Dirty Air Ducts Can Be a Fire Hazard

All dust can be a fire hazard and regular household dust is no exception. Help keep your home safe by cleaning air ducts and preventing an accumulation of dust.

How is Dust Dangerous?

Accumulated dust can pose a fire hazard, as all dust is flammable. Ignition of dust can happen in two ways, by a spark of energy, or an extremely hot surface.

Fire Hazards in the Furnace

Air within your home is heated through the burners and heat exchanger of the furnace. Burners heat the heat exchanger to an extremely high temperature.  Above the furnace, within the plenum dust accumulates over time and will occasionally drop onto the top of the heat exchanger.  If the amount of debris is large enough, there is a strong potential of a fire within the furnace.

Fire Hazards from the Furnace Filter

Furnace filters are designed to protect the furnace and air conditioner from dust.  If the filter is not changed regularly dust can accumulate to the point that the filter can collapse and be sucked into the furnace cabinet and cause a fire.

Cleaning Air Ducts

The only way to reduce fire hazard from dust is to reduce the amount of dust. Cleaning air ducts is the easiest, most effective way to eliminate dust build up and prevent potential hazards from forming.  Choose a professional air duct cleaning company as improperly cleaned air ducts may actually cause more loose dust to circulate, creating more of a hazard.

Pet Dander Can Affect Your Air Quality

Pet Dander is one of those microscopic particles found in many homes that can cause allergic reactions and trigger asthma. Here is some more information about pet dander and what you can do to reduce the amount of it in your home.

What is Pet Dander?

Pet dander is not animal hair; it is the tiny bits of skin flakes skin produced by every animal. Many people think they are allergic to cat or dog hair, but most are allergic to dander. Some people are severely allergic to pet dander, while others have less severe reactions.

Where is Pet Dander Found?

Pet dander is found anywhere pets are found. All animals shed hair and skin and leave traces of it behind everywhere the go. Dander is often so small that it can become airborne and reach the tops of surfaces that pets do not go, so just because Fido does not sit on the couch that does not mean that dander cannot be found on the couch. Pet dander can also stick to people’s hair, skin, and clothing that come in contact with animals, their bedding, or places animals have been.

How Do You Control Pet Dander?

Keep pet dander at a minimum by cleaning and dusting frequently. Wash animals and their bedding and brush them outdoors. Offer pets their own place to sit and sleep rather than allowing them on furniture.

What If I am Allergic to Pet Dander?

The best way of controlling allergic reactions is avoidance. If you are unwilling to part with the animal consider the following suggestions:

  • Receive treatment or consultation from an Allergist.
  • Make sure to wash your hands after petting any animal and never rub your eyes.
  • Wear a protective mask and gloves when grooming.
  • Litter boxes should be placed in an area unconnected to the air supply for the rest of the home.
  • Keep pets off furniture.
  • Change clothing worn after grooming or playing with pets.
  • HVAC systems can spread allergens throughout the home, change the furnace filter regularly, and keep the air ducts clean.

5 Tips to Keep You Furnace Efficient 


To keep your heating bills low, you need to keep your furnace running efficiently. Here are 5 tips to keep your furnace working at peak performance.

Before Winter, Have Furnace Inspected

Before the first use, have the have the furnace inspected by a professional HVAC contractor.  The furnace contractor will inspect the furnace to make sure that the furnace is operating safely and efficiently.

Replace Filters

Replace the furnace filter every 2 months that the system is in use. Clogged air filters make it difficult to for the furnace to draw air. Furnace filters protect the furnace components from dirt which will cause damage to furnace components and dramatically decrease energy efficiency.

De-Clutter the Furnace Area

Keep the area around the furnace clean and clear of clutter. This reduces fire hazard and makes sure the furnace can get all the air it needs for proper combustion.

Use Your Thermostat Properly

If your thermostat is set at a constant temperature, consider setting the thermostat a few degrees cooler at night while you are sleeping, and during the day when you are at work.  Setting your thermostat properly will dramatically reduce your furnace bill.

Keep Your Air Ducts Clean

Nine out of ten HVAC failures are due to dirt and debris accumulation.  Keeping your air ducts clean will reduce the impact of debris build up on the furnace filter and HVAC components.  Have the air ducts professionally cleaned every three to five years.

Ductworks, Inc. Earns Coveted Angie’s List Super Service Award

Award reflects company’s consistently high level of customer service

 

Ductworks, Inc., has been awarded the prestigious 2009 Angie’s List Super Service Award!

The Super Service Award, now celebrating its 11th year, is reserved for companies who have achieved and maintained a superior service rating on Angie’s List – the nation’s leading provider of consumer ratings on local service companies – throughout the past year. Fewer than 5 percent of the companies on Angie’s List meet the eligibility requirements to be considered for the award.

“Our Super Service Award winners are the cream of the crop when it comes to providing the best customer service,” said Angie Hicks, founder of Angie’s List.

Ductworks, Inc., Your Air Duct Cleaning Expert, values the great service that Angie’s List provides- it is a great tool for providing air duct cleaning company reviews for customers.

Angie’s List Super Service Award winners have maintained a total and overall grade of “A;” have received a minimum number of reports; are NOT in the Angie’s List “Penalty Box” and do NOT have an unsatisfactory rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Service company ratings are updated daily on Angie’s List, but members can find the 2009 Super Service Award logo next to company names in search results on AngiesList.com.

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Angie’s List is where thousands of consumers share their ratings and reviews on local contractors and companies in more than 500 different categories. Currently, more than 1 million consumers across the U.S. rely on Angie’s List to help them find the right contractor or company for the job they need done. Members have unlimited access to the list via Internet or phone; receive the award-winning Angie’s List magazine, which includes articles on home improvement and maintenance, consumer trends and scam alerts; and they can utilize the Angie’s List complaint resolution service. Get more information about Angie’s List at http://www.angieslist.com View the latest Angie’s List News Releases in our Press Center and read Angie’s blog at http://www.angiehicksblog.com.

Ductworks Earns A+ BBB Rating

Ductworks, Inc. Achieves an “A+” Rating from the Better Business Bureau® (BBB)

Air Duct Cleaning Industry Leader Receives an “A+” Rating for its Overall Quality of Services Offered.

Denver, CO.— Ductworks, Inc. a national leader in the air duct cleaning industry, has been elevated to an “A+” with the Better Business Bureau’s grading system.  Winner of a Gold Star Certificate from BBB Denver/Boulder, 2009

The BBB Grading System assigns letter grades ranging from A+ to F to local businesses.  The letter grades replace the less-detailed rating system of “satisfactory” or “unsatisfactory” and represents the BBB’s degree of confidence that the business is operating in a trustworthy manner and making good faith efforts to resolve customer concerns. The BBB’s proprietary ratings formula takes into account 17 weighted factors, using objective information and actual incidences of business behavior that have been verified and evaluated by BBB professionals.

“Ductworks, Inc. has been accredited with the Better Business Bureau since 1990,” said Edward Frisk, vice president of Ductworks, Inc.  During these 20 years, Ductworks, Inc. has been an actitive participant in the BBB program and activities. The A+ rating further solidifies Ductwork’s leadership in the air duct cleaning industry. Customers are the core of our business. For over 20 years, Ductworks, Inc. has been dedicated to offering quality air duct cleaning and world-class service. The BBB continues to serve as a strong resource in helping consumers better understand our overall commitment to service.”

For more information about the BBB grading system, visit http://denver.bbb.org

About Ductworks, Your Air Duct Cleaning Expert.

Ductworks, Inc. “Your Air Duct Cleaning Expert” is a Denver-based company founded in 1990 to improve indoor air quality for homes and businesses. Their patented system of scraping and vacuuming is the most effective process for air duct cleaning. They have more technicians certified by the NADCA than any company in Colorado and provide customers with before and after photos to insure top quality performance.

About Better Business Bureau (BBB)

As a private, non-profit organization, the purpose of the Better Business Bureau is to promote an ethical marketplace. BBB help resolve buyer/seller complaints by means of conciliation, mediation and arbitration.  BBB also review advertising claims, online business practices and charitable organizations.  BBB develop and issue reports on businesses and nonprofit organizations and encourage people to check out a company or charity before making a purchase or donation.

Winner of a Gold Star Certificate from BBB Denver/Boulder, 2009

Easy Tips to Keep Your Ducts Clean

Keeping air ducts clean can help keep indoor air quality healthy. Follow these simple tips to reduce dust and other build up in your air ducts.

Change Furnace Filters

Routine air filter maintenance is the most effective means of keeping your air ducts clean. Proper selection, routine exchange, and the proper fit of you furnace filter will dramatically extend the longevity of your air duct cleaning.

Perform An Air Duct Inspection

After the cleaning has been performed conduct an air duct inspection.  Thoroughly look over your air ducts for any evidence of leaks, damage, or gaps.  It is important that air is not drawn or delivered to unintended areas.  Most gaps can be sealed with a caulking gun and air duct sealant purchased from your local hardware store.  If the gap or damage is too large, contact an HVAC contractor.

Perform Routine HVAC Maintenance

Contract an HVAC contractor to provide routine maintenance on your heating and cooling system.  Routine maintenance will ensure that your system is running at its peak efficiency, and will prevent debris caused from mechanical neglect.

Limit Dust Indoors

The best way to limit dust in indoor air is to reduce the amount of dust you have indoors. Dust hard surfaces frequently. Use a vacuum cleaner with a good filter and weekly vacuum all carpets and fabric furniture. Wash bedding, pets, and pet bedding, every week. Limit indoor activities that create dust and never smoke indoors.

Ductworks, Inc. to appear on DIY Networks Disaster House January 1st!

Disaster House Air Duct Cleaning

Disaster House provides valuable consumer information in addition to highly entertaining disasters. Insider tips on home-repair, how to prevent common disasters and what homeowners need to know before filing an insurance claim, make Disaster House a must see TV series for anyone who owns a home.  Each week, contractor Josh Temple subjects a house to simulated storms and disasters to show homeowners what it takes to repair catastrophic damage.  These outrageous experiments accelerate the typical wear and tear a house incurs and mimic common catastrophes so viewers can discover what it takes to repair some of the biggest mishaps homeowners face today.

In this episode, Josh Temple blows up a 5000 pound, six foot tall sand castle in the living room of the home to demonstrate an extreme case of dirty air ducts.

DIY’s Disaster House Team called Ductworks, Inc., Your Air Duct Cleaning Expert ™  to provide the Complete Ventilation Cleaning Package™.   Ductworks used its patented air duct cleaning process which scraped and scoured the numerous pounds of debris from the walls the air ducts.  Whew… What a job!

Don’t miss the premiere Ductworks, Inc. on DIY Network’s Disaster House – January 1st!

How Air Flows Within A Home


Ductwork is the mechanical system that distributes air through all rooms of your home.  The steps listed below will give you a basic understanding of how your ventilation system works.

  1. Your furnace/air conditioner turns on to temper the air to the desired temperature set at your thermostat.
  2. Air enters the supply trunk line (the large rectangular metal box that extends overhead across your basement or crawlspace).   Much like a tree trunk, the supply trunk line is the main distribution for airflow, attached to the trunk line are numerous smaller ventilation lines called supply lines.
  3. Supply lines enter the numerous rooms within a home distributing the conditioned are through air vent registers.
  4. Airflow circulates within each room to temper the air to the desired temperature.
  5. Air is drawn from each room into return air vent registers (the larger vent registers typically located on the walls) to return lines, which attach to a return trunk line.
  6. The return trunk line returns the air to the furnace/air conditioner filter.
  7. The filter removes contaminants from the air and is drawn into the furnace/air conditioner.

This cycle of airflow continues until the temperature of air reaches the set temperature of the thermostat.