Fort McMurray is a community within the “Wood Buffalo Region” of Alberta Canada. Located about 450KM North of Edmonton Alberta, Fort McMurray is the largest community in Northern Alberta’s Wood Buffalo district.

If you plan on coming out West to take part in the oil boom you can expect long Summer days and what seems like never ending Winter nights. The job market has dropped in the past few months but is still one of the best markets in North America.

Major oil production surrounds Fort McMurray with large companies such as Suncor, Albian Sands and Syncrude setting up shop in the Athabasca Oil Sands. A good starting point if you are looking for work is www.fortmcmurrayonline.com

If you plan on driving to Fort McMurray you will have to get on Hiway 63 as it is the only hiway between Edmonton and Fort McMurray, be very careful. Highway 63 has been called the highway of death and has one of the largest fatality rates of any highway in Canada.

Fort McMurray has a reputation of being a rough town made for the tough oil sands industry but what you will really find is a fast growing community of family’s with a healthy economy, great school systems and plenty of recreational activities for every interest.

If you do decide to join us in Fort McMurray, welcome. I hope you find more then just a good job here, I hope you find a home.

Dryer Vent Cleaning

Dryer vents are a overlooked dangerous portion of the home that I again seen first hand this week. I was called out to clean a fireplace chimney that is one of the main sources of heat for this home during the winter months, and has not been cleaned in two years. Luckily this is a completely sealed firebox and the client burns only a nice hard wood. The chimney was very dirty and done just in time to possibly prevent a serious fire hazard to this home.

I was only called to clean the fireplace but I must have been feeling generous and told the customer that I would clean the dryer vent at no charge to them. I proceeded outside after asking the customer to turn on their dryer so that I could check current air flow before cleaning. When I leaned down to check the air flow I found none at all and at first thought I had the wrong vent, but I didn’t and had the proof when I inserted the Viper Cleaning system just inside the venting and got a lot of lint from the first portion of the venting pipe.

I decided to go downstairs and have a look at the venting that was concealed above a drop ceiling and I am so glad that I did. This home was ready the ignite. The venting was separated about ten feet from the outside wall and all the lint was building up in the space between the ceiling and the drop ceiling and the electrical panel was filled with lint including covering low voltage transformers.

I had the customer start cleaning the lint from around the ceiling and the electrical panel area and I re-connected the dryer venting and proceeded to clean the dryer system. This system was over twenty feet long with four elbows and had never been cleaned as long as the customer can remember. A dryer vent setup like this should be cleaned every six months to a year and the savings in electrical costs will pay for the service fee within a few months, not to mention the piece of mind.

If you can’t remember when the last time you had your dryer vent cleaned then it is time!

Take our quick quiz here to see how often you should have your dryer venting cleaned. For all your dryer vent and chimney cleaning services in Fort McMurray Alberta call A-1 Ductworks at 780-598-5966.

House Dust Mite

Dust Mites are a reality, they live with and feed off the human species. Are dust mites dangerous? well the short answer is yes. Dust mites themselves are not dangerous and do not drink blood like the bed bug but they can cause breathing problems and bring on allergy attacks through there fecal matter. Dust mites do not have stomachs, but the enzymes left behind after feeding are a common cause of asthma and allergic symptoms worldwide.

A typical house dust mite measures only 420 micrometers in length and 250 to 320 micrometers in width. Well not large in size they are large in numbers, a typical mattress can have as many as two million dust mites occupying it’s warm and well nourished frame. The human body losses as much as 1.5 grams of skin per day which enough to feed over a million dust mites.

Male dust mites only live an average of 19 days well the female dust mite can live up to 70 days well laying as many as 200 eggs in the last five weeks of it’s life. Dust mites like the warm and humid area’s, if exposed to temperatures below 20 degrees celsius for any length of time will prove fatal to the dust mite, a relative humidity of 50 or less usually proves fatal also. A quick run through the washer will remove any fecal matter left by the dust mite and a tumble through the dryer for more than ten minutes at greater than 60 degrees celsius will kill any remaining mites.

House dust mite allergens are among the most common triggers of asthma, symptoms include itchiness, sneezing, inflamed eczema, watery eyes, running noses and clogged lungs.

As far as eliminating dust mites by furnace duct cleaning your heating system is concerned, there is no evidence that performing this service will help remove the mites from your home. Yes some dust mites will exsist in the return air system after being blown from room to room by the powerful furnace fan but the real problems lyes in your bedding and furniture.

Using a service like “Bed Doctors” would be a better option at removing the dust mites from the source of the problem, regular cleaning of the bedding and using a powerful vacuum to clean your mattress, furniture and draps would go a long way in eliminating the problems. Companies such as the “Bed Doctors” use ultraviolet light to kill all remaining dust mites after a vacuuming has removed the main population. UV light given enough time will kill 100% of bacteria, molds and other micro-organisms.

You can look at our products page and view the Sanuvox systems that we offer that can be used in the duct system or as a stand alone product placed in any room of the home.

Hope that this helps clear any misconceptions that you have concerning dust mites and Air Duct Cleaning.

A-1 Ductworks is a Furnace Duct Cleaning company located in Fort McMurray, Alberta, Canada you can contact us at 780-598-5966 for free estimates on improving your indoor air quality.

Usually the systems of SBS are sensory irritation of the eyes, nose, throat; neurotoxic or general health problems; skin irritation; nonspecific hypersensitivity reactions; and odor and taste sensations.

SBS is one of the leading casues of employee’s missing work in North America and costs businesses hundereds of millions per year. Great lengths have been taken to prevent and correct the causes of SBS. What can you do to identify and correct the problems associated with SBS?

1. Pollutant source removal or proper storage of chemicals in your building. Storage of harsh chemicals in the mechical rooms can lead to unwanted fumes and vapors finding their way into the HVAC system.

2. Remove carpeting that has been damaged with water. Carpet that has been through a flood can be filled with molds and should be replaced as soon as possiable.

3. Use paints, adhesives, solvents, and pesticides in well-ventilated areas, and use of these pollutant sources during periods of non-occupancy.

4. Increase the amount of air exchanges in the building. A minimum of 8.4 complete air exchanges per 24 hour period is the reccommended amount by the engineers of The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration & Air Conditioning.

5. Proper and regular maintence of the HVAC system.

6. Proper cleaning and disenfecting of the air handling system and the attached ducting.

With building getting tighter and not allowing leaks to naturally occur we have to be sure to follow the proper installation of HVAC systems and consider installing air exchangers. Be sure to maintain your HVAC system and periodically clean the entire system.

Contact A-1 Ductworks of Alberta Canada at 780-598-5966 to recieve a free estimate on your Furnace Duct Cleaning http://www.furnacecleaning.info

Well how do you keep the cool air flowing well not spending a fortune? Well it all starts with SEER. The efficiency of a air conditioning system is measured by it’s SEER rating “Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio”. This rating is set by Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute.The higher the SEER rating the more efficient the air conditioning system.

A SEER rating is the Btu rating cooling output during a typical cooling season divided by the total electric energy input in watt hours during the same period.

For example, consider a 5000 BTU/h air-conditioning unit, with a SEER of 10, operating for a total of 1000 hours during an annual cooling season (e.g., 8 hours per day for 125 days).

The annual total cooling output would be:

5000 BTU/h * 8 h/day * 125 days = 5,000,000 BTU

With a SEER of 10, the annual electrical energy usage would be about:

5,000,000 BTU / 10 BTU/W·h = 500,000 W·h

The average power usage may also be calculated more simply by:

Average power = (BTU/h) / (SEER, BTU/W·h) = 5000 / 10 = 500 W

If your electricity cost is 20¢/kW·h, then your operating cost is:

0.5 kW * 20¢/kW·h = 10¢/h

Hope this helps clear up SEER ratings for everyone interested. So now that you know you can stay cool for less money with some informed shopping before installing your air conditioning system.

A-1 Ductworks is a Furnace and Duct Cleaning Company that specializes in Indoor Air Quality for the Fort McMurray Alberta Area. Contact us at 780-598-5966 for free estimates on Indoor Air Quality products and services

Can You Find The Furnace Filter?

Your furnace system is the lungs of your home; the air that you breathe is first passed through the furnace system where it can be cleaned, humidified, heated or cooled.

Having a good furnace filter should be a high priority for your furnace system and your health. Furnace filters were originally designed to protect your furnace fans and other components. With increased knowledge of Indoor Air Quality filters were developed to both protect the furnace system and the residents of the home.

Your home is full of airborne contaminants such as:

· Dust on the floors and surfaces that are disturbed by activity in the home.

· Smoking, burning candles lint from laundry and cooking are just a few duct sources

· Hair and skin flakes from humans or pets. Did you know that humans shed an estimated 1.5 pounds per year.

· Pollens and dust that leak into the home through open windows or air intakes.

Dust particles can be so small that they are inhaled and exhaled from your lungs without getting trapped. Some particles are too large to get be inhaled but the dangerous particles are those that are breathed into your lungs and get trapped there. These particles are the ones that can cause respiratory illnesses.

I am sure that you would like to improve your filtration just to keep the visible dust from building up of the surfaces of your home but good filtration is much more important than that. The real risks are health related and come from respirable particles, which include tobacco smoke, spores, bacteria, and viruses.

So the question is what type of filter should you buy? How do you know what is a good filter and what is marketing? Well the answer is simple, ask for the MERV rating.

Most filters are labelled with a MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) rating value, that measure the filters ability to trap air borne particles from a micron size 3.0 – 10.0.

The MERV rating was created by the testing methods of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning (ASHRAE). Residential filters have a MERV rating that ranges between 1-11. The higher the number in the MERV rating the better and more efficient the filters is.

Here are the ratings:

* A MERV rating of 6 means the filter is 35% to 50% minimum efficient at capturing particles, sized 3.0-10.0 microns.

* A MERV rating of 8 means the filter is 70% to 85% minimum efficient at capturing particles, sized 3.0-10.0 microns.

* A MERV rating of 11 means the filter is 85% to 95% minimum efficient at capturing particles, sized 3.0-10.0 microns.

1.

Standard Fibreglass Furnace Filter

The standard fibreglass furnace filter is very inefficient and only has a MERV rating of 1. This filter is not designed to remove much of the airborne particulates but only to protect the furnace fan and components. Smaller particles such as pollen and mold will pass right through.

This filter is very cheap, must be replaced every month during the heating season and every month if you have air conditioning. This filter is very inefficient and if not maintained can cause series damage to your furnace system.

2.

3M pleated Filter

3M has developed a better throw away filter with their pleated disposable. The MERV rating is also much higher with the 3M Filtrete Ultra Allergen filter is rated MERV 11, which is extremely good in any comparison. This high quality comes at a cost of about $25.00 to $30.00 per filter and still has to be replaced every other month.

This filter on a long term basis is very expensive due to the fact that it must be replaced at least every other month during the heating season and cooling season if you have air conditioning. On the plus side this filter is very efficient at removing airborne particles protecting your family from allergy attacks.

3.

Electrostatic Air Filter

Washable “Electrostatic” Filters produce a static charge and better filter media to attract more dust and other airborne particulates. The Electrostic filters are a larger investment initially than buying standard fibreglass filters or the 3M brand pleated media filter but they are washable so the investment will pay off in time. An electrostatic filter is a permanent, cost effective way to significantly improve the quality of your indoor air.

On a long term basis this is the best investment due to the onetime cost of purchasing this filter. No changes to the duct work need to be made for installing this filter type. This filter type like the others can cause damage to your furnace system if not maintained properly. The Electrostatic filter needs to be cleaned every other month in order to stay within proper air resistance ranges. Simply take your filter out and vacuum off the loose dust that is on the surface, next soak the filter in hot soapy water allowing time for the grease and other caked particles to be removed. Rinse the filter with hot clean water and leave out over night to dry.

4.

Pleated Thick Media Filter

Next is the pleated thick media filter. This filter type is excellent and has a high MERV rating of 8 or more. This filter uses a much denser mesh media to trap the airborne particles. The pleats increase the filtering area so that the filter only needs to be replaced one per year. These filters cost anywhere from $300 – $600 installed and you still have to replace the media every year.

This filter type requires changes to the duct work to allow for a six inch spacer between the furnace and the cold air return. This filter type only needs to be replaced once per year and are very efficient. This filter type is not cheap with a large investment during the install and a smaller investment every year with the filter replacement.

As you can see there are many filter choices for the consumer when battling dust and other airborne contaminants. Choosing the right filter comes down to budget, needs and your ability to maintain the filter choice that you make.

A-1 ductworks is a furnace duct cleaning company that specializes in Indoor air Quality in the Fort McMurray, Alberta Canada. Call 780-598-5966 for a free estimate on improving your Indoor Air Quality.

Dryer Vent Cleaning Technique

1. Standard Cleaning Procedure: All dryer vents are cleaned from the outside using high pressure compressed air with a reverse skipper ball that sends the skipper ball rocketing down the venting to the base of the dryer. Once the skipper ball has gone as far as it will go we start to retract the skipper ball back towards us pulling all the debris and and lint back to the outside where it is collected into a large truck mounted vacuum system.

2. Challenge Cleaning: This type of cleaning is preformed when the dryer system is completely plugged up of not accessible from the outside due to height or concealed from sight. We disconnect the dryer from the venting and insert the Viper Cleaning System into the venting using the Air Whip fitting. The Viper System is a high pressure compressed air cleaning system that uses different fittings that are attached to the end. 250 pounds on air pressure is forced through the Viper System that forces the air out forward, using the Air Whip fitting which has many small air tubes that whip around in the ducting loosing the debris and lint from the walls of the venting well pushing and the lint to the outside of the home. This method is used when cleaning commercial dryer vent systems.

I often get asked how often you should have the dryer vent system cleaned. Well the answer is different depending on the type of dryer in the home, the amount of use the dryer receives, the amount of venting attached and how many elbows are in the dryer vent system.

A simple rule is the more air the dryer system can move the less lint that will build up in your dryers venting. With this fact in mind it’s safe to say that a larger dryer with shorter venting will require cleaning less often than a stack able smaller dryer with the same distance in venting. If you have a large family and the dryer is used more often then its safe to say it needs to be cleaned more often. And the last thing to consider when determining whether you need to have your dryer vent cleaned more often or not is the amount of venting you have. If your venting is more than 20 feet long? does it have more than two elbows? if you answered yes to either question then you would need to have the dryer venting cleaned more often.

The average home should be cleaned every other year and homes that have longer venting, lots of elbows or a smaller dryer that does not move as much air should have the system cleaned every year.

Commercial dryer systems such as in a hair salon where many towels with loose fibers should be cleaned at least every six months.

Check out our Dryer vent cleaning calculator here: Dryer Vent Calculator at http://www.furnacecleaning.info

A-1 Ductworks is located in Fort McMurray, Alberta and can be reached at 780-972-7272 or by email at info@furnacecleaning.info

This dryer vent was barely moving any air and was about 75% plugged over, the dryer was very hot and the plastic ribbed dryer venting had signs of melting in places. I showed this to the customer before I went outside and cleaned the venting using a reverse skipper method with high pressure air.

I had the customer come outside to view the large amounts of lint that was being removed from the venting as the customer stood there in shock. “I had no idea” said the customer as I assured him that most customers do not realize how much lint is built up in the dryer venting so I decided to offer a few tips to home owners about dryer venting.

1. Lint traps only remove about 75% of the lint that builds up during the drying cycle, the remainder is dispossed of out the venting.

2. Clean the lint trap before every cycle of drying and clean the lint trap at least once per month with soapy warm water and let dry before using again.

3. Do not use flexible plastic venting, use straight pipe and metal elbows when possible or semi rigged metal venting. This type of dryer venting can’t catch fire and allows for the greatest air flow. Plastic ribbed venting allows the dryer lint to build up on the inside causing air flow problems which can lead to a dryer fire.

4. Clean around the back of the dryer and do not allow build up of lint in this area. A dryer gets very hot in areas especially close to where the venting on the back is, keeping this area clean helps to prevent the possiablly of fire.

5.  Warning Signs:

• Dryer taking longer than 40-45 minutes to dry a load
• Dryer is noisier than usual
• Dryer feels hotter to the touch
• Dryer shuts off before the end of the cycle
• Clothes are still hot and damp at the end of the cycle
• Extra moisture in the laundry area
• Flapper does not open when dryer is on

6. Benefits of Dryer Vent Cleaning

Well the main obvious reason for cleaning your dryer vent is the prevention of dryer fires there are other good reasons for cleaning your dryer vent.

• Decrease Energy Use. A mere 1/2″ of buildup in a typical 4″ vent will reduce your dryer’s efficiency by up to 40%!  Restricted air flow will cost you $$$.
• Quicker Drying Times. A dryer is a very expensive applience to operate.  The longer it runs, the more it will cost you!
• Clothes Last Longer. The longer your clothes tumble in your dryer, the more they wear out.  And those fibers that break loose contribute to the buildup in your dryer vent!
• Longer Dryer Life. Overheating and allowing the dryer to run longer can cause premature failure of the bearings, elements, ignitors and other critical parts.

Our dryer vent cleaning service is available for $149.95 without furnace duct cleaning service. To book an appointment for dryer vent cleaning in the Fort McMurray Area call 780-598-5966. For more information on dryer vent cleaning go to our dryer vent page

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