Spring is in full bloom! For some of us it’s a welcomed season. For others, they feel more than the extra sunshine, they feel the congestion. Spring allergies come in full force thanks to the fresh pollen in the air, but indoors is where allergy and asthma sufferers might experience it the worst.

What exactly causes indoor allergies? Allergies in the home are made up of a number of substances and can provoke allergic reactions. They are typically small enough to be airborne, making them easily inhaled. The most common indoor allergens come from:

• Dust
• Mold spores
• Fabrics
• Dust mites
• Pet dander
• Rodents
• Houseplants
• Outside pollen

While no home can be completely allergen-free, proper cleaning on a regular basis can help reduce the number of allergens to which you’re exposed.

PREVENTATIVE CLEANING

Proper Dusting. One of the best ways to control indoor allergens is by getting rid of dust. Use a damp or treated cloth that attracts dust rather than scattering it. For those with particularly bad allergies, consider wearing a dust mask when cleaning.

Vacuum to Reduce Allergens. Vacuuming in areas that accumulate more dust, such as carpeting and furniture can help control allergens in your home. Best practice to reduce household allergens is to vacuum at least once a week.

Wash Bedding to Remove Allergens. Dust mites tend to thrive in bedding, pillows, and throw rugs. At least once a week, wash pillowcases, sheets, and blankets. Something to keep in mind when it comes to fabric allergies is the type of fabric and detergents being used. Some people are sensitive to polyester and others need very gentle cleaning solutions.

Reduce Pet Dander. The protein found in the saliva, urine, and dander of our furry friends is a common allergen for many people. Vacuuming frequently and grooming your pet regularly can help reduce pet allergy exposure. If you have someone in your home that is especially prone to animal allergens, it might be a good idea to designate their spaces as “pet-free” zones.

Air Duct Cleanings. Having your air ducts cleaned every 3-5 is recommended, but if you have allergies or asthma, every 3 years is highly recommended. We clean the most unsanitary part of their homes, the air ducts, and our services reduce the amount of allergy and asthma triggers throughout the home. Pollen, pet dander, dust, dust mites, and mold spores settle in the duct work, when it is time to turn on the AC, it kicks up all that debris and makes it airborne, ultimately causing more agitation.

We provide a service that can reduce indoor allergens and provide some relief.

PROTECTING YOUR HOME FROM INDOOR ALLERGENS

While everyone with or without Spring allergies should be regularly cleaning their home to prevent airborne illnesses, professional help might be next. Hiring on experts in air duct cleaning for mold and allergens will help keep your home’s airways clear of dust and pests. After all, Spring allergies are one thing, but mold can become sinister for respiratory health.

Help protect your home and air quality by putting a plan together for the restoration of your air ducts. For more information on your home needs, contact Air Duct Maintenance, Inc. at (724) 444-4550.

Mold is one of those alarming words that any homeowner fears. While mold is essential to breaking down organic materials outdoors, mold exposure is not something fun for your home.

The Dangers of Unattended Mold

In some cases, mold in your home can make you sick, but especially if you have allergies or asthma. Whether or not you’re allergic to molds, consistent mold exposure can irritate your eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs, possibly causing shortness of breath or respiratory illnesses.

The most common way for mold to cause illness is through airborne spores that can make it into your airways and sinuses. Keeping this in mind, mold loves growing in dark, moist places, making vents and ductwork an ideal breeding ground.

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The History of Air Duct Maintenance

Air Duct Maintenance is your residential air duct cleaner and ventilation specialists in Pittsburgh, PA. We’ve serviced Western Pennsylvania for two decades and have dedicated ourselves to helping homes breathe better.

Air Duct Maintenance, Inc. was founded in 1996 by Kevin and Debbie L’Herbier. The L’Herbier family has owned and operated this growing organization from the ground up. Being family owned, we know how busy life can be, that is why we have our crews out Monday through Saturday. You can request information any time right from our website.

Air duct cleaning is our specialty, whether it is your heating and cooling system, your clothes dryer vent, your bath exhaust vent, or even your chimney.

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When it comes to your home, family, and wallet, you’ll do anything to protect them. Unfortunately, there are a lot of disreputable companies and contractors out there that will do anything to take advantage of you. Unnecessary work is charged to homeowners every day, leaving people skeptical to take on a lot of professional services. Air duct cleaning has sadly been left as a service that property owners are hesitant to pay for.  

We’re here to give you the full picture of air duct maintenance, and how to avoid being scammed by not-so-professional companies.

Why Would Air Ducts Need To be Cleaned?

Air duct cleaning should be a thorough cleaning of the coils, air handler, housings, registers, motors, grilles and fans of the system. Some states require HVAC duct cleaning to be a routine service to public buildings.

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You may have heard that certain houseplants contain certain organic chemicals that essentially “clean” the air in your home.

A little background from weather.com states:

“Plants are notoriously adept at absorbing gases through pores on the surface of their leaves. It’s this skill that facilitates photosynthesis, the process by which plants convert light energy and carbon dioxide into chemical energy to fuel growth.

But scientists studying the air-purification capacities of indoor plants have found that plants can absorb many other gases in addition to carbon dioxide, including a long list of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Benzene (found in some plastics, fabrics, pesticides and cigarette smoke) and formaldehyde (found in some cosmetics, dish detergent, fabric softener and carpet cleaner)  are examples of common indoor VOCs that plants help eliminate.

These VOCs and other indoor air pollutants (such as ozone) have been linked to numerous acute conditions, including asthma and nausea, as well as chronic diseases such as cancer and respiratory illnesses.

An indoor plant’s ability to remove these harmful compounds from the air is an example of phytoremediation, which is the use of any plant — indoors or out — to mitigate pollution in air, soil or water.

Indoor plants remove pollutants from the air by absorbing these gases through their leaves and roots. The microorganisms that live in the soil of potted plants also play an instrumental role in neutralizing VOCs and other pollutants.”

This is backed by research from a 1989 NASA study.

Current Myth on Air Quality Debunked

However, the idea that certain plants can clean the air has seemingly been debunked. While green spaces may in fact improve your mood, there really aren’t any definitive studies that show that having indoor plants can significantly increase the air quality in the home to improve health in a measurable way.

However, there are other ways to get cleaner air in your home without filling it with plants. An air duct cleaning is one of the top ways to rid your home of random debris and dust floating through the air.

There are many benefits gained from cleaning your ductwork, too. A few of them include:

• Breathing clean, healthy indoor air
• Decrease allergy and asthma triggers
• Improve heating and cooling efficiency
• Increase airflow at the vents
• More even temperatures throughout your home
• Reduced utility bills
• Reduce excessive amounts of dust inside your home or office
• Eliminate musty odors when operating the furnace/air conditioning

Do you know when it’s time to maintenance your home’s ductwork?

The key signals that an air duct cleaning is an order are:

• The surfaces of your ducts or other components of your heating and cooling system have a substantial amount of visible dust on them.
• Uneven temperatures throughout your home.
• Dusting more often.
• The ducts are clogged with dust and debris.
• Dust or debris is being released into your home through your system’s air supply registers.

If you notice any of these signs, then you need to call Air Duct Maintenance in Pittsburgh, PA today. Our mission is to treat your family like ours and we do that by keeping your home clean and healthy.

Breathe Easier in Your Home Today – Contact Air Duct Maintenance!

Areas we service include but are not limited to: Allegheny, Washington, Beaver, Butler, Armstrong, Westmoreland, Indiana, Lawrence, Mercer, Crawford, Erie, Somerset, Greene, Fayette, Cambria, Clarion, Blair, Jefferson, Mahoning, Columbiana, Jefferson (Ohio), Brooke, Marshall, Wetzel, Monongalia, Preston, Ohio, Hancock, and Trumbull.

We can also clean your clothes dryer vent, bath exhaust fan, and sweep your chimney in addition to your air duct cleaning.

Call today for your free estimate!

Air Duct Cleaning for Pittsburgh Colleges, Universities and Schools

It’s about that time – back to school means book shopping, class scheduling, and of course, air duct cleanings. Although it may come as a surprise, an air duct cleaning should not just be limited to your home space. It should also include schools, colleges, and universities in order to ensure that students, faculty, and staff are healthy throughout the school year.

While many schools use systems to improve indoor air quality, a lot of the cleanliness stems from how clean the air ducts are.

Air Duct Maintenance has the staff and experience it takes to clean air ducts in colleges, universities, and schools in the Greater Pittsburgh area.

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Air Duct Cleaning Service | Allergy Solution | Pittsburgh, PA

As we round into summer and pollen season, it may seem like the simplest solution to close your windows and turn on the central air. However, beating allergies with AC isn’t always your safest bet.

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Routine air duct maintenance saves your home (& your wallet!)

Your summer cleaning is done, your summer clothes are out, and you’ve already started turning your AC on more. However, if you haven’t cleaned your air ducts, summer may be eating your wallet alive.

Why clean your air ducts?

Air duct cleaning refers to the removal of dust and contaminants within the ductwork. This includes the supply and return air ducts as well as the registers and diffusers in each room. Powerful vacuums put your system under negative air pressure, while high pressure air tools spin and scrub the inside of your duct work knocking any dust, dirt, and debris lose, then pushing and pulling it outside to the vacuum truck. This prevents it from re-circulating throughout the home.

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