Air Duct Cleaning Archives

What Is Air Duct Sanitizing, And Why Do I Need It?

Posted Friday, March 29th, 2019

What is air duct sanitizing? While you may know the health and cost benefits of air duct cleaning (like allergy relief and lower energy bills), we’ve found that many people don’t know the benefits of air duct sanitizing. So, what does air duct sanitizing do?

What is it?

Air duct sanitizing is an additional service the certified air duct technicians at Modernistic can provide while cleaning your home. After cleaning the ductwork, while your HVAC system is still hooked up to the air duct truck and under negative air pressure, they apply the sanitizer. The technicians use a fogger to apply the sanitizer and due to the negative air pressure, it coats the entire interior of the duct system. The product has no lingering scent and is safe enough that it is used in hospitals.

How is it different than air duct cleaning?

What’s the difference between a standard air duct cleaning and sanitizing the ducts? A standard air duct cleaning removes any debris from your ductwork such as dirt or drywall dust. The sanitizing adds the disinfecting and deodorization of the ductwork of your home while killing any mold or mildew hiding inside. In addition, it prohibits bacterial, viral, and fungal growth for approximately six months after being applied.

Why should I have my air ducts sanitized?

There are lots of situations where you and family might benefit. If you are moving into a new home, sanitization can make sure that any unknowns from the previous homeowner are taken care of. It can also help during the winter months by minimizing the germs your HVAC system is spreading through your indoor air. Sanitization further assists with removing any triggers for you or your loved ones who suffer from allergies or asthma. Killing any mold or mildew will also help those with weakened immune systems such as a new baby or someone just coming home from the hospital.

How often should you sanitize?

While there is no strict guideline for how often you should sanitize your ductwork if you do suffer from asthma or allergies you might want it done every few years. If you had a flood in your home and moisture got into the duct system it’s a good idea to sanitize. Everyone is different and it depends on each individual’s household needs.

The bottom line.

A healthy home needs air duct sanitizing! All the germs, bacteria, mold, and mildew that you can’t see in your vents is certainly bad for your home’s indoor air (and for you!), which is why we recommend sanitization for every HVAC system we clean. While you may not be able to see what’s hiding in your ducts, it’s well worth getting them sanitized!

Modernistic has been keeping Michigan’s air ducts clean and healthy since 1973! Click or call today to find out more about air duct sanitizing.

How Hollywood Got Air Ducts All Wrong

Posted Wednesday, January 30th, 2019

I can’t watch spy movies anymore. They’re too unrealistic; and it’s not the explosions, nor the convenient gadgets, nor the protagonist surviving a hail of bullets that un-suspend my disbelief. There’s always that particular scene in almost every espionage movie ever made. That. One. Scene.

The Trope

You know the one: The dashing hero is trapped in a small room by the devious bad guy. Calling upon their ingenuity, our hero removes the air vent cover and crawls into the building’s ventilation system. They slide effortlessly through the comfortably large, completely spotless passageways, with nary a speck of dust or 90-degree bend to be found. They rescue the girl (or guy!) on their way out and save the day, all thanks to those secret, unguarded corridors! Spare me.

What’s wrong with this common movie trope? Air ducts! I’ve seen the insides of too many ventilation ducts to take these movies seriously. These are, of course, Hollywood air ducts: never dirty, completely straight, and always the perfect size to fit our protagonist. The ventilation shaft escape is a staple of modern movies, but how would it work in the real world?

The Reality

In this non-James Bond world that you and I occupy, air ducts aren’t nearly as exciting and certainly can’t function as an emergency escape route. Since their main function is circulating air, most ventilation ductwork isn’t usually very large at all. Even in the largest buildings, a small child would have difficulty crawling around in there. All apologies to Mr. Bond, but a muscle-bound secret agent simply isn’t going to fit – not easily, anyway.

Let’s talk about the conspicuous lack of dirt – another Hollywood inaccuracy. When 007 makes his dramatic exit (because you know it has to be dramatic!), his tuxedo and/or spy outfit is as clean as when he went in. Unrealistic? You bet! Do me a favor – go to the nearest air register and remove the cover. What’s it look like in there? Shine a flashlight if you need to. Would you want to crawl around in something like that?

In real life, this is what neglected air ducts look like on the inside:

Unless you’ve had a Modernistic air duct cleaning, the dirt and dust and debris would be terrible for your clothes, hair, etc. Not good for your suave, secret agent image! The damsel in distress would laugh you right out of her holding cell.

Life Imitates Art

Of course, these obstacles aren’t enough for some people. Movies are real life! Anything Bond can do I can do better! There have been more than a few attempts by wannabe 007s to use the air vents to sneak into high-level institutions (such as pizzerias and laundromats). As you can imagine, these incredibly amateur spies got dirty, got stuck, and got thrown in jail for their trouble.

That’s not to say the air vent escape has never worked! The exception that proves the rule is the infamous 1962 Alcatraz escape. In a caper that involved papier-mâché heads, secret corridors, a makeshift raft, and some chiseled-out air vents, 3 inmates pulled off the only successful escape from America’s most notorious island prison. To this day, the 3 fugitives remain at large; all thanks to ductwork! PLEASE NOTE: if you are currently reading this from prison, DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME. The people who planned your building already know about air vents and have taken steps to prevent you from doing this exact thing. DON’T DO IT!

Conclusion

Hollywood got it wrong. Again. Air ducts aren’t a viable escape/infiltration route anywhere, for a variety of reasons. At the very least, movies with scenes that feature crawling around in dirty air ducts should come with a warning: Don’t try this at home.

Modernistic has been keeping Michigan air ducts spotless since 1973! If you want to breathe easy, contact us today!

Get Your HVAC System Ready For Winter With 5 Simple & Quick Tips

Posted Wednesday, September 12th, 2018

Winter is coming! Our warm summer temperatures are dropping, and we can confidently say that fall is on the way here in Michigan. Ok, confidently might be a strong word; we all know what Michigan weather is like!

Nevertheless, it’s time to start thinking about our furnaces! We’ll be turning them on in short order (if you haven’t already), and it pays to have your HVAC system running as efficiently as possible. Here are 5 Simple & Quick ways to get your HVAC system ready for winter:

1: Have your HVAC system inspected

Before making any changes to your heating and cooling system, have a professional give your home a thorough HVAC inspection. That way, you can find out exactly what your system needs to perform its best. Personalized attention from a professional is always the best way to go, but chances are your home could benefit from the rest of these tips!

2: Change the air filter

One of the best things you can do for your ventilation system is changing the air filter every 3 months! Capturing and removing all the dust, allergens, and other tiny particles is a great way to keep that unwanted junk out of your ductwork and out of your home’s air. Depending on various factors, like whether or not you have pets or if you are susceptible to allergies, you may want to change your air filter even more frequently.

3: Check the insulation in your attic

A great way to make sure the warm air circulating in your home actually stays in your home is to make sure your attic has proper insulation. If you haven’t checked it recently, head up there and see what’s going on.
An easy way to tell if you need more insulation is if you can see the ceiling joists. Proper coverage will obscure the joists, making sure you don’t lose any more heat than you have to this winter!

4: Install a programmable thermostat

If you don’t have one already, go out and buy a programmable thermostat! Also, learn how to use it! There are many times throughout the day where your furnace doesn’t need to put out as much heat, and a programmable thermostat will help give your system a “rest” and keep it heating your home efficiently.

5: Clean the air ducts

Dirty or blocked air ducts will significantly drain your furnace efficiency! In order to heat your home effectively, warm air has to travel through many lengths of ductwork. If that ductwork is filled with soil, debris, dander, dust, and other conductive material, then guess what you’re paying extra for your furnace to heat up?
Clogged ductwork will eat up your warm air before it even reaches the rooms you want it to, which is why it’s imperative to make sure your ductwork is clean prior to turning on your furnace for the winter. A thorough air duct cleaning from a professional with a truck-mounted vacuum system will increase your furnace efficiency by as much as 20-25%!

These are some easy ways to get your HVAC system ready for winter that you can do in a weekend. Just a little bit of preparation now will help you save money on your heating bills and help your furnace run more efficiently; it’s Simple & Quick!

Modernistic has been helping Michigan homes get their HVAC systems ready for the last 45 winters and counting! Call or click if you need the most thorough air duct cleaning in Michigan to help your furnace this winter.

You Can’t See Dirty Air, But You Can Clean It

Posted Wednesday, August 15th, 2018

When it’s time to clean your home, you KNOW it’s time to clean your home. It’s easy to see when the floors have tracked in too much filth, or when your countertops are looking rough. However you won’t always see how dirty the air in your home might be. Unless your home is filled with car exhaust or smoke, in which case… get out of there! That’s some seriously dirty air!

Whether or not you can see the dirty air of your home, you’ll want to make sure you’re taking every step you can to keep it clean. With the amount of time we spend indoors, it is extra important we make sure the air we breathe in our homes is as clean as can be. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) estimates that we spend around 90% of our time indoors! That is a lot of time to be breathing in air potentially carrying any number of biological pollutants.

What Is The Danger?

Many of these contaminants are sourced from things you encounter on a daily basis without thinking about it all that much. Your air quality can be affected by just about anything under your own roof: your pets, excessive moisture, candles (or anything that burns), even certain types of wood and insulation. Many of these seemingly harmless things can affect the air quality in your home, and in turn affect the air that you breathe into your lungs.

Allergic reactions are one of the leading side effects of poor indoor air quality. Dander from your pets is often the driving force behind many allergy issues in the home. As clean as we think we are when it comes to our animals, their dander will enter the air ducts to circulate throughout your home. This can cause minor discomfort with the sniffles, or it can cause even more serious issues by intensifying asthma attacks along with irritations to the eyes, nose, throat, and skin. These things thankfully can easily be avoided.

So What Can I Do?

Question:

“Can I duct tape scouring pads soaked in household cleaners to my 4 year old, and let them loose to play inside the air ducts?”

Answer:

“No, probably not*.”

Getting your air ducts professionally cleaned by Modernistic and keeping an air purifier in the home are two great options for dealing with dirty air! Most of the serious biological pollutants that can cause bacteria and allergy issues can easily be prevented with a thorough air duct cleaning from the Modernistic Air Duct Team. Our crews come to the home prepared, with the most advanced equipment in the industry. We take the dirt with us, leaving your home clean and clear. So please don’t try to do anything crazy to get your HVAC system clean on your own, and make an appointment with the experts. Hope to see you soon!

*Definitely not

How To Maximize Your A/C Efficiency

Posted Wednesday, June 20th, 2018

Michigan is HOT! With temperatures reaching the upper 90s and humidity still at Spring levels, we’re all reaching for the thermostat and cranking up the A/C. While nobody’s missing those sub-zero winter temperatures, we all need a bit of relief from the heat outside – without emptying our wallets! With that in mind, here are a few ways to maximize your A/C efficiency this summer and save money on your energy bill.

Remove the hot air first
Especially when you’re cooking, venting the hot air from your home will keep your air conditioner from working overtime to cool things down. Before turning on your A/C, open a few windows and position fans so they blow air out rather than in. That way, the hot air starts flowing out before the cooled air begins filtering into your home.

Pay attention to your supply vents
One of the biggest blockages of air flow happens to be one of the biggest things in your home: your sofa! Furniture that sits on top of or in front of air vents blocks cool air from circulating freely. Which would you rather cool down: The back of a recliner or your home’s air? Same with anything conductive that sits in front of air vents: Laundry, books, kids’ toys, etc. Keep your vents clear!

Change your A/C filter
Your A/C filter is your first line of defense against dust and debris from circulating around your home’s air and ductwork. Over time, however, it will get clogged up with accumulated dirt, which will restrict airflow. Change your filter every 3 months to keep your air flowing freely and your air conditioner happy.

Close the blinds
While we all love natural light, it has the unfortunate side effect of bringing even more heat into your home on an already hot day. Keeping the blinds closed will help keep some of that heat out, and drawing the curtains will provide another layer of insulation between the cool air of your home and the hot air outside!

Use your dehumidifier
Let’s face it, Michigan is a humid state! It’s safe to say that 90 degrees in Michigan feels much more oppressive than 90 degrees in a drier place (like Arizona, for instance), and it’s due to all the moisture in the air. If you keep the excess water out of your home’s air, you can set the thermostat higher and it will still feel like a lower temperature! Plus, your air conditioner won’t have to work as hard to keep you feeling the same level of cool.

Check your ductwork
Your ductwork is the system that your conditioned air uses to travel throughout your home, and if there’s something blocking the air’s passage or absorbing the cold air, then it’s not functioning efficiently! In our 45+ years of air duct cleaning, we’ve seen all kinds of things blocking up air ducts: toys, plastic bags, bird nests, and even the occasional dead varmint! Needless to say, a blocked duct isn’t pushing cold air through into your home.
The most common thing found in air ducts, however, is dust, and it will absolutely cripple your air conditioner’s efficiency. Dust, debris, and pet hair will soak up cool air on a hot day, meaning you’re paying extra to cool down all the junk inside your ducts instead of your home! Dirty air ducts can cost you hundreds in a single summer in additional energy costs!

Those are just a few ways to maximize your A/C efficiency. Follow these tips to help “chill” your energy bill and stay frosty this summer!

Modernistic has been keeping Michigan cool with expert air duct cleaning for over 45 years! Contact us today if you want to maximize your A/C efficiency and stay comfortable this summer

Simple & Quick Ways To Limit Construction Dust

Posted Thursday, May 31st, 2018

Finishing a home renovation project is one of the most satisfying moments of a homeowner’s life. But like my father always said, “the job isn’t done until you’ve cleaned up after yourself”. If you’ve ever worked with drywall or wood, then you know that’s no easy task! Drywall dust and sawdust seem to get everywhere, even in rooms you weren’t working. If the proper steps aren’t taken to limit construction dust prior to your renovations, you can end up with extensive labor to get your house looking new.

Building a new home or renovating your current one can certainly take lots of work and time but even after the work itself there’s always lots of cleanup. So how do you limit the amount of dust and debris traveling through your home?

Cover It Up

When renovating your current home the first step is to prepare each room where work is being done. Remove what you can from the room and anything that is too heavy to move cover with plastic to prevent it from being covered with dust. Cover each doorway into the area with plastic, cut a slit down the plastic, and install a zipper along the cut for easy access that contains any debris.

Secure Your Vents

Any kind of construction, especially when installing or removing drywall, can send tiny particulates into the air that your duct system will keep recirculating through your home. You can limit construction dust like this by making sure all the vents in the room you are working are closed. Simply cut an appropriate length of plastic and tape it around the vents (use painter’s tape for easy removal). This way, none of the dust gets sucked into your HVAC system and distributed in other areas of your home.

One Final Clean

Even if you follow all these steps, once the renovations are complete there will undoubtedly still be construction dust throughout your home. After removing the plastic coverings from your newly remodeled room, make sure to wipe down all horizontal surfaces. Take your time and look around; there are plenty of surfaces so it’s easy to miss some, like the tops of doorways.

Don’t Forget The HVAC System!

After that is done you will want to replace your furnace filter and have your ductwork professionally cleaned to remove any particulate from your air. Otherwise dust and debris can continue to circulate through your home, causing you to dust more often than ever before.

Renovating your home can be a stressful process but with just a little care to limit construction dust before and after, you can make it a much easier task.

Modernistic has been helping Michigan DIY-ers clean up after renovation projects for over 45 years! If you have questions about air duct cleaning, call us or visit our air duct cleaning page to learn more.

4 Steps To Make Your HVAC System More Efficient

Posted Friday, May 25th, 2018

Michigan is a very fickle state, weather-wise. Bitterly cold winters give way to hot, humid summers (sometimes within the same week!), and all the while we’re spending a small fortune on heating and cooling our homes. Since the weather isn’t going anywhere, here are a few easy steps to make your HVAC system more efficient and save you money on your energy bills.

Change The Furnace Filter

The first (and easiest) steps you can do to make your HVAC system run more efficiently is to routinely change the furnace filter.

The primary job of the filter is to catch dust, dander, allergens, and other airborne pollutants and keep them from circulating throughout your home or business. If your furnace filter gets clogged up with all these contaminants, it will have to work harder and run longer to maintain a steady temperature.

It’s recommended that you change your furnace filter every 2-3 months but this could vary depending on factors like the size of the filter or how many pets you have in your home.

Seal Your Seams

The second step to help make your HVAC system more efficient is to make sure all the seams along your air ducts are sealed with mastic sealant or metal tape.

A report from energystar.com stats that approximately 20-30% of air that moves through a typical duct system is lost due to leaks, holes, or poorly connected ducts.

It goes without saying that if your ductwork is leaky, your furnace isn’t able to properly distribute conditioned air. This means it is less efficient and has to run longer in order to maintain a steady temperature.

A properly sealed duct system can make your HVAC system run more efficiently and your home or business more comfortable – not to mention your wallet!

Use A Programmable Thermostat

Along with the first two steps, installing a programmable thermostat is another way you can help make your HVAC system more efficient.

On average, installing a programmable thermostat can save your up to 15% on your energy bill.

That means if you pay $250 a month on electricity, you will save $450 annually! That’s more than enough to offset the cost of purchasing a new thermostat.

Swapping out an old thermostat for a programmable one is a relatively easy DIY project, and well worth it.

Once you program in your custom schedule, your furnace will run only when you need it to, keeping your energy bill lower, reducing wear and tear, and extending the life of your system.

Clean Your Air Ducts

The last step to making your HVAC system more efficient is to have your air ducts professionally cleaned.

Over time, dust and dirt can build up on the sides of your air ducts, decreasing air flow to your vents and making it harder for your furnace to pull the necessary air through the air duct system to properly heat/cool your home or business.

Air duct cleaning from a NADCA-certified professional will eliminate any buildup in your air ducts, increasing air flow to your furnace, and allowing it to run much more efficiently.

As an added benefit, air duct cleaning will also help indoor air quality by reducing dust, dander, and other particulate, which, according to the EPA, can be 2 to 5 time higher than outdoor air! Keeping your HVAC system clean and clear of dust and debris will go a long way toward making your furnace and air conditioner run as efficiently as possible, saving you money and extending the usable life of your system.

Modernistic knows that a clean HVAC system is a happy HVAC system. That’s why we use a truck-mounted push-pull vacuum system – designed and engineered to be the most thorough and most powerful air duct cleaning possible. If you want the pros to help your furnace run more efficiently, call or click today!

Do My Air Ducts Need To Be Cleaned? A Simple & Quick Guide

Posted Tuesday, February 27th, 2018

We hear this question a lot. People often ask us “how can I tell if my air ducts need to be cleaned?”, which is not as easy to answer as it would seem. Having a clean HVAC system can help with allergies and lower your energy bills, but how often does the average house need air duct cleaning? The truth of the matter is that it depends on the home and the people living in it. Anyone with allergies or multiple pets might discover they have to get their air ducts cleaned every few years. Someone without the dirt of pets or kids might find they have to do it much more infrequently. Since there’s no such thing as the average home, here are a few ways to tell if the air ducts need to be cleaned in your home:

In Sight, In Mind

The easiest way to check to find out if your air ducts are dirty is to simply take a look. If you can, take a vent cover off and look at the inside of your ducts. If there is a buildup of dust and debris than it could very well be time to clean your air ducts. Be aware that the return registers in your home may not be the most accurate indicator, since they pull in dusty air and will get dustier much faster than the rest of your air duct system!

Location, Location, Location

While every home is going to gradually have dust settle in their duct system, there are countless external factors that can speed up the process. Living on an unpaved road or by a sandy beach can increase the amount of dirt that gets tracked into your home and pulled into your ducts. Anyone with pets will who are prone to shedding will attest that they do so everywhere, with some of it undoubtedly getting pulled into your ductwork. A little pet hair of dust in the ducts can go unnoticed for years, but if you have allergies to dust or pet dander you might find that you want to have air duct cleaning more frequently.

Love The New Bathroom, Hate The Drywall Dust

Even new homes can sometimes need their air ducts cleaned, especially after the construction phase. Drywall dust, sawdust, and other fine particulates can keep getting recirculated through your home, making it seem like you have to dust very often. Air duct cleaning can remove the drywall dust and any other construction debris behind in the ductwork of your new home.

Isn’t It Time You Checked?

While there isn’t a set standard of time, there are definitely plenty of other ways to tell if your air ducts need to be cleaned. Indoor air quality is important, and it only takes 5 minutes to see if your air ducts could be the dusty, dirty culprit! To find out more about air duct cleaning, visit our FAQ page to learn more.

If you’re ever unsure if your air ducts could use a thorough cleaning, you can always call Modernistic . One of our NADCA-certified air duct technicians would be more than happy to come out and take a look for you!

Apartment Community Dryer Vents Dos and Don’ts

Posted Tuesday, October 3rd, 2017

Manage An Apartment Community? Here’s What You Need To Know About Dryer Vent Fires

Clogged dryer vents are one of the leading causes of multi-family housing fires. Lint that builds up over time makes the perfect tinder, and all it takes is a single spark to start an inferno. Even if you can’t see any build-up on the outside of the vent, lint can coat the inside of the ductwork leading from your dryer to the outside.

Your risk is especially high if a large number of residents share a limited number of dryers, or if anyone in the building is a smoker. Colder months are especially dangerous here in Michigan, due to dry conditions and cold weather driving smokers indoors.

So how do you cut down on your risk of dryer vent fires? Here are some Apartment Community Dryer Vents Dos and Don’ts:

DO have your dryers professionally installed – You don’t want to take chances on an incorrect installation. A pro will make sure things like electrical plugs, vent connections, and dryer spacing are all properly addressed.

DON’T use a dryer without a lint filter – The lint filter does a great job of catching the majority of clothes lint, and not having a filter is literally playing with fire. You’ll find your dryer ductwork will get clogged much quicker, requiring more frequent cleanings to cut down on fire risk.

DO listen to your residents – If your residents are complaining about the dryer taking a long time to dry their clothes, it could be a sign that the vent is clogged and restricting air flow. Similarly, if they report a dryer that’s running extremely hot, that’s another indicator that the vent is clogged with lint.

DON’T allow smoking – This should go without saying, but discarded cigarettes will ignite lint in seconds. Smokers are going to smoke, of course, so make sure they have a designated outdoor smoking area.

DO inspect regularly – Monthly inspections of the dryer, ductwork, and vent will help you identify risks quickly and act appropriately.

DON’T use vent screens – Wire or plastic screens on the outside vent exit will collect lint and other debris over time, plugging the vent and restricting air flow. Use open coverings on the vents instead.

DO keep your laundry rooms clean – Keep the area around your washers and dryers clean and free of anything flammable. Don’t use laundry facilities for storage, especially of flammable cleaning supplies.

DON’T use coiled-wire foil or plastic venting – Use non-ribbed, durable metal ductwork for your dryer vents.

DO have your dryer vents professionally cleaned – Every six months to 1 year, depending on usage, have a professional clean the dryer vents in all your buildings. Any more than that and you risk dangerous lint buildup. Make sure the professional you choose uses a truck-mounted vacuum system and is certified by NADCA, the National Air Duct Cleaners Association.

The simple fact is that clogged apartment community dryer vents are one of the leading causes of residential structure fires in the US. Protect your community with regular cleanings from Modernistic! Our truck-mounted vacuum system is powerful enough to handle any length vent, and our certified technicians have the know-how to handle complex venting systems. Certified by the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA), Modernistic will make sure your apartment community dryer vents are thoroughly cleaned! Contact your Modernistic office to inquire about bulk discounts today.

22 Before and After Photos To Envy

Posted Monday, May 22nd, 2017

Before and After Modernistic!

At Modernistic, when we say we’ll get it clean, we mean it! You may have to reconsider the 5-second rule after you see these 22 before and after photos.