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Everybody likes to breathe clean air, stay healthy, and save money. Your heating/cooling system has the ability to deliver all three. When you keep your HVAC system tuned and clean as a whistle, its components not only last longer, it consumes less energy and keeps your living spaces clean and clear. In a way, your HVAC system is foundational to your health and a large part of your finances. However, it functions out of sight and therefore out of mind for many people. It also wears down gradually, which can make it difficult to spot issues until they get expensive and inconvenient.

Keeping wear and tear at bay is easier when you have experts checking on your system and making sure it’s clean. At DUCTZ, we work hard to be close allies to both residential and commercial clients by fighting the contaminants that not only wear the systems down but also impact the health of anyone exposed to them. We’ve maxed out our service offerings and quality levels to make sure we’re the best air duct cleaning team in Palm Beach and beyond. But just what makes a great duct cleaning service?

KEY QUESTIONS TO ASK PROSPECTIVE DUCT CLEANERS

In our last blog, we explored a few points to explore with prospective duct cleaners. By doing a little investigating up front, you can assure the quality of the services you’re paying for. Check out a few more questions you may want to pose when searching for an air duct cleaning service.

WHAT EXACTLY DOES YOUR CLEANING PROCESS INCLUDE?

• When a company advertises “duct cleaning,” you can’t just assume they’ll give your system the cleaning it requires. Instead, take the time to figure out what they mean. All air circulation systems have supply and return branches as well as supply and return trunks. They should all be cleaned. Ultimately, all the components of your air systems are connected in one way or another, and if even one section is neglected, it can affect everything else.

HOW WILL YOU CLEAN THE BLOWER AND THE BLOWER COMPARTMENT?

• All the air that runs through your system has to go through the blower. If the blower and its compartment are dusty and dirty, it doesn’t matter how well the ducts get cleaned; the blower will contaminate them all over again. A great duct specialist will remove the blower and clean it. Once the blower is out, the specialist will have access to the compartment, at which point, the specialist should clean it out. Doing so not only ensure the results of your duct cleaning will last, it prevents cross-contamination and ensures you’ll truly be able to breathe easy.

WILL YOU CLEAN THE A/C DRAIN PAN AND COIL?

• This is Florida, which means our air conditioners have to be ready to work hard all year long. When you get your ducts cleaned, your air conditioner should always get attention. Otherwise, it will spread dirt and other contaminants around your cleaned system the instant you turn it on. Not only that, a dirty air conditioner wears out faster and guzzles more electricity. Instead of letting that happen, contact DUCTZ. We will clean your air ducts and your air conditioner so you can enjoy clean air and lower energy bills.

DO YOU HAVE PROOF OF INSURANCE?

• If the idea of strangers working on your property makes you feel a little odd, you aren’t alone. What if they damage your property? What if they get hurt? We all hope that nothing goes wrong, but it’s important to have safety measures in place. A good duct cleaning team will protect themselves and your property by investing in Liability Insurance and Workman’s Comp Insurance. The company you choose should be able to show you proof that their policies are current. If they cannot, it’s time to choose another company, no matter how great their prices may be.

DO YOU HAVE REFERENCES?

• You should feel confident in the company you choose. However, it can be difficult to find the truth in piles of sales copy. The good news is, testimonials usually cut through the razzle-dazzle. Duct cleaners who are on top of their games will have lists of clients willing to give them references, whether through writing letters or being willing to talk to you on the phone. It never hurts to ask for references, if only to see how the company responds. If they seem reluctant to accommodate you or don’t have references to offer, it’s probably a good idea to consider another company.

START A CONVERSATION WITH DUCTZ IN PALM BEACH AND BEYOND

Florida’s moist, warm climate can lead to some pretty serious molds, pests, dust, and other issues within air ducts. Whether you own a business or a home, we are here to clear your HVAC system of all contaminants so you can take a deep breath and relax. Contact us to learn more!

Ductwork is one of the most neglected parts of any home or business. It remains out of sight and therefore largely out of mind, and there are so many other things that need attention, it can be easy to completely forget the ducts. Another reason why people tend to avoid bringing professionals in to clean their ducts is the fact that finding a trustworthy professional just isn’t as easy as it should be. Discriminating home and business owners don’t want to surrender their properties to the hands of technicians focused on making a buck. They are correct to do so.

At DUCTZ, we are passionate about being strong, close allies to people who own properties and want to stay healthy. That is why we’re going to take some time to give you guidance on what a high-quality duct cleaning will look like. We also want to discuss questions you can ask prospective cleaners to ensure that they know what they’re doing and will put your interests first.

MAKING SURE THINGS GET DONE RIGHT THE FIRST TIME

You don’t have the time or money to deal with inferior workmanship when it comes to your ductwork. As you shop for duct cleaners in Palm Beach, here are some questions to ask. We are proud to be Florida’s best duct cleaners and would love to answer these questions for you at any time.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN BUSINESS? ARE YOU IN POSSESSION OF A CERTIFICATE OF GOOD STANDING WITH THE STATE OF FLORIDA?

• You don’t want your home or business to be training ground for inexperienced technicians. Instead, you want an experienced team who knows the ins and outs of the job. Businesses need time to mature and prove themselves, and when you find one that has developed into a strong contributor, you’ve found the best option. You also want a company whose staff is able to handle the basics of owning a business in the first place, including doing what it takes to remain in good standing with the state. DUCTZ is proud to have served property owners with excellence for a decade and remained in good standing with Florida the whole time.

HAVE YOU BEEN ACCEPTED INTO THE NATIONAL AIR DUCT CLEANERS ASSOCIATION (NADCA)? ARE YOU IN GOOD STANDING WITH THE ORGANIZATION?

• NADCA is a non-profit organization that enforces ethics and excellence in the air duct industry worldwide. They are responsible for all air duct maintenance standards, and they provide their members with training and certification. An air duct cleaner in good standing with NADCA can be depended upon to provide the industry-leading work your property needs. You can verify a company’s NADCA membership at nadca.com.

ARE YOU PART OF THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU? HOW IS YOUR COMPLAINT RECORD?

• Your chosen business should be part of the Better Business Bureau. No exceptions! The BBB is one of the only trustworthy sources of information you’ll find when it comes to determining the trustworthiness of a business. Look the company up on the BBB site and look at what complaints have been lodged as well as how the company handled them. Any company that has a bunch of complaints and doesn’t stand behind its work is not a good choice.

DO YOU FOCUS ON DUCT CLEANING AND INDOOR AIR QUALITY? OR DO YOU PROVIDE OTHER SERVICES AS WELL?

• A company with a wide range of specialties can be a bad choice because its technicians won’t have the depth of knowledge you need. Your chances of getting excellent work from a company that offers carpet cleaning and other services in addition to duct cleaning aren’t very high. That is why DUCTZ provides highly specialized duct cleaning services and works hard every day to make them better.

HOW WILL I BE ABLE TO VERIFY THAT MY DUCTWORK IS ACTUALLY CLEAN?

• Ductwork is hidden behind the walls, so your chosen company should do everything possible to ensure that you see the effects of their work. For instance, many companies like ours use video cameras to assist the cleaning process. The footage can be used to show the customer the work that has been done. There’s nothing like a good before-and-after! Making sure that our customers know that they got what they paid for is one of our highest priorities.

TURN TO DUCTZ

When you want to be able to breathe easy, getting your air ducts cleaned is incredibly important. Clean ductwork not only makes the air cleaner, but it also saves energy and makes life easier for your HVAC system. Whether you get regular duct cleaning or you have no idea when your air ducts were cleaned last (if ever), the team at DUCTZ is here to help. We proudly serve Florida, including Palm Beach and beyond. Contact us to learn more about what we can do!

Read Part 2

When cooler temperatures arrive, we close our windows and turn on the heat. The flow of fresh air we enjoyed during warmer seasons goes away. Do you ever wonder what happens to your indoor air when you close everything up? Sure, your HVAC system keeps the air moving, but many common household objects give off chemicals and particles that you don’t want to be breathing all the time. You bring foreign contaminants and germs into your home every day. How do you avoid living in a nasty soup of dirt, chemicals, mold, and bacteria and stay warm at the same time?

Air quality is foundational to our wellness, and ensuring that you can breathe deeply is worth the time and energy. We work with many people in Palm Beach who seek to keep their homes and businesses healthy with clean air. In today’s blog, we want to give you some helpful tips for improving your indoor air quality and reinforcing your health. Read on to learn more!

HOW TO KEEP YOUR INDOOR AIR CLEAN DURING WINTER

We spend a lot of our time indoors during the winter, and if we want to stay healthy, we need to cultivate healthy air. The good news is, this is completely possible!

HANDLE DRY CLEANING CORRECTLY.

• Clothing items fresh from the dry cleaner’s give off nasty chemicals that you don’t want saturating your home. If you can, arrange a place for them to hang outside your home. They don’t have to air out for a long time, but just an hour or two hanging in the garage or on the porch can make a big difference. We understand that leaving newly-cleaned clothing outside may seem counterintuitive, but the benefits of keeping dry cleaning chemicals out of your home are well worth the inconvenience.

CONSIDER AIR PURIFIERS.

• Air purifiers come in all different shapes and sizes. They can be small enough to be stuck in an outlet or large enough to be incorporated into your HVAC system. They work to remove allergens, odors, and other harmful particles. You will appreciate the benefits of an air purifier even more if you struggle with asthma or allergies.

INVEST IN AROMATHERAPY.

• Essential oil diffusion has become very popular lately, and it’s a good thing! Many essential oils have the ability to clean bacteria and viruses from the air. Even better, they make the air smell great and may have a positive impact on your mood. You can access quality diffusers at affordable prices and install them in any room for a fresher, healthier atmosphere.

ADD LIVING PLANTS TO YOUR HOME.

• We recently discussed the air quality-enhancing benefits of living plants. Check out our blog for plants that are tough and able to get the job done!

KEEP UP WITH CLEANING.

• Regular dusting and vacuuming will lower the number of airborne pollutants in your home or business. For the healthiest results, use non-toxic cleaning products.

CHANGE YOUR HVAC FILTERS.

• The filters on your HVAC system capture many air pollutants. Keeping them updated will allow them to do a good job all winter. Many people get their filters cleaned in the fall and spring, but the team at DUCTZ can get the job done quickly at any point in the year.

INVEST IN AIR DUCT CLEANING WITH DUCTZ

You can take every step above, but if your air ducts have years of accumulated dust, pollen, dander, and mold, you won’t get very far. Your HVAC system will simply blow a bunch of contaminants back into the air every time it turns on. Air duct cleaning is foundational to your air quality, so contact Palm Beach’s experts today!Categories:

Your dryer probably sits next to your washer in the laundry room or in a closet, forgotten until you have wet clothes that need to be dried. It’s just one of those machines you expect to work when you need it to. However, it’s very important to maintain your dryer and the vent it uses to expel damp air to the outside. Otherwise, your dryer can become the equivalent of a bomb sitting in your home.

Over 2,900 fire incidents are caused by clogged dryer vents each year according to the National Fire Protection Association. Dryer vent fires can be blamed for around 320 injuries and 20 fatalities a year according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. This is clear evidence that a bunch of people neglect their dryers and assume everything is okay when really, their dryer vents are clogged with lint and just waiting to cause catastrophic fires. Do not let this be you!

THE IMPORTANCE OF DRYER DUCT AND VENT CLEANING

Just because you clean your lint trap doesn’t mean that is enough. The trap is the first line of defense, and while it can capture a lot of lint, it doesn’t get everything. Plenty of lint gets past the trap and just builds up as the months and dryer loads go by. You get enough buildup, and you get a blockage, which not only presents a fire hazard, it makes life very hard for your dryer.

YOU SAVE MONEY, ENERGY, AND TIME

• When your dryer takes longer and longer to do its job, you’re seeing a clear sign that the dryer vent is clogged. The longer your dryer has to work, the more energy it consumes, and the higher your energy bill goes. A clogged dryer can push your energy bills up by 20 percent! Instead of slowly falling into this trap, spend the money to get your dryer vent cleaned. The resulting dryer efficiency will reimburse you in no time!

YOU PREVENT CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING

• If you own a gas-powered dryer, it is absolutely essential for the exhaust to get outside! A dryer vent blockage will send the dangerous exhaust back inside, filling with carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless gas that can be fatal. If you don’t have a carbon monoxide detector in the room, you won’t even know when things are getting dangerous.

YOU PREVENT FIRES

• Lint is very flammable. When a bunch of it gets past the lint trap and builds up in the dryer vent, the dryer has to work harder. A hard-working dryer gets really hot and can ignite the lint. The resulting fire can cause property damage, injury, and even death.

GET CONFIDENCE IN YOUR DRYER VENT

Here is the point we want to make in this blog: dryer vent cleaning isn’t some extravagant maintenance step. Our professional team can ensure that your dryer vent is clean clear and safe, allowing you to feel confident every time you start your dryer. You can also watch your energy bills to see them go down. Contact us for air duct cleaning in Palm Beach today!

It’s easy to take your HVAC system for granted. After all, it functions behind your walls and with a minimum of noise. However, without an HVAC system, your home would be comfortable only part of the year and miserable the rest. Your HVAC system allows you to fine-tune your home’s environment for your own comfort, keeping you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. However, it plays a second important role, and that is cleaning your home’s air. In this way, it is a massive determining factor when it comes to your health.

Your HVAC system is wonderful when it’s clean and pretty awful when it’s dirty. This is because a clean HVAC system provides a healthy environment for everything you do at home, including eating, sleeping, and other parts of life. Your residential HVAC system should be as clean or cleaner than your work or school systems, or it will undermine your health. If you have a dirty HVAC system, you’ll probably be left wondering why your allergies are so bad or why you get so many colds. Many people fail to suspect their HVAC systems and will spend a lot of money on medical tests instead of just getting their ducts cleaned! That is why we want to use today’s blog to talk about the key season for HVAC maintenance: fall.

FALL MEANS IT’S TIME TO GET YOUR DUCTS CLEANED

It’s November, which means you’ve probably turned on your heat. We may live in Florida, but things can get a little chilly at night. We welcome the cooler season and the relief it brings from summer’s heat. We also look forward to special times with family and friends. However, if you’re going to be turning up the heat, you need to get your ducts cleaned. This is especially true if you notice a burning smell or had a sudden allergy boost when you turn your heat on.

WEATHER IMPACTS YOUR DUCTS.

Just a normal spring and summer can deposit a bunch of debris in your air ducts — debris that quickly becomes a breeding ground for mold and bacteria, especially in humid environments like ours. Once extreme weather gets involved, your home becomes especially vulnerable. The hurricanes we have experienced this past season have taken a toll on our homes, even if it doesn’t seem like yours was affected. We can check out your HVAC system and your ducts to ensure that you don’t have any bad surprises waiting where you can’t see them.

DIRTY DUCTS MAKE FLU SEASON WORSE.

We’re well into flu season, which means all of our respiratory systems will come under attack at one point. You don’t want your system to be under attack from your house itself; it has plenty of other opponents to fight off as the weather gets cooler. Additionally, cooler weather generally means the windows close and you really start to cycle air, and if that air is dirty, it will create significant problems. The problems can be especially big if you or someone you love has asthma or another respiratory disease.

LET US PREPARE YOU FOR WINTER

The team at DUCTZ is here to clean out your HVAC ducts and ensure they are ready to reinforce your health rather than undermine it this winter. Contact us in Palm Beach and beyond today!

Air quality plays an important role in your health, and it isn’t as mysterious or complex as some people think it is. In fact, there are simple things you can do today to improve and protect your home’s air quality. At Ductz, we are in the business of providing great air quality to the people of Palm Beach with air duct cleaning, and we want to partner with you to ensure your home is as healthy as possible. We shared a few tips in our last blog, and we have some more for you today. Read on to learn more about what you can do!

MORE WAYS TO IMPROVE THE AIR QUALITY IN YOUR HOME

These are just a few more ways you can defend your health from contaminated air in your home.

SCRUTINIZE YOUR FLOORING.

Ah, flooring. It plays an integral role in the comfort and durability of our spaces. It also gets hit with the most contaminants. Dirt, grease, dust, pollen, feces, hair — your flooring can end up a nightmarish wonderland. The good news here is that most types of flooring are easy to clean, and if you keep up with your cleaning, you don’t need to worry much, even if you have carpet. What many people don’t realize, though, is that certain types of flooring give off toxins of their own. Both carpeting and vinyl flooring can have VOCs in their sealants, adhesives, and backings. If you’re remodeling and you have the chance to replace your flooring, do your research and find materials with the least chemical off-gassing. Lastly, use cleaning products that are non-toxic and free of artificial scents.

REMODEL WITH THE WINDOWS OPEN.

If you’re going to replace your floors or repaint a room, do it with the windows open. Both types of work can release a lot of VOCs into the air, giving your body a heavy dose of toxins it just doesn’t need. Try to remodel when the weather is warm enough that keeping the windows open isn’t a problem.

DON’T FORGET YOUR BEDROOM.

Of all the rooms in your home, you probably spend the most time in your bedroom. This means you might undergo the worst exposure while you’re fast asleep. Your mattress, furniture, linens, curtains, and other textiles can all give off VOCs. We recommend you shop for hypoallergenic pillows and mattress covers as well as organic sheets and an eco-foam mattress.

GET YOUR AIR DUCTS AND FILTERS CLEANED.

Your HVAC system can either be your worst enemy or your best friend, and a little cleaning decides which one you get. All HVAC systems are equipped with ducts and filters that work together to transport and clean the air, preventing your home from becoming unpleasantly stale. When you ensure that your system’s filters are able to do their job and that your ducts haven’t become havens for contaminants, the result is not just cleaner air; you get a cleaner home altogether.

CONTACT DUCTZ TODAY

Keeping your home air quality at its best involves some technical work, and if you tackle it yourself, you can risk causing expensive damages. Instead of that, contact our expert team. We specialize in air duct cleaning in Palm Beach and can ensure that your ducts are as good as new. Contact us today!

The home is supposed to be a place where you can escape the chaos and grime of the world, and people generally assume that it is doing just that. It can be a big surprise to realize that your home can actually create health problems for you. Many times, when a home has bad enough air quality that it can impact your health, you may not have obvious indications beyond your own symptoms. HVAC systems function out of sight and out of mind, and it’s easy to dismiss the health problems they can cause as allergies or a bad cold season. Of course, certain HVAC contaminants like black mold can cause quick, dramatic health problems, but a majority of them are very subtle.

At the end of the day, when we find an HVAC system overwhelmed with allergens, mold, or other contaminants, we can’t always be surprised. People just don’t think about air quality. However, air quality comes down to just a few things, which means you have the power to create a healthier environment for yourself.

WAYS TO IMPROVE AIR QUALITY IN YOUR HOME

Dust and allergens might be all around you, but there are things you can do to make them back off when it comes to your home.

GET SOME PLANTS.

If you have even a vaguely green thumb, plants are a fantastic way to get your indoor air quality up. There are plants that are particularly good at removing contaminants from the air, and a majority of them aren’t toxic to pets. Even better, plants don’t just improve the atmosphere you breathe; they also improve the aesthetic atmosphere by bringing a bit of nature indoors, which is an instant way to make any space more comfortable.

CHECK YOUR PAINT.

Do you know how old your home’s paint is? Depending on its age, it may be filling your air with volatile organic compounds (VOCs), or low-level toxic emissions. Before regulations forced the creation of low- and zero-VOC paints, all paints required VOC in order to perform right. As a result, the colors on the walls of thousands of homes have made the air toxic for anyone who lives in them. Learn more about what your paint might be doing to your health, and if you’re planning on repainting, don’t settle for paints with VOCs.

GET YOUR DUCTS CLEANED.

Clean air starts with your HVAC system. In fact, a clean home starts with your HVAC system. A dirty HVAC system distributes and redistributes contaminants all over the home, making it more and dustier over time, which is very unhealthy for you and your family. By ensuring that your air ducts are clean and your HVAC filters are clear, you can ensure that any contaminants that get into your home’s air will get trapped where they can’t cause harm.

TURN TO DUCTZ

When it comes to the more technical aspects of maintaining excellent air quality in your home, you aren’t on your own. The team at DUCTZ is here to carefully clean your ducts so you don’t have to worry about the air you’re breathing. Learn more about our air duct cleaning in Palm Beach today!

Read Part 2

We all expect some noise out of our HVAC systems. In fact, if you’re feeling too cold or too hot, the sound of the HVAC system starting up can be one of the most comforting sounds of all. However, if the noise changes oddly or starts to interfere with daily activities, you don’t have to put up with the annoyance and worry. Instead, you can get some insights and contact us for some help identifying just what is going on.

WHAT DOES THIS SOUND MEAN?

HVAC systems are some of the hardest-working systems there are, mostly because their jobs are never done. When you think about it, it’s great that they run as well as they do for as long as they do. Here are some of the most common sounds people report to us and what is generally going on.

HISSING NOISES

If you hear hissing coming from your system, it is usually one of two issues:

• Misaligned air filters: the air filters in your vents are meant to create a seal so that all air has to pass through them rather than around them. Sometimes, air filters are the wrong size or have been installed correctly, which results in air escaping past them and creating that hissing noise you hear. Generally, it will be a light hissing noise rather than a loud one. Ensuring the filter is the correct size and that it has been installed correctly is an easy fix that should leave your system hiss-free.
• Leaky ducts: old, broken, or badly-installed air ducts will leak air into your walls, which is where you’ll hear most of the noise. It’s not just annoying; it’s a compromise of your system and it wastes energy. Your HVAC system will have to work harder to get your home to the right temperature because it’s losing air into the walls.

RATTLING NOISES

If you’re heating rattling coming from your HVAC system, there are two common reasons that we’ve encountered:

• Debris in the system: if you check your outdoor unit and find the noise is coming from there, it is possible that it just needs to be cleaned out. Outdoor units come with gratings designed to keep large debris out, but smaller pieces can get through, and over time, it can build up if you aren’t regularly maintaining your unit. To remedy this problem, the system needs to have the power cut and the debris removed. It is usually best to have a professional do this because debris often damages the unit and we can quickly fix any damaged components, ensuring the unit is good to go before we leave.
• Damaged internal components: if you’re hearing rattling that comes from inside the unit or your home, gives an HVAC technician a call and turn the system off until he or she can check the unit out. Chances are good that the issue isn’t simple and would benefit from professional expertise.

CLANKING NOISES

We saved this noise for last because it is generally the most serious. Clanking noises generally mean you’ve got loose parts, and if you don’t get the problem addressed, they can cause expensive damage. Anything can be loose, like blades, pipes, or blow motors. If you hear clanking, you should turn your system off and give us a call so we can quickly identify and remedy whatever is going on.

PROLONG THE LIFE OF YOUR SYSTEM

The average HVAC system lasts a great 15 to 20 years, and you can maximize yours by getting it cleaned and checked regularly. Ensuring the filters are clean as well as giving the system a break as often as possible will also keep it running strong for as long as possible.

Turn to the experts at DUCTZ for all of your HVAC and air duct cleaning in Palm Beach. We are here to help!