Southern Maryland Air Duct & Dryer Vent Cleaning

Air duct cleaning is one of the most important things you can do for the health of your family. Mold is a silent enemy that can lurk in your ducts and affect your family’s health and can cause asthma and other inflammatory responses in the body. For air duct and dryer vent cleaning in Southern Maryland give us a call or fill out our contact us form today.

Air duct cleaning 

According to the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) up to 40 pounds of dust is created yearly in an average home. Dust, pollen, and dander from the air are circulated and pulled directly into the HVAC system and sent back out into the home. 

Why have your air ducts cleaned? 

Since the Air Duct system is generally hidden it is not something that the average homeowner thinks about on a regular basis. 

When the air ducts are clogged, the system has to work harder to maintain a comfortable temperature. It requires more energy to run and costs you more money! 

Cleaning your ducts also greatly increases interior air quality. Contaminants in the home are pulled into the HVAC system and then re-circulated 5-7 times per day on average. Over time, those contaminants build up in your system.

Southern Maryland Air Duct and Dryer Vent Cleaning will come to your home and inspect your HVAC system. After the inspection of your air ducts and heating a cooling system we will be able to determine if a cleaning is needed. 

The NADCA recommends having your air ducts cleaned professionally every three to five years. 

There are several factors, though, that can make having them cleaned more often necessary. Here are some additional factors:

• Pets
• Occupants with allergies or asthma
• Cigarette or cigar smoke
• Water contamination or damage to the home or HVAC system
• Home renovation or remodeling projects

Signs you should clean your air ducts 

1. If visible mold growth is found inside your ducts or other parts of your heating and cooling equipment 
2. Rodents or other unwanted house guests are found in ducts
3. Ductwork system is clogged with excessive amounts of dirt and debris and/or you see visible dirt and dander coming out of your air vents 

At Southern Maryland Air Duct and Dryer Vent Cleaning we recommend regular duct cleaning and sealing as part of your overall HVAC plan. 

When we clean the ducts in your home, we clean your entire HVAC system. This includes:

• Air Ducts
• Coils
• Drain Pan
• Registers
• Grills
• Air Plenum
• Blower motor and assembly
• Heat Exchanger
• Air Filter
• Air Cleaner

Air Filters

Dust and debris in or around vent registers or particles of dust and debris being sent back out into the air is a good indicator that your filters need cleaned or changed depending on what type you have. 

When the element is visibly dirty, you should replace the filter. The filter’s job is to collect dirt and dust so that it doesn’t get into your HVAC and ductwork system. Replacing the filters when they get dirty will prevent buildup in your ductwork. 

Filters in a forced air system should be replaced at least 4 times per year or once per season. Once per season is a good way to remember to change them. 

If it’s the first time you’re replacing your air filters give Southern Maryland Air Duct and Dryer Vent Cleaning a call and we’ll be happy to send one of our professionals to help.  

What is the air duct cleaning process?

For full service air duct cleaning, the following is a four step process Southern Maryland Air Duct and Dryer Vent Cleaning uses to make sure your home’s HVAC system is working optimally. 

1. Clean the furnace / air conditioner

After the system is tested for proper operation, the system’s power is disconnected for the safety of our technicians. 

Next, the interior surfaces of the Furnace / Air conditioner are vacuumed out.

Southern Maryland Air Duct and Dryer Vent Cleaning will then clean the cooling coils with a HEPA vac and a coil cleaner, and clean the blower unit.

2. Clean the supply and return registers and grills

All of the registers and grills are removed from the walls, ceilings, and floor registers. They’re washed with cleaner and rinsed. 

3. Clean the supply and return ducts

Southern Maryland Air Duct and Dryer Vent Cleaning will then clean all air ducts using powerful air duct cleaning equipment. 

Then the ducts are decontaminated using duct sealant and deodorizer. 

4. Install air filter and odor control products

The air filter and odor control works for up to 3 months!

Our mission is to help our customers by supporting their needs using quality equipment at an affordable price. Your health is our number 1 concern and we strive to make your home as clean and allergen free as possible!

Health Hazards of Mold

Depending on the air quality in your home, mold can build up in your air ducts and be recirculated throughout your home.

There is always mold everywhere. In the air and on many surfaces.. Wherever there is moisture, mold grows. In high quantities, it can be very dangerous for your health and the health of your family and pets. 

When you’re exposed to damp environments it can cause a variety of health hazards. Or it may cause none at all! Some people are more sensitive to molds than others. Some experience no symptoms and then a lot at once. For the people who are sensitive, molds can cause coughing, irritation of the airways, nasal stuffiness, wheezing, eye irritation, and even skin irritation. People who are allergic to molds can have more severe reactions. Then there are people who are immune-compromised and people who have lung illnesses, such as obstructive lung disease, can get serious lung infections when they’re exposed to molds. 

According to the Institute of Medicine, there is sufficient evidence to suggest that upper respiratory tract symptoms, coughing and wheezing can all be attributed to indoor exposure to mold. This is especially true for people who have asthma and other airway related conditions. This mold isn’t always visible. Sometimes it’s obvious such as in cellars, attics, showers, etc… but these molds can also live in your HVAC system.

This is why it’s important to have these systems cleaned periodically to make sure that no one in your household (including pets) get sick!

In addition, in 2004 the IOM found enough evidence to support that exposure to damp interior places can lead to the development of asthma in children, particularly among children who may be genetically susceptible to asthma development. 

Taking action and ridding your home of mold improve housing conditions and reduces morbidity from asthma and respiratory allergies. 

Mold and Your Home

Mold is everywhere. It can enter your home via open doorways, windows, vents, and HVAC systems. Mold that is found outside can also attach itself to clothing, shoes, pets, and other things that you bring in from the outside. 

Mold will grow in places with lots of moisture. Leaks in roofs, windows, or pipes are all great areas for mold to grow. It also grows well on paper products such as cardboard, ceiling tiles, and wood products.

Mold also grows in dust, paints, insulation, drywall, carpet, and upholstery.

Ways You Can Control Mold

Southern Maryland Air Duct and Dryer Vent Cleaning can help you control mold in your HVAC system.

Give us a call and we will send our expertly trained technicians to come out and check for mold and give recommendations based on those findings. 

Here are some things that you can do to help control mold:

• Control humidity levels – higher humidity levels are perfect breeding grounds for mold to grow anywhere.
• Promptly fix leaky roofs, windows, and pipes
• Hire a professional to clean after flooding
• Ventilating shower, laundry, and cooking areas

When mold grows inside your home, not only do you need to clean the mold but the moisture problem needs fixed also

Southern Maryland Air Duct and Dryer Vent Cleaning will use a disinfectant in your HVAC system and get rid of any dust that mold can attach to and grow.

Dryer Vent Cleaning

Southern Maryland Air Duct and Dryer Vent Cleaning understands the importance of keeping dryer vents cleaned and free of lint and other things that come from drying laundry. 

It’s not enough to just clean the lint trap (this should be done after every dryer load). While that’s important, it’s also imperative to call a professional to clean out your dryer vents. 

High heat from the dryer and lint and other materials is a perfect environment for house fires. 

Did you know that over 15,000 dryer fires occur in the U.S. every year?

The dryer is one of the main appliances that homeowners rely on to get chores done. Don’t let your dryer become a fire hazard because it’s not cleaned regularly and properly.

80% of dryer fires start with clogged dryer vents. This results in 15 deaths and 400 injuries on average each year. Symptoms of poisonous gas fumes that back up into the home due to blocked dryer vents also commonly occur. 

Another way to prevent a dryer fire is to replace any vinyl or plastic flexible transition duct with a semi-rigid metal transition duct. Plastic and vinyl transition ducts can catch fire, unlike semi-rigid metal ducts. 

When Southern Maryland Air Duct and Dryer Vent Cleaning comes to clean your dryer vent, we’ll make sure that the opening of the dryer vent pipe outside is free of any birds’ nests, bushes, or other debris that accumulates over time. 

If your dryer vent system is clogged it can’t exhaust properly. When it can’t exhaust properly, it overheats and can threaten your home and your personal safety. 

Can you clean  your dryer vent system yourself?

You can but if you don’t know how or are uncomfortable doing it yourself Southern Maryland Air Duct and Dryer Vent Cleaning can clean and inspect your system to make sure everything is running well and answer your questions. 

The buildup in a clothing dryer presents many dangers to homes and families. There are many ways to prevent many of these things from occurring.

Ways you can tell if your dryer vent is blocked by debris and needs cleaned are:

• Your clothes need more than one drying cycle to dry completely
• When the dryer has finished it’s cycle, a musty odor is present
• Clothing seems unusually hot to the touch after a complete drying cycle
• The dryer vent hood flap does not properly open as it is designed to do
• It’s been more than a year since your vents have been cleaned
• You notice debris outside the dryer vent opening
• Drying time for clothing takes longer than 35 to 40 minutes
• The laundry room gets excessively hot during dryer operation
• Large amounts of lint accumulate on the lint trap for the dryer
• Odor from dryer sheets

Scheduling a Dryer Vent Cleaning

Some companies specialize in dryer vent cleaning and some companies add this as an added service. Southern Maryland Air Duct and Dryer Vent Cleaning also cleans air ducts and can check that system, too, while we’re there. Sometimes it’s best to get it all done at the same time. We have the tools and training and reach deep into the dryer vent to clean all debris that is built up. 

During the process of cleaning the dryer vent, we first look for an outside dryer vent cap which can be removed. A long vacuum tube is then inserted and snaked into the ventilation pipe. The vacuum will be used to get rid of any loose debris in the venting pipe causing blockage. 

Technicians will take special care in the elbows and bends throughout the dryer venting pipe. These are problematic areas that can quickly build up with lint and other debris. 

Decreasing Dryer Vent Lint and Debris

The U.S. Fire Administration recommends that homeowners have their dryer vents cleaned at least once a year. This prevents excessive debris from building up within the ventilation pipes that can cause fires. 

For homes that use the dryer more than two times per week regularly throughout the year need cleaned more often. 

Here are some ways that homeowners can decrease the amount of debris build up in between cleaning services:

• Limit the use of dryer sheets when drying clothing and liquid fabric softener in the wash cycle. Residue from dryer sheets can clog lint filters and fabric softeners can deposit oils and other chemicals on some fabrics and make them flammable. 
• When possible, hang clothing, heavy bedding, pillows, and other large articles outside to dry.
• Perform minimal cleaning services on the dryer vent by using a shop vacuum to remove debris around the outside of dryer vents. 
• Keep outside ventilation opening covered with a ventilation cap. This prevents birds from nesting as well as other debris from entering from the outside. 
• Use a vacuum to clean out the inside of the dryer around the lint trap.
• Every once in a while it’s ok to remove the back of the dryer to vacuum out lint that is trapped behind the machine. Make sure you have adequate knowledge of the dryer before you ever attempt to take it apart. 

Appliances should always be unplugged and disconnected from gas lines before servicing. 

Service Areas

Southern Maryland

As a local company, Southern Maryland Air Duct and Dryer Vent Cleaning loves servicing all of Southern Maryland. Many companies don’t like the drive but we love this area and are willing to drive anywhere within Southern Maryland to help keep you safe!

We’re not only just an air duct and dryer vent cleaning company. You’ll love working with us as many of our technicians love to talk about the area and really have a knack for connecting with you.

We feel that it is important to work with someone that you know. 

Why work with a local company?

Because we’re located in Southern Maryland, we’re aware of a lot of things that other companies aren’t. Whether it be heading out on the bay for a great day of fishing or playing on sandy beaches and beating the heat with a dip in the cool Chesapeake waters, we know Southern Maryland and enjoy living here. We love working with local people!

History

Southern Maryland is very rich in history. Originally inhabited by Piscataway indians, Captain John Smith explored the area in 1608 and 1609. In 1634, St. Mary’s City was the site of the fourth English settlement in North America. British troops invaded Maryland here on their way to Washington DC during the War of 1812.

Southern Maryland has a thousand miles of shoreline with fossil-laden cliffs, awesome tidal inlets, and sandy beaches. This unique landscape has a lot of skipjacks, steamboats, and lighthouses. There’s also a network of scenic byways joining resort towns and picturesque fishing communities and an abundance of state and national parks. 

We love this area because of the diverse variety of water-based recreational activities. 

We also understand that environment plays a huge part in cleaning. Depending on where you live, sometimes more cleaning is needed. If you live near the shoreline, mold is more of an issue than homes that are located more inland. 

Our network of professionals will be able to handle anything that comes our way. 

Call us today for your HVAC cleaning and Dryer Vent Cleaning needs!