Many people don’ t think about the quality of their indoor air, but according to the EPA, it actually contains ten times more contaminants than the outside air we breathe. Yet most people spend about 90 percent of their time indoors, so they are breathing in this air pretty much all the time. Your home may be your“ safe haven” come allergy season, but it actually can be filled with millions of particles of dangerous mold, bacteria, chemicals, dust mites, and other harmful substances. If you are in the midst of a home renovation project, volatile organic compounds( VOCs) dispelled into your air from building material chemicals can reduce your indoor air quality even further.
We understand that allergy sufferers truly are suffering, and we want to help you achieve a better quality of life. We get that your itchy eyes and runny nose can just make you feel generally lousy and“ not yourself.” Some allergy and asthma sufferers turn to expensive and timeconsuming medical treatments before attending to the most obvious and fixable culprit— their home!
Even the cleanest homes can become magnets for all kinds of pollutants unbeknownst to their owners. That’ s why duct cleaning is such an important part of your regular HVAC maintenance requirements. Most customers agree that it’ s critically important to have your heating, air conditioning, and plumbing systems maintained properly. That’ s why so many of our customers have signed on to our regular maintenance program, SHAPE. They realize that by maintaining the systems in their home regularly, they have a better chance of avoiding sudden equipment failures and can save money in the long run.
Periodic duct cleaning is the last piece of the puzzle that keeps your home operating smoothly. While not officially part of the SHAPE program, it is the final step toward keeping your systems running optimally and improving the quality of your indoor air.
The great thing about Mister Quik’ s duct cleaning program is that we use cameras with TV monitors to show you“ before and after” pictures of the inside of your ducts. If these“ before” photographs don’ t indicate the need to move forward, you can skip the cleaning and you don’ t owe us a thing.
Some duct cleaning companies are only capable of cleaning the top portion of your ducts due to equipment limitations. This means that residual mold and bacteria and other allergens will still be circulating in the air your family breathes. Look for a full-service company like Mister Quik, which has the proper equipment to clean the full length of your ducts, for the best possible outcome.
The concept of duct cleaning is simple: the technician will operate a large vacuum cleaner through your floor register and use large rotating brushes to break loose any debris, which is then absorbed by the equipment. If your“ before” picture showed substantial dust and debris build-up, the difference you see in the“ after”
shot will astound you following this treatment.
There are other measures homeowners can take to further protect themselves from colds and allergies. One product we love to promote and install frequently is the Aprilaire series of efficiency filters, which, according to their website, absorb nearly 100 percent of mold spores, pollen, bacteria, pet dander, dust, and fungi. Mister Quik has used these filters for years and can attest to their value in helping customers breathe cleanly and reduce nagging symptoms from allergies and sinus issues.
Another technology we have been using to rave reviews is the RGF REME Halo. Before you start running to your computer search engine, let us take a moment to explain. REME stands for Reflective Electro Magnetic Energy, which is a UV light that is mounted inside the home’ s duct work, killing about 99 percent of all airborne allergens. There’ s a lot more to it— more technology than you’ d care to learn!— but the main takeaway is that with this device, the air inside your home becomes considerably cleaner and gentler on those allergies!
The device is also useful in preventing the spreading of colds and flu. RGF markets the REME Halo with the promise that it passes the“ sneeze test,” which means that the device will kill all the germs spread by a person sneezing within three feet— before they land on the nearest surface or reach a human being. The device is effective in sterilizing the air throughout your home, killing germs and viruses on surfaces or in the air.
How do you know if you need a duct cleaning? If you can’ t remember the last time your ducts were cleaned, it may be safe to assume that it’ s been three to five years since the last time and a good time for another one. It’ s a great idea when you move into a new home— to literally“ start fresh,”— or when the allergy sufferers in your home are experiencing worsening symptoms. Other signs that it is time for a duct cleaning include a rapid build-up of dust particles on surfaces or a persistent unpleasant smell in your home that you find difficult to locate.
For more information about Mister Quik’ s duct cleaning services, visit our website at www. mrquikhomeservices. com or call us anytime at 317-762-6489.
Jamie Robertson is the Operations Manager for HVAC and Electric here at Mister Quik. He has been in the HVAC business for 27 years and holds most HVAC certifications. He spent 15 years doing duct design for custom homes and specializes in zone systems. He continues to educate himself in the rapid changing HVAC field.
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