Air Quality

Stay Cool and Replace Your Air Ducts with Americlean

, , 0 comments

Stay Cool and Keep that AC Running! Summer is a Great Time to Have Your Air Ducts Cleaned

What feels better than being able to live, work, and play in a clean, cool home when it’s too hot outside? We might not think about air ducts when we turn on the AC as temps rise, but having your air ducts cleaned by a reputable, professional cleaning company can extend the life of your major appliances and keep your air cleaner and fresher.

Why Get Air Ducts Cleaned in the Summer?

A good cleaning company will have truck-mounted equipment with powerful motors to clean and safely pull contaminants like dust, pollen, dirt, and even harmful particulates from household chemicals out of your ducts and directly out of your home. That means we have our equipment running from our truck into your home, and will often run our hoses through an open doorway.

Americlean techs are experienced and efficient, but we won’t sacrifice safety or a thorough job. Although some summer days can get hot, with infrequent rain and no snow or ice, it’s often a great time of year to plan on having the doors open a little more than normal.

Keep Your AC Running Better and Longer

Air filters, even when we remember to change them as often as we should, can only do so much. When the air your air conditioner (or heater) pumps through your home is filled with debris, it can damage motors, shorten the life of your AC unit, and raise energy costs by lowering efficiency.

Keeping your air ducts clean pays off with things it can be hard to notice when they’re going right, like lower energy bills and fewer AC repairs or replacements.

Crisper, Cleaner, Cooler Air in Your Home

Besides your AC running more efficiently, clean air ducts mean that cool air is better for you and your family. A professional air duct cleaning removes particulates like chemicals from cleaning, dust, pollen, pet dander, even potential debris from pests. Clean air ducts can mean fewer allergies, asthma, and colds. And when the air in your home is cleaner, your carpets and furniture stay cleaner, longer as well.

So what are you waiting for? Before you have to crank down that AC, take good care of your home, appliances, and family with an air duct cleaning from a trusted company like Americlean.

Contact us today for a quote or to make an appointment with our friendly techs.

Image of bright clean home Americlean air duct cleaning helps you breathe easy

, , , 0 comments

Air Duct Cleaning: Six Reasons You’ll Breathe Easier with Americlean

Is Air Duct Cleaning Even Necessary?

Have you ever heard air duct cleaning isn’t necessary or can even be harmful? We have, and it’s concerning to us because companies that aren’t certified professionals or industry experts don’t solve common problems with air ducts and it’s true, they can even  make things worse. However, when done right, air duct cleaning can help solve common problems like allergies, excessive dust buildup on surfaces, and serious issues like mold. Americlean is a certified member of the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA), the organization the Environmental Protection Agency recommends to protect the air quality in your home. Is air duct cleaning right for your household or business? Let’s find out.

1. Fewer Allergies

Do you sniffle, sneeze, have sinus issues like headaches, or itchy, red, or watery eyes? Allergies from dust, pet dander, pests, or household chemicals built up in your vents may be lowering your quality of sleep and affecting you and your family’s overall health. While allergies can be caused by lots of factors, they can also worsen when multiple sources of irritation pile up. If you or your family members suffer from allergies, make sure dirty air ducts aren’t the cause or making things worse. 

2. Less Frequent Dusting and Sweeping

If you notice dust on your surfaces soon after you clean, there’s a good chance debris has accumulated in your air ducts and is blowing into your living spaces. When you see dust building up on your counters and shelves, it’s also settling on floors, beds, and furniture where it’s stirred up by movement and harder to notice. When your ducts are clean, the air circulating throughout your home or business is clean as well, and your heating and cooling system can work the way it’s supposed to: keeping you comfortable and healthy. You may save money on heating and cooling costs. And you won’t have to dust as often!

3. Cleaner Air

It’s important to know that dust isn’t the only thing that can build up in your air ducts and worsen air quality. Particles from chemicals like cleaners and even air fresheners or hair spray, pet hair and dander, airborne debris from remodeling demolition or construction, smoke, or even pests or mold can all accumulate and circulate back into the air you breathe. Our cleaning process removes particulates from your home as we clean, improving your air quality as we go.  

4. Multi-step Cleaning Process

Our air duct cleaning uses two important processes: first, we use mechanized brushes to dislodge built-up dust and other particulates from ductwork. At the same time, we use our powerful truck-mounted vacuum equipment to remove particulates. Some companies just push a vacuum hose through ducts which leaves older particles stuck and will continue to accumulate, wasting your money. Others may remove dust particles but their vacuum equipment isn’t powerful enough to reliably remove dust as it’s stirred up, which releases old dust and debris into your home and potentially makes the air quality worse! Americlean takes care to leave your air quality improved, and that’s why we hear from so many satisfied customers after a duct cleaning.

5. Service Techs You Can Trust

Americlean is proud of our friendly, professional technicians who answer questions, explain what to expect, and care for your home or business every step of the way. Most of our reviews talk about what a great job our service technicians did for our customers, leaving them happy and satisfied with the outcome and coming back to us again and again. 

6. Highest Industry Standards

If we talk about our industry memberships and certifications a lot, it’s because they really matter. We stay up-to-date on the latest research, methods, equipment, and best practices to bring you the highest quality service available. If you are looking at other companies, make sure to ask about their certifications and memberships. One of the most important for air duct cleaning is the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) and make sure any company you work with has Certified Air Systems Cleaning Specialists (ASCS) on staff.

If you don’t notice dust building up, your family doesn’t have allergies or headaches, haven’t had renovation or repair work done, don’t use many household cleaners or chemicals, or had your ducts cleaned recently, then you probably don’t need an air duct cleaning. If you do have any of these air quality issues, though, and would like to talk to one of our professionals to ask questions or schedule an inspection or cleaning, we’d love to hear from you. We want you to feel great about the service you’re getting and know your home or business is healthier with Americlean! Contact us today to breathe easier.

, , , , , 0 comments

Truck-Mounted VS Portable Equipment

Air Duct Cleaning Truck Americlean
air duct inspection and air duct cleaning by Americlean

One of the most important parts of air duct cleaning is the equipment that is used. The vacuum is what is drawing out the debris, dust, and dirt from you air ducts. Wouldn’t you want the best, most powerful vacuuming doing the job? When you are calling around to receive pricing and cleaning procedures, you may want to confirm the type of equipment the company has!

Portable equipment is much smaller in size. It may be easy to transport, but that equipment is brought into your home or business. A truck-mounted system is much larger in size and remains outside during the cleaning. What does this information tell you about which cleaning procedure is better? We will break it down for you!

  • Power: If you want a true clean, truck-mounted is much more powerful than portable equipment. The suction from this system can draw tens of thousands of cubic feet of air per minute, while portable units may only draw a few thousand cubic feet of air per minute. Truck-mounted equipment is going to pull all the contaminants and debris out of your ductwork in an efficient and clean manner.
  • Hose diameter: Does this matter, you may ask? Have you ever lost a stuffed animal, toy, food, or other items into your ductwork? Maybe the previous owners lost items down a register opening? Truck-mounted equipment will use a hose 8”-10” in diameter, which will pull small to extremely large items out of your ductwork that may be lodged in there! You may be surprised what can be found inside ductwork. Rodents also have a tendency of finding their way into the ducts. Looking at portable equipment, the hoses are smaller in diameter and may not remove all of the debris or items from the ductwork during cleaning.
  • Debris containment: With truck-mounted equipment, all the debris, dust and dirt is sucked out into the equipment parked outside. Portable equipment is brought into your home and all that debris is vacuumed into the equipment inside your home. Some pollutants may remain indoors if there is a leak or an ineffective filter in the unit, which is releasing those pollutants back into your air.

These are a few reasons to choose a company using truck-mounted equipment. If you are interested in learning more and receiving a free quote, call our office today!

, , , , 1 comment

Indoor Air Quality and Everyday Household Items

Do you know that a variety of your everyday household items are affecting your indoor air quality? Do you use air fresheners? Burn scented candles? Use cleaning products? These products create VOCs. What is that exactly? Volatile organic compounds. VOCs are gases from a variety of different solids and liquids. They usually contain fluorine, chlorine, bromine, benzene, formaldehyde, and toluene according to the EPA.

Now, do you know how these are affecting your overall health? It may just start off as a headache. It may be eye irritation, skin reaction, dizziness or many other symptoms. Long term, it may even lead to asthma or other health issues.

Helping rid your home of these harmful chemicals can improve your air quality. You can start with improving ventilation and researching what ingredients are in the products you use. Air duct cleaning is one more step you can take! According to NADCA, “the air in your home is typically pulled into the HVAC system and recirculated 5 to 7 times per day.” Having your air ducts cleaned can remove many pollutants hiding inside your ductwork.

Indoor Air Quality

For more information, visit EPA.gov or NADCA.com:

https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/interactive-tour-indoor-air-quality-demo-house

https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/volatile-organic-compounds-impact-indoor-air-quality

https://nadca.com/resources/blog/how-everyday-household-items-affect-your-indoor-air-quality

, , , , , , 0 comments

Indoor Air Quality: Dangers of Mold

Mold inspection and mold removal from water leak water emergency n Iowa from Americlean
Mold inspection and mold removal in Iowa from Americlean
Mold inspection and mold removal in Iowa from Americlean

What is the quality of air you are breathing at home? Your health is important and poor indoor air quality can have major affects on that! Have your allergies been bothersome? Does someone in your home have asthma? Is there a musty odor? Have you had any recent water damage? There are many signs that your home may have mold and we are here to help!

Understanding Mold:

  • Mold is everywhere: outdoors and indoors
  • Water feeds mold
  • Excessive moisture: dry wet materials within 24-48 hours
  • Humidity: keep relative humidity indoors between 30-60%
  • There are many different kinds of mold

Mold Prevention:

  • Vent all moisture sources: bathrooms, dryers, etc.
  • Keep your gutters clean and clear
  • Direct water away from your home
  • Start drying and cleanup immediately if water damage has occurred

If you have concerns of mold in your home, you may want to start with an inspection and sampling. This will determine if there is mold, the type of mold present and the severity of the problem. If it is determined that there is a problem in your home, professional remediation will be the recommendation. Our staff is certified and will help you every step of the way! Don’t risk your health, call Americlean today!

, , , 0 comments

Do You Know the Signs You Need Air Duct Cleaning?

Air Duct cleaning and vent cleaning by Americlean in Iowa

After a long winter of spending time indoors and having your home sealed up, it is time to open up those windows and breath fresh air in! But, do you know what has been circulating throughout your ductwork all winter? Winter allows dirt, debris, and moisture to settle in your ductwork from continuous damp weather. Once this has settled, you may start to notice respiratory issues, allergies, and much more. So, are you thinking you need your air ducts cleaned now? We have some helpful signs that will help you decide!

Woah! A spike in your energy bill! – This may be from a clogged duct or possibly even a leak. Debris and dirt can block airways, making it more difficult for air to flow.

Dirt and debris build up – Everyday you create dust, dander, and dirt that is lingering in your ductwork. If you are starting to notice dust on furniture you just cleaned, it may be a sign to have your air ducts cleaned. You can also check your register vents to see if there is any visible build up.

Respiratory problems – Are you having allergies, asthma, or sinus issues? Excessive dirt and debris that is circulating through your air ducts just may be the problem. Your indoor air quality is highly impacted by your heating and cooling system.

Mold growth – Humidity will cause condensation, which may cause mold growth inside of your ductwork. Mold can be difficult to detect when it is hidden in your ductwork, but you may notice a musty odor. Call us to have your air ducts inspected for mold growth.

Rodent or insects – Are you noticing evidence of an insect or rodent infestation? They may be living in your air ducts. Breathing in contaminants like droppings may cause sickness and create poor indoor air quality.

Taking care of your air ducts can help save you money and create a better environment for you, your family, and guests. When you hire a NADCA certified company to clean your ductwork, you are ensuring the job is done correctly the first time. Read online reviews, ask for proof of insurance and certifications, and even ask for references! If you are thinking you need your air ducts cleaned, give us a call with any questions.

, , , , , 0 comments

Spring Cleaning Checklist

Spring is finally here! After this long, cold, snowy, wet winter; what are your spring plans? How does spring cleaning sound? It is easy to forget some of the not so everyday items that should really be done once a year! Here are a few helpful items you may want to consider adding to your checklist:

  1. Dust: furniture, baseboards, ceiling fans, shelving, and light fixtures.
  2. Wash: walls, doors, windows, and cabinets.
  3. Organize: cabinets, closets, and storage.
  4. Out with the Old: donate items that you haven’t used in a year.
  5. Change Out: light bulbs, batteries in smoke detectors, and air/furnace filters.
  6. Schedule with Americlean: deep carpet cleaning and floor cleaning, air duct cleaning, dryer/bathroom vent cleaning, exterior pressure washing, and much more!

After a long winter, there is no better way to start spring than with a nice clean home. We know you can’t tackle all the necessary cleaning, so Americlean is here to help! Call today to schedule your spring cleaning!

Carpet cleaning in Iowa by Americlean
air duct inspection and air duct cleaning by Americlean

, , , 0 comments

2019 Resolutions

As we start 2019, people begin to set goals and resolutions. Have you thought about setting yours to live a healthier lifestyle or to save money? We can help with both! Either by having your air ducts and carpets cleaned, or even having indoor air quality testing completed.

Air Duct Cleaning

Air duct cleaning not only improves your indoor air quality, but also helps with the efficiency of your furnace, saving you money. Better indoor air quality provides many health benefits. Your air duct cleaning system is home to allergens, dust, debris, mildew, and much more. Start your year off with an air duct cleaning to get a head start on your New Year’s Resolution!

Carpet Cleaning

Carpet cleaning can also improve your indoor air quality and helps save you money in the future. Carpet holds contaminants that cannot be removed with just standard vacuuming. Winter brings in more debris like salt, sand, mud, and much more. By having your carpets cleaned on a regular basis, you prolong the life of your carpet and keep it looking nice!

Air Quality Testing

Do you have concerns about the indoor air quality in your home? Winter is spent mostly indoors and should not be spent breathing in contaminants. We are happy to perform an inspection and testing to help determine the overall air quality you are breathing every day.