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 Important Reasons for Air Duct Cleaning from AdvantaClean Environmental of Cary/Apex

It’s been a long, hot summer across North Carolina. In July, it hit 90 degrees every single day. The air conditioning systems in Triangle homes and businesses have been working hard since May. In addition, the windows haven’t been open much at all, so outside fresh ventilation has been infrequent at best.  As large volumes of air are recirculated through HVAC systems over the hot season, it’s inevitable that dust, pollen, pet dander, chemical residues, cooking residues, smoke, and various other particles have accumulated in the air ducts.

It is also an important consideration that the recent heavy rains and flooding from Hurricane Matthew might have created mold in a variety of homes and buildings. This mold can get into and spread throughout the entire HVAC system. Our team of professionals at AdvantaClean Environmental of Cary/Apex is available to help home and business owners get their indoor air quality (IAQ) back to healthy levels with certified, expert air duct cleaning.

Five reasons why AdvantaClean Environmental of Cary/Apex should clean those air ducts now:

• HVAC air ducts are visibly dirty:  If dust or other matter can be seen around HVAC intake and outflow registers and grilles, that same material in the ducts as well. If smoke, mold, or musty odors have been evident, they are also very likely in the air ducts. All of this accumulated matter is being recirculated in the air.
• IAQ problems are made worse by lack of ventilation: The lack of fresh air forces dust, other small particles, and various pollutants, to stay indoors. The result is that such pollutants eventually get inside the HVAC system.  Air duct cleaning minimizes this problem and is often necessary in modern buildings that are tightly sealed from outdoor air and ventilation.
• Sneezing, wheezing, and coughing may not be from seasonal allergies: Another cause of these respiratory symptoms is particles and other pollutants being recirculated by the HVAC system. If the air ducts are never cleaned, indoor air pollution increases over time. In that situation, accumulating dust, pollen, and mold are increasingly moving through the indoor air.
• Our air duct cleaning process will remove indoor air pollutants:  AdvantaClean Environmental of Cary/Apex connects a powerful vacuum device to the HVAC system. In addition, special brushes and compressed air whips are inserted into different parts of the system to dislodge particles. Everything gets captured by the vacuum and is removed from the indoor air.
• Our pricing is easy to understand and doesn’t contain hidden extras: Our competitors use a variety of special offers, free inspections, add-on fees, and other pricing approaches to get customers to pay more for air duct cleaning. It is important to note that AdvantaClean Environmental of Cary/Apex is an NADCA certified expert company with great customer service. Simpler is better.

AdvantaClean Environmental of Cary/Apex is certified by the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) to inspect and clean air ducts in homes and commercial buildings. We approach each job to according to the unique circumstances at hand, explain everything in detail to our clients, and provide the best possible customer service. Call AdvantaClean Environmental of Cary/Apex today for certified, expert air duct cleaning.

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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.

Your air quality and restoration specialists in the Triangle!

Call 919 434 7249

AdvantaClean Environmental of Cary/Apex

Photo: pixabay, public domain

 

5 Tips for Improving Summer Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) from AdvantaClean of Cary/ Apex

Summer in the Triangle means almost constant use of air conditioning systems in homes and businesses. Some components within these units can become a possible source for mold and bacteria; each is easily spread when blown into and recirculated through air ducts. To maintain healthy indoor air quality (IAQ) in the Triangle, it’s important that the HVAC system and components be inspected and cleaned about once a year. Any unusual odor, like mustiness, when the air conditioning is running, could be good indicator that something normal. Often it can be the air conditioning cooling (evaporator) coil. In addition, moisture and mold from other sources, such as a plumbing leak; may be getting into the HVAC system. These situations can occur during a hot North Carolina summer, especially in modern tightly-sealed buildings. AdvantaClean of Cary / Apex offers a range of important services to help home and business owners improve and maintain IAQ.

AdvantaClean of Cary/Apex offers five important tips for improving summer indoor air quality:

• Have an annual air conditioner coil cleaning: During normal A/C operation, water condenses from warm air blown over the cool coils in the air handler unit, and is drained to the outdoors. Because moisture is present, mold can develop, especially if the system isn’t draining properly or dust has accumulated. Getting the coils cleaned increases air conditioning efficiency and improves IAQ.
• Test for mold if odors or allergy symptoms persist: Mold may not be visible anywhere in the building, but could be growing in unseen areas or even within the HVAC system. Mold testing and laboratory analysis of collected samples can verify the presence or absence of mold. AdvantaClean is IICRC Certified to perform the testing and remove mold.
• HEPA vacuum cleaners remove fine particles: Conventional vacuum cleaners, especially the common bag design, tend to blow fine particles such as dust mites, pet dander, mold, and their allergens back into the air. HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) vacuum cleaners incorporate the use of filters to eliminate this problem, and their use can thus significantly improve IAQ.
• Common materials and activities can be problematic: Many common floor coverings and furnishings can affect IAQ. These often contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other chemicals, especially when new, and ventilation with outdoor air is necessary. The same applies with many household cleaners, candles, air fresheners, and cooking.
• Keep HVAC air ducts clean: The large volumes of indoor air that move through an HVAC system every day contain dust, microbes, and chemicals. Using good HVAC filters and changing at recommended intervals can help, but ultimately the ducts may still need cleaning. AdvantaClean is certified by the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) to perform this work.
  

AdvantaClean of Cary/Apex is the local Triangle firm to call for improving and maintaining indoor air quality in homes and businesses. We are the go-to solution for air duct cleaning, mold testing and remediation, and air conditioner coil cleaning. We offer great customer service and 24/7 availability.

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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: anankkml, freedigitalphotos.net