1. Cleaning Air Exchangers

Typical servicing of air exchangers in a commercial duct system demands the replacement or cleaning of filtration plus addition ensuring that air getting drawn from the exterior is free from any kind of dirt. With usage, the air exchanger becomes dusty and also greasy. Getting rid of the dirt and grease is best completed with the help of solvents and degreasers.

2. Maintenance of Heat Recovery Ventilator

A heat recovery ventilator is what ensures that the building receives clean air plus a healthier working atmosphere, and it even assists holding fuel bills down to the absolute minimum. Cleaning the heat recovery ventilator should begin by first switching it off and then unplugging the system. Next, replace or thoroughly clean airs filters and perform an inspection on the outdoor intake and exhaust hoods. Follow that through an inspection of the condensate drain as well as examine the heat exchange core. Clean it and do the same to the grilles. A good inspection of the ductwork is necessary, as is servicing of the fans.

3. Clean the Energy Recovery Ventilator

Energy recovery ventilators keep power loss to a bare minimum as well as control the ventilation. When it is operating well, the energy recovery ventilator will decrease operating costs. Nonetheless, the ventilator needs more servicing work compared to some other ventilation systems. Frequent cleanliness is required to avoid bacteria as well as mold from spoiling the heat exchanger areas.

4. Keeping the Economizer Operating

Unless the economizer works to its complete potential it won’t be productive in lowering cooling costs. However, if it fails it will result in energy wastage. Proper maintenance of the economizer isn’t any less important than taking good care of a car. How often the servicing must be completed depends upon duration of use and the operating surroundings. Without any doubt, the more well serviced an economizer is the more efficiently it’s going to operate.

5. Cleaning Commercial Ducts

Many concerns can develop in regard to a commercial duct, including damage and poor airflow. Timely and regular maintenance ensures greater quality of air plus a healthier operating setting. Remember that many of the pollutants aren’t visible, but will nonetheless get circulated, especially if servicing is tardy or infrequent. Damage to the ventilation system can result in serious issues that have to be fixed at the earliest chance. This demands identifying the problem and diagnostic tests with regard to bacteria and fungi. Additionally, it indicates cleaning the duct and coil, as well as the filter systems.

Regardless of whether it is a large or small business building, cafe or shop, proper commercial duct cleaning is very important for all commercial structures.

Fort McMurray is lucky to have many heating and air conditioning companies that service the local residents as well as our booming oil industry. Here are a few of the local companies and contact numbers:

Fort mcmurray Plumbing & Heating Ltd
www.fmplumbing.ca (780) 743-2181

Adams Heating
(780) 714-5110

Professional Mechanical Ltd
(780) 743-4877

H & H Plumbing & Heating Ltd
(780) 743-8817

AAA Plumbing Heating Gas Fitting Air Conditioning Refrigeration Ltd
(780) 714-9001

B & K Refrigeration Air Conditioning & Heating Ltd
(780) 790-1474

Alberta Industrial Sheet Metal
(780) 743-2819

Action Imperial Plumbing & Heating
(780) 799-7201

JCS Plumbing & Heating Ltd (FMY)
(780) 598-7261

Alcor Management Inc
www.alcorfacilities.com (780) 743-1343

Here at A-1 Ductworks we are cleaning professionals that have proper knowledge for maintaining your heating and air conditioning systems but if you need repairs or replacements please contact one of the reputable companies from above. If you have excessive dust contact us we are a Fort Mcmurray local company and would be very happy to serve you.

I get asked very often, When is it time to replace my heating system?

My answer comes in the form of questions such as:

1. Is your furnace system more than 10 years old?

If your furnace is more than 10 years old you might want to consider a newer unit for the energy savings alone. Installed correctly, high-efficiency units can save up to 20 percent on heating and cooling costs.

2. Some rooms in your home are too hot or too cold.

Improper equipment operation, duct problems or inadequate insulation could be the cause.

3. Your home has humidity problems.

Poor equipment operation, inadequate equipment, and leaky ductwork can cause the air to be too dry in the winter or too humid in the summer.

4. Your home has excessive dust.

Leaky ducts can pull particles and air from attics, crawl spaces and basements and distribute them throughout your house. Sealing your ducts and having the system professionally duct cleaned may be a solution.

5. Your score on the Home Energy Yardstick is below five.

I hope that these tips help you make your decision to replace or just properly maintain your fort mcmurray heating system this year and keep warm during the upcoming heating season.

That means your energy use at home is above average and you’re probably paying more than you need to on energy bills.

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.

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

Air Conditioning System

Your air conditioning system is made up of two parts, first the condenser unit which sits outside the home on a concrete block outside the house and the evaporator coils which sits above your furnace in the plenum of the ductwork. When the air conditioning system is in action warm or hot air is drawn from the return air grills in the home into the furnace through the blower and the heat is absorbed into the refrigerant gases in the A/C system the gases expand and are pumped out in pressured lines to the condenser unit outside where a large fan extracts the heat and compresses the gases to nearly a liquid and very cold state, the manipulated refrigerant gases are then sent back to the evaporator coils above the furnace and cold air is pushed into the supply side of the furnace system. The warm air from the return side of the furnace system is again absorbed by the refrigerant gases and the process starts over again.

Before Starting your air conditioning system up for the season there are a few things that you should do for preventative maintenance.

Condenser Unit, The part of the A/C system that sits outside the home: First before turning on your air conditioning system make sure that the condenser unit is not covered in leaves, sticks, lawn furniture or toys. Next using a pressurized air system or a shop vac turned on the blow feature clean the coils from the inside out removing any leaves that may hve gotten lodged in the coils. Straighten any of the fins that have gotten bent over. Your goal here is to give the condenser as much help as possible in removing hot air air from the coils when the air passes over them.

Furnace Filters: The furnace system is the lungs of the home and when your A/C is running the blower for the furnace system is what provides the suction power when pulling the warm air from the return side of the furnace and the blowing power to the supply side of the furnace after the air has been cooled. Keeping your furnace filter clean is a very important and necessary step for the proper operation of a air conditioning system. A clean furnace filter will increase the efficiency of the A/C system and keep the evaporator coils from freezing up by allowing the furnace blower to provide enough air flow. So make sure to replace your disposable filters or clean your electrostatic filters every other month during both cooling and heating seasons.

Drain Line: The a-framed evaporator coil sits above the furnace in a shallow pan where a drain line is attached for water run off. This line can become clogged up over time with molds and calcium deposits and should be removed and cleaned to allow for proper drainage. If it is plugged up try using a wire and force the clog out and run a hot water and bleach mixture through the line to remove any molds that have built up. A clogged drain line can lead to the evaporator pan overflowing onto your furnace causing rusting of the furnace system.

Blower Fan: The air conditioning system gets it’s air moving power from a “squirrel cage” fan. Even with good filters that are cleaned or replaced frequently these fans become clogged with hair dust and fats that build up on the fans surface. With out a good fan that is capable of moving enough air the A/C system becomes a useless dead weight in your basement.

Evaporator Coil: This portion of the cleaning should be left to a professional with the right equipment and knowledge as to not harm your A/C system. The evaporator coil gets filled with dust over time and slows the air flow, slowed air flow leads to the evaporator not being able to get rid of the cold fast enough and the coil will turn to a block of ice and will need to melt before operation of the system is OK again.

Take care of your Air Conditioning System and it will keep you smiling in its cool embrace for many hot Summers to come.

For more great tips on your heating and cooling system log in to http://www.furnacecleaning.info

Lifebreath TFP Air Cleaner

Indoor Air Quality is a major concern for many people who suffer from allergies or asthma. Last week I installed one of our best Indoor Air Quality warriors in the Lifebreath TFP air cleaner.

My customer was faced with breathing problems that caused her to cough constantly when in the comfort of her own home. She called our company to have the furnace duct cleaning service performed and ask what other steps she could take to improve the indoor air quality in her home.

This is a fairly new home but has never had the furnace system cleaned in its five year existence. First we preformed our Viper cleaning method to insure that all the debris would be removed from the system. Next we removed the the drum humidifier that was never cleaned and full of mold and calcium buildup and not providing much humidity to the home, we replaced this with our Generalaire SL-16 Flow Thru Humidifier. After removing the sources of the poor indoor air quality we installed the best air cleaning system available today in the Lifebreath TFP air cleaner.

The Lifebreath TFP  “Turbulent Flow Precipitator” Air Cleaner removes close to 99.97% of particles such as pollen, fungus spores, dust, animal dander and dirt; removes some bacteria; and even removes a large proportion of particles as small as one tenth of a micron.

The features of the Lifebreath TFP are:

• Revolutionizing home air cleaning, combining two particle capture technologies to ensure clean, healthy air throughout your home
• It allows air to circulate freely without putting any extra load on your air distribution system.
• The TFP removes 99.97% of health-threatening particles from the air in your home.
• And has the lowest maintenance requirements of any air cleaner available. Check-up required only once a year.
• The Hepa filter replacement only required every 3 years. Operating continuously at maximum efficiency with minimum maintenance.
• Unlike electronic air cleaners the Lifebreath TFP does not generate any poisonous ozone which can damage your lungs.

I waited a few weeks before writing this article so that the customer would have time to adjust to the new indoor air quality in her home and report back to me how she was feeling, the news was fantastic, she is no longer coughing all day well in her home and is extremely pleased with the results of our service.

For more information about Furnace cleaning or other indoor air quality questions contact us in Fort McMurray at 780-598-5966

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