform work on something as costly as an air- conditioning system, you should use research and caution. Air duct cleaning specialists and vent cleaning specialists have a trade-related organization to which they may belong and that sets the standards for the work. The National Air Duct Cleaners Association, or NADCA, sets forth guidelines for both HVAC systems and personnel, it is wise to check out a cleaning professional through the NADCA to get the peace of mind that comes from knowing you are following the proper rules about protecting your cooling and heating unit and your family’s health. Asking a company to provide the names and contact information for people they have serviced before is also recommended. Another good idea is to make sure the cleaning professional you have chosen has an appropriate existing license

Once you have your air ducts and vents inspected and decided on when and where to have them cleaned, you can sit back, relax in your favorite armchair, and breathe easy.

Mold Removal Safety

Posted By on July 3, 2011

Mold removal will be needed once you begin to notice these specific signs within your household:

  • Sinus headaches
  • Extraordinarily exhausted for no reason
  • Non-pattern hair loss
  • You feel better having been away from home
  • You get headaches on a weekly basis
  • Short term memory trouble

Mold removal is highly recommended if you have some of these conditions. It means mold, or maybe even worse, black mold are growing and thriving within your home. Mold has a way of breaking down your immune system to a point where other diseases of opportunity can get a hold and make you sicker and in some instances extremely sick.

Mold removal can be as simple as cleaning up the bathroom or more complicated when addressing water problems from a leak in the plumbing or roof. In general the bigger the area to clean up, the more it could negatively impact your home if you don’t follow proper precautions. For example, you find mold growing behind the toilet tank and bowl. This is an isolated spot and there are no spread out mold areas in the house. Just clean this up with the usual mold cleaner or bleach.

However, if your mold removal problem is inside a wall, you can’t see how much there is. So you will have to estimate at least between the corresponding studs and all the way from ceiling to floor. That’s usually 16 inches by 8 feet and will require careful planning before you tear into it so that you don’t redistribute your mold problem all over the house.

That same wall could also be a bigger problem without you even realizing it, so that’s why caution and planning are so important. The reason is the mold spores. All mold spreads using spores that are sent airborne with the slightest of air currents or touches. The very moment you begin wiping, spraying or tearing down the wall spores will be released all over. They are not visible by the naked eye so you won’t notice them but you could have a slight reaction to their release.

Once the spores are set free through your careless removal efforts, they will float around until they land on a surface that is wet. They will land and stay there. Soon they get some dust or other organic matter along with their moisture, they will blossum and build mold colonies which results in perpetual mold spore releases.

You must contain the area for mold removal to avoid all the mentioned trouble. Containing the area using a closed door and an open window could work, you may need to use plastic and duct tape to build a tent around the work area to keep the mold spores inside and then clean the inside of the tent before taking it apart.

No matter how you contain it, just be sure you are keeping the mold spore risk to a minimum or you have just helped it to survive and keep growing inside your home. The actual cleaning of mold should have you using a mold cleaner or a bleach solution. Make sure there is enough kill time on the surface and wipe it up.

For the bigger jobs, you will be using similar cleaners, but you will want to allow the inner wall to air out, then encapsulate it with a foam available at your favorite hardware store. This encapsulation will enclose any left over mold cells and keep them from spreading and will improve your mold removal effort. Then you just reinstall your drywall.

The important step of mold removal is the planning and containment of the area. The actual cleaning is the easiest step of the job. Just be overly cautious to avoid ongoing mold problems in your home.

Ways A Test Kit Will Help You Get Rid Of Mold

Posted By on June 30, 2011

A black mold test kit helps you test out your home to see if you have any toxic mold. Since several molds don’t seem to be toxic and for that reason not necessarily dangerous to men and women, it is very important be able to test for mold and discover if it is black mold. The actual test kits currently available permit you to do this your self without the pricey job of bringing in pros to do it for you personally. The kits are simple to use and it is the same process the professionals carry out. By using a kit, you may give your home an excellent test.

If you see that there’s mold growing in the cellar or on the surface someplace else in the house, you can just scrape off a tiny part of it right into a mold test kit. You need to do need to wear rubber safety gloves along with a goggles, simply because if it is black mold, it could be very toxic.

Use a paint scraper to obtain the mold sample for the kit, nevertheless just be sure you disinfect it before you start to make sure you will not contaminate the sample. Then all you’ve got to do is close the cover on the test package, print your own name and address and the time and date you took the small sample. You can send the test to a laboratory to have it tested.

Most of these kits aren’t pricey to buy. You can actually get a mold test kit for just a few bucks and it only costs another thirty to forty five dollars to have the test examined in a laboratory to see if it is toxic black mold. Whenever you look at these costs, when compared with what you’d probably have to pay professional technicians to do the job, it is quite simple to be able to do the actual tests your self.

Facts are, the toughest part of tests is trying to find out whether or not you do have mold in your house. When you can’t see or smell it, it is definitely challenging to know where you should look. Luckily, you will find mold kits for this also. This type of kit has a petrie dish that contains a disk.

All you’ve got to do is set the actual dish within an area in which you think there might be mold and leave it there for around 2 hours. Close-up the kit and let the disc incubate for a couple of days. When you reopen the test kit, if you notice there’s a fungus growing on the disc, then you will want to have it looked at to see if it is black mold or another type.

Air Conditioning Ducts – Some Simple Cleaning Methods

Posted By on June 27, 2011

As the use of the modern air conditioning systems is on its peak in the 21st century there are many different manufacturers who are introducing new and improved models of air conditioning systems. Due to the immense high temperatures in hot regions, people cannot even spend a day without these modern air conditioners. Air conditioners have become one of the most used items in household appliances nowadays. Different air conditioner manufacturers have manufactured their own unique designs of central air conditioners to provide people with the high levels of air conditioning in their houses and their work places.

More energy efficient and dependable air conditioning units have been introduced in recent years. Amongst many different air conditioning brands there are only a few who are providing complete services and warranties along with the purchase of their products. Central air conditioners are becoming the most popular type of air conditioners amongst masses. The duct works is the backbone of the central air conditioning systems being manufactured nowadays. No central air conditioning systems can work properly if there is sub standard duct work in any house or building where these systems are to be installed to provide comfortable working environments.

Without a proper duct work even a high quality central air conditioner cannot work properly. State of the art duct work is to be laid in the particular place where a central air conditioner is to be installed. This is to ensure the proper airflow and to maintain good air circulation and ventilation. To maintain a good quality air conditioning indoors, it is always necessary to have proper air conditioning duct cleaning. If a proper air conditioning duct cleaning is not maintained there are always high chances of having low quality central air conditioning. The ducts are made laying carefully designed polyurethane and phenolic insulation panels inside the air conditioning duct work.

Fancy vents are attached with the ducts to maintain good quality air flow inside your house. Special duct cleaning companies are fast trend in the air conditioning industry. There are trained contractors and experienced professionals who perform these services at your door. Good quality duct cleaning is now available at affordable prices in the market. The facility of good duct cleaning was not so easy in the past because there were no proper tools and working professionals available in the market for this purpose. Today fiberglass duct boards’ insulation of the duct work are also available in the market at affordable rates.

Due to the ease of the modern technology and the internet facilities available it is very easy to have a team of professional air conditioning duct cleaning contractors at your house. Every company has their own specially designed website for these services. You just have to simply log on to the internet and make an appointment with these companies to send their extremely talented and experienced duct work cleaners at your door step. A properly maintained and clean duct work will definitely improve the working quality of your central air-conditioning system.