Five Essential Steps to Remove Scary Pollution in Time for Halloween

It is almost Halloween and the indoor air quality (IAQ) in many Triangle homes and businesses can get downright frightful. This is especially true considering that a wide variety of sources of indoor air pollution are common and widespread at this time of year.

Pollutants such as dust, soot, small particles, mold, and chemical residues tend to accumulate indoors on surfaces and in HVAC systems, particularly when ventilation with outdoor air is infrequent and inadequate. Most buildings in North Carolina are tightly sealed from outdoor air during the hot summer months and the coldest winter months, which makes fall and spring the best times to ventilate with fresh air. Through awareness of the sources of IAQ problems and steps to minimize them, Triangle home and business owners can make big improvements. Finally, getting the HVAC air ducts cleaned is critical in preventing recirculation of accumulated pollutants and improving indoor air quality.

AdvantaClean Environmental of Cary/Apex recommends these five essential steps to eliminating indoor air pollution and improving indoor air quality:

• AdvantaClean Environmental of Cary/ Apex suggests removing and controlling the sources of indoor air pollution: Cleaning products, air fresheners, furniture and flooring materials can release toxic chemical fumes. Common household and business activities, including cooking, pets, printers, and copiers are sources of microscopic particles. Reducing the use of these certain products, along with using more effective cleaning methods, can go a long way toward improving IAQ.
  

• Use a top quality vacuum cleaner: Traditional vacuum cleaners that use a bag will exhaust or recirculate significant amounts of dust and other small particles back into the air. HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) vacuum cleaners utilize filters that capture and prevent recirculation of nearly all fine particles. Vacuums with HEPA filtration are available in most stores and online, and are essential in removing the most prevalent sources of pollution.
  

• Assess and adjust techniques for dusting and vacuuming: Commonly used cleaning methods tend to spread and recirculate indoor air pollutants rather than remove them. Widely-used cleaners can contain toxic chemicals such as fragrances, chlorine bleach, and ammonia, and introduce more pollutants than they remove. It is important to consider alternative cleaners and changing dusting approaches.
  

• Ventilation with fresh air is important: Since many structures in the Triangle and surrounding areas are tightly sealed from outdoor air, mainly for energy efficiency, the indoor air can get increasingly unhygienic as weeks and months go by. Ventilation with outdoor air, by opening windows at least once a week, can allow pollutants to escape. In addition, HVAC systems can be modified to take in additional fresh outdoor air.
  

• Call AdvantaClean Environmental of Cary/ Apex to have HVAC air ducts professionally cleaned: Even after source reduction, effective cleaning, and ventilation are managed, the air ducts in a building will still accumulate dust and other debris over a period of time. The accumulated pollutants are then continually recirculated in the indoor air. This is because large volumes of air move through the system. AdvantaClean Environmental of Cary/Apex specializes in air duct cleaning, and uses HEPA vacuums in the process.

AdvantaClean Environmental of Cary/Apex are knowledgeable experts in the Triangle that identify and correct IAQ problems, whether it’s at a home or business. Our professional team finds the sources of indoor air pollution, odors, and mold, and works with owners to improve air quality by providing information and services such as NADCA certified air duct cleaning.

Winter is coming and it is important to assess air quality. Please call us today at 919 434 7249 for service in the Triangle, Southwest Wake County, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina, Angier, Lillington, Sanford, and Fayetteville-Fort Bragg.

To all of our friends and clients: Happy Halloween Everyone!

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AdvantaClean Environmental of Cary and Apex is your environmental specialist in Wake and Johnston Counties. Our team of certified professionals is ready to address all your service needs.

WE are the air quality and restoration specialists in the Triangle!

Call 919 434 7249

AdvantaClean Environmental of Cary/Apex

Photo: AdvantaClean

 

5 Ways to Minimize Smoke and Ash from a Fire

Fires happen.  Sometimes a Triangle home or business will experience a quickly contained fire that affects a small portion of the building. However, what remains after a fire can be much worse than the actual fire event, depending upon how much smoke and ash was generated. Smoke can easily travel into every nook and cranny of a structure, including inside walls, furniture, and storage areas. If the residue, which includes ash, is allowed to settle and linger, it causes permanent damage to everything it comes into contact with over a period of time. Getting smoke and ash cleaned up quickly will make a difference in terms of minimizing the damage.  Professional help will be necessary to make this happen.

AdvantaClean of Cay/ Apex offers five important ways to minimize the damage from smoke and ash after a fire:

• Time multiplies the destructive potential of smoke and ash: Acidic areas that contain strong odors can also lead to corrosion, etching, and discoloration of most materials, especially metals and plastics. The damage begins to multiply within hours. Permanent damage is common within a day or two, so cleanup time is critical.
• Smoke and ash must be properly cleaned up: Smoke and ash contain toxic and hazardous materials, including formaldehyde, benzene, acetic acid, formic acid, toluene, oxides of nitrogen, sulfur dioxide, and heavy metals. Many of these substances become highly reactive in the presence of water and common cleaning agents. AdvantaClean can help.
• Electrical wiring may become a dangerous hazard: The insulation on wires can easily burn off in the area affected by the fire, and could place areas at risk. The entire electrical system should be checked out before power is restored. Creating another fire mishap by taking shortcuts could create additional problems.
• Get the HVAC system checked out: Smoke, soot, and ash most likely are in the air ducts, and from there can get into the whole system. It then can get circulate everywhere.  Avoid operating the HVAC system until it’s verified as safe.
• Ventilate the building and dry wet items as soon as possible: Ventilate by opening windows and running fans will be an effective start to the odor elimination process. Keeping moisture to a minimum will also slow down the chemical activity of smoke and ash residue, and will reduce the possibility of mold problems. These are steps going in the right direction before AdvantaClean arrives.

AdvantaClean of Cary/Apex is the principal North Carolina contractor to choose for cleaning up fire and smoke damage. We are also certified and qualified to clean HVAC air ducts. The after effects of a fire must be cleaned up properly and quickly to minimize damage; and we’re available at all times, any day. AdvantaClean Environmental of Cary/Apex is IICRC Certified and provides the right professionals, equipment, expertise, and customer service to get the job done right. Call us right away for fire and smoke damage cleanup.

AdvantaClean of Cary/Apex is the number one team of professionals in the Triangle to perform IICRC certified fire and smoke damage restoration.  Contact us today in the unfortunate event a fire affects a home or business.

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AdvantaClean of Cary and Apex is your environmental specialist in Wake and Johnston Counties. Our team of certified professionals is ready to address all your service needs.

Your air quality and restoration specialists

Call 919 434 7249

AdvantaClean

Photo: digidreamgrafix, freedigitalphotos.net