The American Lung Association (ALA) is responsible for grading the air quality of counties and regions in the United States. Unfortunately, the ALA has graded the counties of South Eastern Michigan (Macomb, Oakland, Wayne) and we received a whopping ‘F’. It may be difficult to notice but Michigan, specifically in the south eastern region, has pitiful air quality and the unconventional heat of climate change is only emphasizing our air’s pollution.
So how does the air’s pollution affect us? When sunlight chemically interacts with common emissions like those of factories and cars, it adds to the level of smog (ground level ozone) in the air which irritates lungs and can be especially dangerous to people with cardiovascular issues or asthma.
Michigan has had surprisingly high air pollution ever since our government started recording information on air quality. One would think that our environment would improve as larger industries and contributors of pollution left our state, but Michigan has always struggled to reach a healthy air quality. The good news, however, is that we have improved since the last information was gathered in 2013.
We are finally making meaningful steps toward achieving fresh air. This is a combined effort of the government urging businesses to be more environmentally friendly, many companies and organizations opting to “go green” and even average citizens driving fuel efficient cars and adding simple habits like recycling to their lives.
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If you or someone in your household has asthma, Safety King can help!
May is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month. This month of awareness exists so asthmatics can live more comfortable lives and to teach people not to take the subconscious action of breathing for granted. Asthma is rarely acknowledged as the wide-spread, life-long, incurable disease that it is.
One fourth of all visits to the emergency department of hospitals are caused by asthma. Medical organizations want to use this awareness to stress that the information needed to manage asthma is available and can lead to a normalized life. The cost of living with asthma can be significantly decreased with a few preventative procedures.
Safety King wants to help everyone breathe easier, especially those who suffer from asthma and struggle with breathing every day of their lives. Two of the biggest contributing triggers of asthma attacks are dust mites and pet dander which can linger in air ducts of a house. While we can’t do much to help outdoor air pollution (which is projected to be at unhealthy levels in Michigan this season,) Safety King can clean your home’s air ducts making your indoor air healthier to breathe.
Safety King is proud to announce that we have recently become the first company in the United States to acquire the StormTech 2100 Cyclonic Power Vacuum Truck.
But why should you care? The StormTech Cyclonic power vacuum truck has a revolutionary design that provides all the power of our current fleet of monster vacuum trucks but runs with 30% less fuel and 40% less emissions. This means our cleaning process itself now has a smaller carbon footprint.
The smaller carbon footprint of Safety King’s StormTech 2100 is accomplished by:
Two of the goals of our team are to improve the air that people breath and help conserve energy. Of course a cleaner air duct system accomplishes both these goals but now the cleaning process itself lends itself to these goals. Keep in mind that we only have one StormTech at this point with another on order for delivery this spring. We plan to add several of these revolutionary new power vacuum trucks to our fleet over the next 24 months. We fully expect (and encourage) our competitors and the industry at large to follow Safety King’s lead as they have so many times before.
This spring when you have Safety King out to clean your home or business remember that while we are helping to make your air cleaner we are also helping keep the air of the world cleaner!
Picture yourself taking deep breaths from you vacuum cleaner’s bag just before you empty it!
As awful as this sounds it gives you an accurate picture of what the air you breathe is like after it passes through all the crud and decaying material in your furnace’s ductwork.
That’s because your ductwork is a lot like your vacuum cleaner. And if you think about it, the main difference is that your vacuum only runs for a few minutes each day compared to the hours on end your furnace fan runs. Every time your furnace runs more and more things are sucked into your ductwork. Things like dust, pet hair, cooking grease, cigarette smoke, and other debris that will stay in your ductwork – until they eventually break down and are released back into the air stream for you and your family to breathe.
Anyone who has ever cleaned behind their refrigerator knows just how much gunk a fan will collect. So if you want to know what lurks in the depths of your ductwork just look in your vacuum cleaner and see what you are breathing. This alone is reason to get your ducts emptied.
Award reflects company’s consistently high level of customer service
Safety King Air Duct Cleaning Inc. has earned the service industry’s coveted Angie’s List Super Service Award, reflecting an exemplary year of service provided to members of the local services marketplace and consumer review site in 2014.
“It is an honor for us to receive this award. It’s a tangible representation that our company continues to fulfill the high standard of quality which our customers expect and deserve. We thank all of our customers who have offered feedback and helped our company be its best. We look forward to continuing our award-winning service through 2015!”
“Only about 5 percent of the air duct cleaning companies in Southeast Michigan have performed so consistently well enough to earn our Super Service Award,” said Angie’s List Founder Angie Hicks. “It’s a really high standard.”
Angie’s List Super Service Award 2014 winners have met strict eligibility requirements, which include an “A” rating in overall grade, recent grade, and review period grade; the company must be in good standing with Angie’s List, pass a background check and abide by Angie’s List operational guidelines.
Service company ratings are updated daily on Angie’s List. Companies are graded on an A through F scale in areas ranging from price to professionalism to punctuality.
Angie’s List helps facilitate happy transactions between nearly 3 million consumers nationwide and its collection of highly-rated service providers in 720 categories of service, ranging from home improvement to health care. Built on a foundation of authentic reviews of local service, Angie’s List connects consumers directly to its online marketplace of services from member-reviewed providers, and offers unique tools and support designed to improve the local service experience for both consumers and service professionals.
Categories: Aeroseal Duct Sealing, Air Duct Cleaning, Duct System Inspection
We heat and cool our home to keep our family comfortable, with some homes, maintaining a consistent temperature within each room of the home can prove to be difficult. Some home airflow problems are easy to remedy, others require a more comprehensive approach. Solving home airflow problems can provide many benefits for indoor air quality, energy efficiency, and home comfort. Below are seven common problems and solutions to improving your homes airflow.
Leaky Air Ducts
Repairing leaky air ducts is the single best thing a homeowner can do to solve airflow problems within a home. When constructed, air ducts are sleeved and screwed into one another to deliver and draw air throughout the home. In most ventilation systems, the joined sections are not air tight allowing for conditioned air to escape or be drawn from unintended areas. Seal the joints of your air ducts with an approved mastic or sealant and you will realize a noticeable and immediate improvement to your homes airflow problems.
Distance from the Furnace and Air Conditioner
As the furnace or air conditioning system is in operation, it blows and draws air through a series of air ducts to condition each space of the home. While there is a strong force of air pressure as the air is blown from the furnace or air conditioner, the strength of the airflow dissipates as it reaches the outer extremities of the ventilation system. More often than not this airflow problem relates to poor design in the architecture of the home or poor installation practices of the HVAC system. In some occasions, modifications can be made to the ventilation system to provide a greater volume of air with less restriction. In most cases the most efficient and cost effective solution is to install zones within the ventilation system which are dampers that regulate air flow.
Lack of Return Air
Proper airflow within a home is always related to the circulation of air flow. Your home relies on supply air vents which blow conditioned air into the home, and return air vents which draw the air back to the furnace or air conditioner. A lack of return air vents decreases the circulation of airflow within a home, adding additional return vents in areas with limited airflow will improve a homes air circulation.
Dirty Fan Blower
Within the furnace or air conditioner cabinet there is a fan-blower which distributes the air. Overtime dust and debris builds on the fan blower blades reducing its ability to sheer and distribute the air. By routinely cleaning the furnace on an annual basis you can improve your homes airflow.
Clogged Air Conditioner Coil
If you have air conditioning, located above your furnace cabinet is an evaporative coil which is made up of tiny fins that absorb heat and cool the air. Overtime dust and debris builds up within the coil fins reducing the amount of airflow that the furnace can distribute. By routinely cleaning the evaporative coils on an annual basis you can improve your homes airflow.
Improperly Sized Heating and Cooling Equipment
Prior to installation, a HVAC load calculation is performed to determine the amount of heating and cooling BTU’s are required to effectively condition the temperature of the home. If the HVAC system is under-sized or over-sized it will create home airflow problems. An experienced HVAC technician can provide an HVAC load calculation to make sure that the HVAC is sized properly for the home.
Disconnected & Crushed Air Ducts
If there is no airflow or very limited airflow it may be related to a disconnected or crushed air duct. Disconnected or crushed air ducts occur from faulty installation. Remove the air vent register and inspect the ventilation line with a flashlight and mirror. If the ventilation line is disconnected and is within an area that can be reached, refasten the ducting together with sheetmetal screws and seal the joint. If the ducting is crushed, remove the crushed ducting piece and replace it. There are occasions where the duct disconnection cannot be seen, in this scenario you will need the ventilation line to be scoped with a fiber-optic camera to determine the location of the disconnection and the best options to gain access for its repair.