Evaporator Coil Cleaning

Evaporator Coil Cleaning (A-Coil Cleaning)

An evaporator coil, also known as an a-coil, is an integral part of your cooling systems that is often neglected while you are cleaning the system. Commonly it is thought that if the filters are clean there is no need to check the coil. It is a wrong perception that may be a root cause of many problems your system may have to face if you neglect the issue of evaporator coil cleaning. Even if the filters are clean the evaporator coil can still be dirty and be polluting the air you breathe.

A dirty a-coil can be root cause of many problems; here are four main reasons for which you should consider cleaning evaporator coil on regular basis:

1. Increased Efficiency: With a dirty evaporator coil efficiency of the system declines and you feel it is not cooling same way as before.
2. Shorter Run-times: It takes more than usual to start.
3. Low Electricity Bills: Longer runtimes and burden on the system caused it to consume more electricity which is the reason for huge electricity bills. A clean evaporator coil may save you up to 15% of energy your cooling system consumes with dirty coil.
4. Good Air Quality: If the evaporator coil is dirty and air flow is reduced it causes same air to circulate in the house again and again with many pollutants putting your health at stake. Air indoors is polluted with many visible and invisible pollutants including dust, dirt mites, pollens, pet dander, molds, bacteria and viruses. While air is circulated the evaporator coil accumulates these particles as the coil fins are densely located.

Dirt and debris on the evaporation coil hinder the air flow thus blocking it and causing your heating and cooling system to work much harder. A reduced air flow means cooling capacity of the system has decreased which causes extra burden on the system. The system starts consuming huge energy to cool the room or building posing a burden on your pocket. If you still neglect the situation it causes the air to cool to such a low temperature that it condenses over the coil and leads to what is known as evaporation coil frost thereby completely blocking the coil.

Usually your air conditioning system gives clear indications when the evaporation coil is dirty. Following is the checklist that clearly states that now is the time to clean the evaporation coil:

• Efficiency of the system is decreased
• Less air is coming out of vents
• Head and suction pressure rises
• Electricity bill increases with same usage of cooling system

The issue of evaporator coil cleaning is of great importance when you are having pets at home or living in an area where construction is taking place. An annual evaporation coil cleaning can keep you and your family safe!

How Duct Cleaning Works-Part 3

Part 3 of “How Duct Cleaning Works”

The Airsweep Method

Over the last few days I wrote two posts entitled “How Duct cleaning works-part 1” and “How Duct Cleaning Works-Part 2″.

Today I will finish “How Duct Cleaning Works-Part 3″

This post will cover the air-sweep method. First we go through and use the 12 and 1/2 inch CFM vacuum and an air wand that pushes air throughout your entire air ducts and gets sucked up by th vacuum at the same time! With this method we also clean the main trunk lines,return lines,supply lines,cold air returns, and the hot air returns. The air-sweep is intended to be more for the average house that has there air ducts cleaned every year because all of the dust is still loose and not stuck to the duct walls. So if you have had your ducts cleaned within the last year go ahead and do the air-sweep but if not I would Recommend the Rotobrush air duct cleaning method, you won’t be Disappointed! Here are the 2 previous posts:

“How Duct Cleaning Works Part 1″

“How Duct Cleaning Works Part 2″

How Duct Cleaning Works – Part 2

Part 2 of “How Duct Cleaning Works”

A few days ago I started an article titled “How Duct Cleaning Works“. I said that it would only take one day to explain the rest but it ended up taking a little longer, here’s the other part of the air duct cleaning process.

The Rotobrush Method

This Method Is by far the best way to have your ductwork cleaned Because we use an actual brush that spins counter clockwise inside the main trunkline of your ducts.Then we go through and clean out all of the return lines and supply lines throughout your entire house. As we are doing all of this there is a 12 and 1/2 in vacuum that picks up all of the dust that is being spun out.! Lastly we also will go through and clean all of your hot and cold air returns. If you know anything about ductwork the cold air returns are going to be the most dirty part of all because that is where all of your dust and pet hair gets sucked into. So as you can tell the rotobrush method is the way to go because there is an actual brush that going to be spinning inside instead of just air! I will finish part 3 in a few days because the last time I said a day and i couldn’t get to it.

Thanks for being patient I’m sure you understand that this is the air duct cleaning season.

Here are the Other “How Duct Cleaning Works” Posts

“How Duct Cleaning Works Part 1“

“How Duct Cleaning Works Part 3“

Does Duct Cleaning Help Allergies?

Allergists Encourage Duct Cleaning

An allergy sufferer doesn’t have to go far to learn the benefits of duct cleaning. A quick trip to the local allergy clinic and they discover that, among other things (like mattress cleaning, and freezing pillows, etc), duct cleaning ranks high on the list of allergy cleaning or allergy proofing a house.

Don’t Stop at Just Duct Cleaning

There are many other steps you can take to “Allergy-Proof” your home. Duct Cleaning is only one step, here are a few more ideas:

• Hire a mattress cleaning company – dust mites feed on dead skin and perspiration (sorry, it needed to be said).
• Purchase mattress encasements – prevent dust mites from getting into the mattress.
• Clean the drapes, carpet and upholstery – the mattress cleaning people should be able to advise you.
• Get an air purifier – air purifiers have come a long way in eliminating airborne allergens.
• Freeze your pillow and children’s plush toys – what’s living, won’t be for long.

Recommended Allergy Reading:

1. Will Duct Cleaning Help My Allergies?
2. Maintaining Your A/C
3. Allergist Talk About Duct Cleaning
4. Spring Approaching – Time for Duct Cleaning
5. Suffering from Allergies?

Rather than read all the blogs listed above, you could just call your allergist. Better yet, call an air duct cleaner, carpet cleaner and a mattress/upholstery cleaning company. You will be glad you did!

How Duct Cleaning Works

DUCT CLEANING PROCESS EXPLAINED

There are alot of vents and ductwork that run through your house in order to keep you hot or cool, depending on the weather outside. Just imagine all of the little tiny areas that can have dust build up inside, it can become quite disgusting. Yet it doesn’t have to be that way, there is a solution. This solution is to have your ductwork cleaned out.

Thoughts about ductwork make most home owners nervous

Most people dread the thought of having to get there ducts cleaned because they think it is going to cost them a fortune. Although most places do have a high price, here at duct-911.com we are the lowest around yet we still do a great job!
Sorry the phone just rang, I have a duct cleaning job to do. I will finish this ‘How Duct Cleaning Works‘ post tommorrow.

For duct cleaning call 1-877-DUCT-911

Here are the next two posts

“How Duct Cleaning Works Part 2“

“How Duct Cleaning Works Part 3“

Dust Mites, Allergies & Duct Cleaning

With all the information available on the web about dust mites and allergies, it can be quite difficult separating truth from fiction. While I am not an authority on allergies, I do consider myself an an authority on duct cleaning. No, duct cleaning will not rid your house of dust mites any more than cleaning and shampooing your carpet will rid your house of dirt.

Duct cleaning simply compliments the other steps you might take to make your house more allergy free. Here are a few of the steps I would recommend after much first hand experience and a lot of research:

• Lower your humidity – dust mites thrive in humid conditions.
• Clean your bedding, drapery, furniture and carpet  – for best results hire an ultra violet (UV-C) vacuum cleaning company. UV-C can be an amazing dust mite killer. This is the same ray that earthlings should be very afraid of as a result of greenhouse gases.
• Clean your home with specially designed allergy disinfectants.
• Buy allergy bedding – Allergy control bedding uses encasing fabric that keeps the mites from being able to get into the bed.
• Duct Cleaning – the average home has over 40 pounds of dust and dirt in the duct work…get rid of it.
• Have pets? -If your allergies are severe, you might try boarding them at a friends house for a period of time to see if they are the problem.

If you try hard enough, you will achieve success. Don’t give up or get discouraged. Creating an allergy free environment takes a lot of work, a little money and patience.

$65 Furnace Clean!

Are you ready for a thorough furnace cleaning? You might want to think about getting your heating system cleaned and tuned-up for the upcoming season (notice how I didn’t say it!)? Here is an ad with all the details:

Have Your FURNACE CLEANED for $65!

posted: October 23, 2007, 03:04 PM

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From now until Winter, we will clean and inspect your furnace for $65, when you have us clean your air ducts($99). For $99 we will clean ALL your air ducts AND inspect your furnace and a/c for no additional charge! If either of them need to be cleaned, it will cost only $65ea while we are out.

We provide air duct cleaning in Minneapolis and St. Paul. We also do dryer vent cleaning and we are certified chimney sweeps.

 

No Hidden Charges

No Surprises

No Trip Fees

Call 651-653-4704 or set your own air duct cleaning appointment by clicking here: Furnace Cleaning

EPA Shares Interesting Air Duct Cleaning Graph

About 10 years ago the EPA did a nine home study on indoor air pollution. Surface treatments, such as biocides or encapsulants, however, were not part of the study. Furthermore, they were primarily focused on mold (most houses don’t have a mold problem) and the complete elimination of it. With that in mind, you can see how they determined that $400 – $1,000 should be the going rate for air duct cleaning.

Now, fast forward 10 years, add an EPA approved surfactant or biocide to the equation along with market competition and presto; you have lower prices, a more thorough method of air duct cleaning and LOWER PRICES!

Here is a rather interesting graph of the nine homes which the EPA tested:

I think it is rather interesting that the EPA has never done a follow-up. I am sure that if they would, they would conclude that by simply applying a sanitizer the levels would decrease significanttly and so would the price!

Interesting 2-Part Article – Hiring the Right Air Duct Cleaning Company

Although this article is from an air duct cleaner in Minneapolis, Minnesota, it should be useful for anyone considering air duct cleaning. After all, who knows more about cold weather and the importance of clean indoor air then someone that has been couped-up indoors for 5 month straight? Here is part of the article:

 

Air Duct Cleaning In Minneapolis Free Interesting Fact part 1

Nearly all information (whether about Air Duct Cleaning In Minneapolis, MN or any other such as carpet cleaning equipment, air conditioning service, ductwork cleaning, Stanley Steamers Cleaners, Cleaner Reviews or even Chem Dry Cleaning) can be located with ease online. Because of the internet, we as a society, are becoming better informed about things like Air Duct Cleaning In Minneapolis.

Air Duct Cleaning Companies – Which One Should I Hire?

Even when properly maintained, installed and operated, the components of a HVAC system may still become contaminated with pollutants such as; pollen, dust particles or other allergens. According to the EPA, the potential for microbiological growth if moisture is present (e.g., mold) is increased, and from such growth, spores may be released into the living space. Many of these contaminants can produce allergic reactions in humans when they are exposed to them.

When choosing a company to clean your air ducts, it is important to know how much money will be charged for cleaning the various components, and at what price. To illustrate this, while one house has an air exchanger, it might not have A/C, thus no A-coil.

If you would like to read part 2 click here: Air Duct Cleaning Minneapolis, MN

A High Efficiency Gas Furnace or an Electric Furnace?

A High Efficiency Gas Furnace or an Electric Furnace?

Is your furnace prepared to do its job? Fall is here and winter is not far behind. Most houses have some form of central heating and cooling and some people also have a supplementary stove or space heater.

Household Furnaces, used to disperse cold from within a structure and provide hot water, have several different means of production and require any one of a variation of fuel sources: natural gas, fuel oil, coal, or wood. Because cold air is heavier it always eventually ends up nearer to the floor where it can be vented away to allow an area to be heated or vented back in to help cool the room.

How Furnaces Work:
Air is circulated through ductwork, which may be made of sheet metal or plastic “flex” duct and insulated or uninsulated. Air registers located below the burner and at the outlet of the air blower are devices with movable flaps or vanes that control the shape and pattern of the flame, whether it spreads out or even swirls around.

High Efficiency Furnaces
There are several types of furnaces obtainable but I recommend a High Efficiency furnace. Unless you have a particular desire for another heat source ( Corn Stoves , High Efficiency Furnaces, Pellet Stoves, Forced Air Furnaces, etc.), generally speaking, the High Efficiency furnace is the way to go. High Efficiency furnaces are convenient, affordable, quiet, and of course very efficient.

If you live in a colder climate where the heater will be running for extended periods of time, investing in a high efficiency model may be ideal. High-efficiency furnaces require less maintenance then regular mid-efficiency furnaces do, but they will still benefit from an annual inspection to make sure that they are functioning properly. All furnace manufacturers recommend an annual safety inspection.

Buying a High Efficiency Furnace
If you are considering installing natural gas furnaces, but you are worried about the costs involved, you will be surprised by how quickly you will be able to save that money back. Here are a few ideas when shopping for a New Furnace and Central Air System:

- Remember to take into consideration the cost of installation which is typically performed by a licensed HVAC contractor.
- The gas furnace is always more affordable to use than the electric furnace where gas is readily available.
- Choosing a brand of furnace that has a history of quality and reliability can be less costly in the long run.
- An electric furnace has a higher annual cost than a gas furnace.
- Purchasing a furnace that is too large can be inefficient and they are typically more expensive.
- Buying a high efficiency furnace can help reduce energy costs while keeping your home warm during cold weather.

Follow these tips regarding heating your home this winter and sleep peacefully at night knowing that you have done you duty to protect your family, when they are at home snuggled-up in their beds.