If you are facing coughing symptoms lately and can’t figure out the reason, it may be because of your pets. Pets are like family to most people, and they don't want to think that these beloved members could be compromising hygiene and indoor air quality. They believe that a pet can do no harm, and they continue living without precautions until the symptoms start to show up.
Poor air quality at home could be due to your pets. These fuzzy creatures are absolutely adorable, but they can cause problems too. The most common problem you must be aware of is “pet dander.” What Is Pet Dander? Similar to human dandruff, pets also have dander. These are visible in the form of flakes in their fur. Different things can cause pet dander. As pets have long hair or fur, it tends to collect dust particles and pollen from the air. This eventually causes dander in your pets. Effects Of Pet Dander Unlike human dandruff, pet dander can cause allergic reactions to the human body. Many people are allergic to dog hair and can get skin infections too. The protein found in animal dandruff or pet dander has specific compounds that may cause an allergic reaction when it comes in contact with the human skin. This pet dander flies around your house once your pet has it, and the risk of respiratory diseases and allergies increases. Air Pollutants Not only pet dander contributes to bad air quality, some other things like the droplets of pet’s saliva, the slight dabs of urine flow, and hair also ruins your air quality, which negatively affects children too. It is unhygienic and a health detriment. If these particles or compounds remain in your air for a long time, it can cause many diseases. The worst part is, all these pollutants can stay in your house for months. Hazardous Materials in the Air Apart from the pet’s body's biological factors, pets also tend to bring dangerous materials inside the home after they go playing outside. These materials can be disease influencing. This may also include viruses and bacteria, which can cause other complicated diseases. Allergies Many allergies can arise due to pets in the home. Allergens or allergy-causing items can also get stored in the home's air ducts. Duct cleaning for allergies is the perfect way to avoid this unwanted drama. Pet Odor Another thing that will disturb you the most is the pet odor. As pets do not take care of themselves, a slight inconvenience may result in massive odor. One might ask, "Will duct cleaning remove the smell?" Ducts are the main ventilation systems in most homes. Once the duct is cleaned, it allows the better crossing of air and ventilation. Conclusion It is recommended to bathe your pets routinely and clean your air ducts regularly to avoid the risk of different diseases. It would be best to call a professional duct cleaning service if the situation gets out of hand. Visit Grand Rapids Duct Cleaners Facebook page 
Every individual on the planet wants to live a better, healthier, and prosperous life. One cannot ignore the prime importance of good quality indoor air in the home. Better air quality simultaneously improves your living quality, plus makes you feel fresh, healthy, and energetic.
We have collected the best ways to improve your indoor air quality, and they are: 1: Clean Your Ducts Duct cleaning and sanitizing are highly important. The ducts tend to accumulate with dust and dirt particles and thus ruining your air. High-tech duct cleaning is now widely available, and it is an effective way to improve air quality. 2: Maintain Cleanliness Clean your floors, shelves, closets, and furniture to avoid the spread of harmful material from them. The particles on these things become airborne and float around in the air. They then reach your nose or throat. If these particles enter through any mouth cavity, it can cause different kinds of allergic reactions. 3: Air Purifiers Invest in an air purifier. It is an intelligent approach to air cleanliness, and you don’t have to make an effort to get better air quality as the air purifier will do all the work. There are many varieties of air purifiers, each with a specific purpose. You can select the air purifier of your own choice to perform necessary functions. 4: Allow Ventilation Open the windows and let the fresh air soothe your soul. Staying indoors can deplete available oxygen, and you start to suffocate. Allow proper ventilation to keep the air worth breathing. It will improve your breathing, eyesight, and it will freshen your mind. 5: Don’t Smoke Smoke is the worst air pollutant. The people who smoke not only put themselves at risk, but they also affect the health of other people around them as passive smoking is more hazardous than active smoking. Try to refrain from smoking indoors. 6: Avoid Using Harsh Cleaning Sprays Aerosol sprays can harm your air and decrease the quality immensely. Different cleaning sprays and liquids also contain harmful effluents that deteriorate your health. When you use these detergents or sprays, the fumes spread all around in the air. It can cause serious breathing problems, and some people are often allergic to harsh chemicals. 7: Keep An Air Freshener To avoid odor spreading inside your house, buy an air freshener or diffuser to keep the air soothing and aromatic. Many scented candles can be a good alternative to an air freshener. 8: Clean Filters HVAC (Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) ducts and units have assigned filters to clean the air and prevent dust from entering your home. These filters often get full of dust and dirt and block a steady flow of air. It is necessary to clean or replace your filters from time to time to improve air quality and keep your equipment working efficiently. Conclusion Not only will you get mental gratification by doing all these, but you will also feel an improvement in your energy level and mood once you do them. We are often oblivious and take these things for granted, but these tips will help you prove otherwise. Visit Grand Rapids Duct Cleaners Facebook page 
Indoor air affects your health immensely. The fact that pure air contributes to your health is undeniable. We install air purifiers and filters to clean the air we breathe.
It is known that with the increase in pollution, the air is the most polluted element leading to numerous respiratory diseases. Without a doubt, its cleanliness should not be compromised. Even if we try our best to ensure that the quality score does not drop below a hundred, there are still things that influence air. There are various ways that you could be unknowingly contributing to poor indoor air quality. Let me show you how:
Residential Air Quality Testing Like other things in which we have to analyze the problem before solving, in order to figure out the current quality of your air, air quality testing is a must. Most people are oblivious to the current disposition of the quality of air. Listed below are several ways to test your indoor air quality.
Conclusion Air cleaners and filters can improve air quality. Moreover, residential air duct cleaning is an important part of improving air quality. It can effectively change the condition of indoor air. Another thing that needs to focus on is looking for leakage in air ducts. If the air duct is leaking any water or fumes, it is suggested to fix that as soon as possible. Visit Grand Rapids Duct Cleaners Facebook page 
The ducts in your house, whether air ducts or dryer ducts, get contaminated by various stuff that you are not even aware of. The ducts are an essential part of your home, even if they pass unnoticed for months.
The ducts are critical and tricky areas when it comes to cleanliness and sanitation. Many complications may take place if the duct system is not working properly. Not only are dirty and damaged ducts unsanitary, but they can also be hazardous and can even lead to a fire if not taken care of. You should always keep the cleanliness of your ducts in check as safety precautions. There are many reasons to do so, but our top six are: 1. Better Air Quality A grimy and soiled duct can negatively affect the air quality of your home. Once the ducts get contaminated by fungus and bacteria, it adulterates the air, and the spores from fungus and different fumes combine with the air particles. It is necessary to sanitize the ducts to avoid this situation. 2. Improved Efficiency No matter what kind of duct we're talking about, all become useless if clogged. In regards to HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) ducts, if the ducts are obstructed by dirt and dust, it becomes difficult for the heating or cooling system to perform well. It takes more time to execute its task. Moreover, it takes up a lot of energy. The only way to save energy and keep the efficiency top-notch is air duct cleaning and sanitizing. 3. Prevent Odor Are you tired of the smelly air in your house? It is probably because you have not sanitized your air ducts. When bacteria builds up in the interior walls of the duct, it starts growing there. When the bacteria starts growing, it reeks and becomes disgusting. It is beneficial to disinfect your ducts to keep the air fresh. In the same way, dryer ducts can also get clogged up by bacteria and stink. The clothes smell musty, and you do not have freshly-smelling clothes anymore. 4. Protection From Diseases One of the major causes of respiratory diseases is bad air. When the air is filled with contaminants, dust particles, dirt, mold, bacteria spores, and more, it massively increases the chances of respiratory diseases like Emphysema, Bronchitis, Asthma, etc. Sanitize your ducts so you can protect yourself and loved ones from life-ruining diseases. 5. Stops The Growth Of Bacteria Bacterial growth is the main result of poorly maintained ducts. The bacteria grow from the dirt and humidity and replicate, thus causing a colony in your duct. This bacterial colony hinders your air quality and proves to be harmful and disease-causing. 6. Keeps Vermin Away Another reason why you should sanitize your ducts is that dirty and unhygienic ducts can become prone to vermin like mice, rats, insects, snakes, etc. You definitely don’t want them creeping in your home. The best option would be to sanitize them on time to avoid the extra hassle of also needing to hire an exterminator. Conclusion Sanitizing your ducts is a great idea if you are someone who wants the highest level of hygiene for your home. Also, you can use an air duct sanitizing fogger to ensure proper sterility. Visit Grand Rapids Duct Cleaners Facebook page 
There could be a few things that have brought you to needing to call in a dryer vent cleaning service. Maybe you are looking to do some annual routine maintenance on your home and dryer vent cleaning is a tick on your list. Or, perhaps you feel as though your dryer vent isn’t expelling air or drying your clothes like it should. Whichever, we’re glad you’re here! Below, you can expect the following steps for either method!
Inspection of your vent Both outside and inside, your specialist will want to visually inspect your vent to make sure that everything is okay and nothing is out of the ordinary as far as leaks, cracks and more. This is done to make sure that a dryer vent doesn’t need to be repaired or replaced. The source of the clog will be searched-for and found (if needed) If you called in a specialist because your dryer vent isn’t working properly, the specialists will use their tools to find a clog. This involves searching your vent from end to end and looking for caked up grit and lint (amongst other things) that could be restricting air flow and causing the clog. Most of the time, the clog is closer to the dryer and it is easy for the technician to find. In the case of ordering regular maintenance, they often will check your vent just to make sure that there are no possible clogs forming, and so-on. A specialized vacuum will combine with a brush to loosen the clog Next, the specialists will loosen the clog using a brush that will, essentially, scrape the vents and get all of the dirt and build-up free and clear so that it can be sucked out. The sucking itself is from a specialized vacuum that sits on one side of the vent and sucks all of the dirt out. After this is done, the specialist will check the vent again and see if any dirt and debris are still caked on. If so, they will re-do the scraping, and suck again. This will happen as many times as it’s needed to make sure your vents are clear and safe from all build-up, clogs and debris. Specialized diagnostics and test runs Once that’s done and the vent is clear, the specialist will run a diagnostic test and make sure there are no weaknesses, gaps or other issues that could indicate that your vent should be replaced. This is done on all cleanings just in case. If everything looks good, they’ll give it a test run to make sure that the air flow is as it should be for your vent from one end to the other and leave you with the assurance your dryer vent is ready to go! While cleaning your dryer vent may not be a priority, it should be part of your yearly maintenance to make sure that you minimize the risk of a dryer fire as much as possible. The right specialists will make all of the difference! Visit Grand Rapids Duct Cleaners Facebook page 
While many people don’t think about it, there are many things in your homes that can be causing a negative effect on your indoor air quality. While many people are quick to identify issues such as poor bathroom ventilation or litter box odors, there are a lot of other not-so-related items that can be causing you to have inferior air quality. Let’s take a look!
1. Air fresheners Okay, so this may feel like a kick in the pants, huh? After all, you use air fresheners to make your house smell better! But, they may actually be doing more harm than good. This is because they have a lot of chemicals that will congest you as they mask the odors. Fragrance candles are much the same, so don’t let them fool you! 2. Lead paint and asbestos Long gone are the days where homeowners relied on lead paint or constructed with asbestos materials! However, both of those things are common in older homes. Potentially toxic when inhaled, both of these things are “invisible” to the nose but can seriously impact your indoor air quality if not removed. 3. Cleaning products and glues Just like air fresheners and other scent enhancers, your cleaning products can also impact your air quality. Many of them contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and these can cause lung and breathing problems when used in your home. This is often a terrifying surprise to many who think that buying “natural” and “chemical-free” cleaners is a good solution. Make sure that what you are buying is actually VOC-free! 4. Furniture and soft furnishings From bed frames to couches to pillows and more, VOCs can also be in upholstery, wood glue and more and leach chemicals into the air that you breathe on a daily basis. It seems strange and confusing how companies can sell furniture that you will keep for 15-20 years that can do that, but it’s very common! How to avoid poor air quality If you are looking to keep your home healthy, especially if you have children, the best option is to have an air filter specialist come in and use their tools and training to detect where your home’s air quality is now. With those results, they’ll be able to recommend specific kinds of filters as well as filtering systems and even changes in products to help you improve the air quality in your home. For your home’s best air health, you’ll want to also make sure that you clean out air filters regularly and/or have regular maintenance done. You can’t be at your best health without healthy air after all! You’ll also want to make sure that you’ve got a carbon monoxide detector up in your home. Toxins are impossible for us to detect naturally, and it is crucial for everyone’s safety to have one installed in your home. Many homeowners are surprised to find that their home’s air is as “dirty” as it is, but proper identification of the problem is going to help you make sure that you can transform it into the best version of itself possible! Visit Grand Rapids Duct Cleaners Facebook page 
After a while of regular use, your ducts are going to need some cleaning. This is true even if you have the cleanest habits and home in the world! When many people see the price of a technician’s cleaning quote, it can scare them into thinking that they may as well do it themselves. While this is a normal thought process, it really isn’t recommended. A complex job, in more ways than one, duct cleaning should only be done by professionals who have the certifications to back it up!
There are many parts to your duct system Your HVAC system has a lot of parts to it, as simple as it may seem. Those parts could include an air exchanger, grills, an air cleaner, coils, and more. Unless you are a licensed specialist yourself, you may not know how to safely clean the pieces, replace others, and more. It’s complicated technology that can cause harm and damage if used incorrectly! It stands to mention, too, that this harm might not only be to the home and its ventilation system, but also to all those who live in it! Breaking debris loose takes training and precision The actual cleaning focuses on scrubbing the dirt out of your ductwork, but you can’t just stick your arm in there with a floor scrubbing brush, or a mop or something. The debris is often caked on and there can even be mold. You have to know how to safely and as easily as possible break free all of the debris from your ventilation system. This is not exactly knowledge that you can learn off of a few YouTube videos. Not only does it put your health at risk if you do it wrong, it can also damage your system in an expensive mistake! The proper cleaning tools are hard to come-by normally Another reason why you shouldn't hire just anyone to clean your duct work, or take a DIY approach, is because the tools used to clean your ductwork quickly and professionally aren’t available at your closest Walmart. From the cleaners to the vacuums to the trained eye, these all come from specialized stores and experience that the average homeowner just isn’t going to have. Professional cleaning is fast and simple While the cleaning process may be complex as far as all of the details that go into doing it properly, hiring the pros is going to take less from you as far as time and energy. They’ll be experienced enough to be in and out in no time at all, leaving your ducts looking brand new. You have enough to do as it is! Don’t add more to your to-do list by trying to hire cheap cleaners and then have to find actual repair professionals instead when they break something they’re not hired to clean properly. It ends up being stressful and expensive when you could have just done it right the first time! You deserve to have the simple, cost-effective and results-driven professionals come in and transform your duct work in a simple, efficient cleaning. Visit Grand Rapids Duct Cleaners Facebook page 
It seems like everyone’s trying to “earn a dollar” off of you these days. While scams used to be predictable and rather easy to dodge, these days, scams are almost impossible to spot unless you actually do research on how to avoid them. Who’d have thought, right? Well, we’re so glad you are here! Below, we’ve got some information on just how you can avoid those scams and save your money for the people who really deserve it!
The biggest scam: a $99 air duct cleaning offer If you’ve done any amount of research, you know that a $99 air duct cleaning is horrendously cheap. So cheap, in fact, that it may seem like it should be at the top of your list. However, this is the worst mistake you can make -- and that’s specifically why it’s gotten so many people to bite. This scam tactic charges homeowners their $99 for a full cleaning of their air ducts. Seems simple enough, right? But, these same hard-working homeowners end up paying thousands and thousands because these so-called “professionals” find all sorts of problems. Some furnaces require a sanitizer, costing over $400. Others needed a new light, which cost over $600 for each bulb. Others required a fogger to help destroy mold and bacteria and it cost over $2,000. The list goes on. The thing is, this is one of those classic “bait and switch” tactics that is actually illegal. It means that they charge you a cheap rate to come in and clean, but then they “find” all sorts of things wrong with your system that end up costing hundreds or thousands instead. They “must” be repaired immediately or your health may suffer. In reality, your system may be completely fine, but this tactic scares homeowners into complying without seeing the final tally until after. How to spot a scam If you want to spot a scam before it gets to your pocketbook, here are some helpful tips to guide you away from one beforehand. Ask for, and follow-up on, all references: All proper, professional duct cleaners should have ho issues immediately giving references. Those references should be contacted and checked out. If anything seems too sketchy (they won’t answer specific questions, for instance), walk away. Get negative feedback as well as positive feedback. Real customers will likely have at least one negative thing to report, after all! Check with the Better Business Bureau (BBB): The BBB is responsible for listing all licensed professionals as well as any possible violations or problems and insurances. This is great for making sure that they are who they say they are! Get more than one quote from local companies with good reputations: Always, always get more than one quote. In fact, try to get 3 or 4 and then compare them with each other. If they’re all in the same general ballpark, go with the one who gives you the best price OR the one that comes most highly recommended, preferably from someone you know. Your sleuthing skills are going to be the best and easiest way to save some serious cash, and that’s certainly reason-enough to take it upon yourself to protect yourself from a scam! Visit Grand Rapids Duct Cleaners Facebook page 
Our ductwork is what we rely on to get us safe and healthy air throughout the home, but there are many people who actually are losing money simply because their duct work is not performing as it should be. Interested in learning about just how your ductwork’s damage could be literally costing your money each year? Let’s take a look.
Energy efficiency problems We all want our HVAC systems to be as energy efficient as possible so that we can do our part to help live in a greener world. However, your system’s energy efficiency can only be in place if it’s working properly! If you have holes or weak spots in your ductwork, your system will be working harder to try to compensate for those, and this means your machine is no longer able to be as efficient as it should be. Indoor air quality problems Your HVAC is designed specifically to improve your indoor air quality, right? But, if you’ve got weak or damaged ductwork, allergens, moisture, and more are all getting into your HVAC system. It may, in fact, be spreading that poor quality air around your home instead of filtering it out in the first place! This is often a problem when you’ve got complicated ductwork that twists and turns, everything with a lot of potential for weakness. Fluctuating temperatures When your system is struggling to deliver air from room to room, this also means that you’ll notice temperature fluctuations a lot more than in a system that works properly and as intended. If you are trying to control your temperature with a strong hand, this, too, puts some extra strain on your system that is dealing with faulty and blocked ductwork in the first place, complicating matters further. Extra stress When parts of your system aren’t working properly, the system itself can’t work properly. As your HVAC system struggles to clean the air and continue running as it should be, there is extra stress and wear and tear on it. This means that you’ll have a rundown machine faster than you normally would, equaling more cost for you long-term if you need to replace it. How to keep your money in your pocket Since you’re going to want to save as much money as possible, the priority will be on making sure that your duct work isn’t damaged. For many, this means annual or biannual checks on their ductwork and proper cleanings and more. This all helps keep your duct work strong, healthy, and as efficient as possible. This, in turn, means a stronger and healthier air filtration system. You don’t deserve to waste your money paying for a problem or damage in your home. Yet, this is a reality for many people that are doing their best to keep their home comfortable with damaged ductwork. Do your part to make sure that your money is going to good use by having your duct work checked regularly by experienced professionals that will catch a problem before it becomes an expensive one! Visit Grand Rapids Duct Cleaners Facebook page 
If you’ve got an air duct system, you most likely are familiar with the idea of having regular cleaning done to help keep your system working at its best for better health and safety. However, there is a serious connection between your air duct system and your dryer ventilation ductwork. In order to make sure that you have a healthy home, you’ll want to prioritize both systems!
The importance of cleaning your air ducts Your air ducts are responsible for filtering your air and keeping allergens and other debris out of the air that you breathe. These should be cleaned at least annually for all sorts of reasons. Two leaders include:
Connecting your electric dryer to the outside of your home, the dryer vent takes a lot of strain and stress throughout the year, requiring it to be cleaned properly. The two main perks are below:
Both air and dryer duct work are designed to keep your home’s ventilation clean, clear and safe. If you only clean one, the other one is still a hazard. As such, you’ll want to take care of both at the same time by prioritizing regular cleaning of both throughout the course of a year. This will give you healthy, strong and clean ductwork all around and earn you some pretty serious savings in energy efficiency, not to mention the possibility of a payout for a new HVAC or dryer if the first ones burn out. While there are many people who don’t prioritize proper cleaning of their ventilation systems on either side, it really does pay -- literally -- to do so. Simple, cost-effective and sure to help you enjoy better home health, proper ductwork cleaning is a great idea for a better, healthier home and family. Visit Grand Rapids Duct Cleaners Facebook page |
