Tag: home inspector

Cleaning Services

The Benefits of Duct Cleaning

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Duct Cleaning Salt Lake City air vents and dirty ductwork can make the HVAC system work harder to push heated or cooled air through your home. Professional duct cleaning can help reduce energy bills.

Many service providers will suggest spraying chemical biocides or sealants into your ductwork. The EPA and NADCA do not recommend these products.

Dust and debris build up inside air ducts, triggering allergies. The dust can contain pet dander, bacteria, mold spores, and other irritating allergens. This can be especially bad for allergy sufferers and those with chronic respiratory problems, such as asthma or auto-immune conditions.

Unclean air ducts can also disperse pollen, further aggravating allergy symptoms. A duct cleaning company can help you identify and remove the source of the problem.

The EPA recommends a professional duct cleaning service if you notice a musty odor, stains on the vent covers, or visible dirt inside your ductwork. It’s best to choose a company with the proper equipment and a member of the National Air Duct Cleaning Association (NADCA). NADCA certification doesn’t guarantee a clean duct, but it increases your chances of having a successful and damage-free cleaning experience.

In addition to duct cleaning, there are things you can do to prevent allergens from building up in the first place. Keeping your home clean, regularly changing the filters, and avoiding drywall can help minimize indoor allergens.

Allergies are a common problem for homeowners, and in some cases, they may be caused by dirty ductwork. Unclean ductwork can trap dust mites and other allergens and disperse them throughout the house when your HVAC system is running. These allergens can irritate your respiratory system, leading to wheezing and other breathing difficulties.

Dirty ductwork can also contain mold and mildew, leading to skin issues such as rashes, itching, and hives. The fungi can release spores, leading to sinus infections and other respiratory problems.

In addition to duct cleaning, you can reduce the dust in your home by using a dehumidifier, vacuuming carpets, and upholstery, and wiping down registers often. You can also install a whole-home humidifier to help with the humidity, reducing the dust and other allergens that collect in your home. However, if your allergy symptoms persist, it’s important to talk with your doctor about your options for treatment.

When dust builds up in your ductwork, it can carry microscopic contaminants like pet dander, bacteria from cat litter (toxoplasmosis), and rodent feces. These contaminants circulate throughout your home, landing on tables, smartphones, and children’s toys. Dirty ducts can also be breeding grounds for mold, mites, and other pests. All these fine particulate contaminates lead to poor indoor air quality, causing respiratory complications such as sneezing, coughing, and difficulty breathing.

If you notice that family members complain of irritated noses, throats, and eyes, it could be a sign that it’s time to call for a professional duct cleaning. Duct cleaning will eliminate those contaminates and improve the air quality in your home.

During a typical duct cleaning, your technician will close all the supply registers to maximize negative pressure in the ductwork system. Then, they’ll use specialized tools to dislodge and move the settled dust. Finally, they’ll vacuum the dust with a powerful truck-powered vacuum cleaner.

Before you clean your ducts, ensure the contractor is certified by NADCA. This ensures that the service will be carried out according to industry standards and will positively impact your home’s indoor air quality.

The EPA also warns against spraying any sealant or biocide into your ductwork. These chemical treatments haven’t been adequately tested and may do more harm than good.

While duct cleaning will not eliminate the need for your family to dust regularly, it will certainly make the task much easier. It will also help your family maintain a healthier lifestyle by providing fresh, dust-free air. This will result in healthier skin, hair, and nails and a better disposition. On the other hand, dirty air can cause many unpleasant ailments, including fatigue, dizziness, and nausea. Fortunately, keeping your ducts clean will prevent these problems from occurring. In the end, it will be worth the extra effort. For those who aren’t ready to add cleaning ducts to their chore list, hiring professionals to do the work can save you a lot of headaches down the road.

It’s bad enough when you have a pest infestation in your home, but it’s even worse to discover that these critters also nest inside your ductwork. Roaches, mice, and other pests love dark and humid areas, and your ductwork is ideal for them to hide away. In addition to being a nuisance, pests can transmit diseases when their droppings or dead bodies enter your indoor air supply.

Check the outdoor vent if you suspect a rodent infestation in your ducts. This should have a grate or louvers to prevent pests from entering. If these are damaged, you should have them replaced as soon as possible to avoid a pest problem in your air ducts.

The odor of rotting rodents is another telltale sign that you must have your ductwork cleaned. You should also be wary if you notice many fly eggs in your indoor air. These indicate that a roach, rat, or mouse has been nesting in your ducts, laying eggs, and leaving behind their waste.

Cleaning your air ducts is the best way to ensure you and your family enjoy better health. Coughing, sneezing, nasal congestion, nosebleeds, headaches, low-grade fevers, and sinus infections are all symptoms of dirty air ducts. They can quickly turn into serious respiratory conditions like bronchitis or pneumonia.

Duct cleaning is especially important for homes recently remodeled or bought from previous owners. These houses often have clogged ductwork due to neglect or improper maintenance. If you’re purchasing an older home or a new rental property, having your ducts checked and cleaned before moving in is wise.

It’s a good idea to hire a professional duct cleaner to clean your ductwork, as they use different tools and techniques to dislodge debris and dirt from the inside of the ductwork. They can also use chemical biocides to kill bacteria, mildew, mold, and fungus growing in your ducts. A professional duct cleaning company will not only clean your vents but also help you keep them clean in the future by providing tips and recommendations.

Mold grows quickly in areas where there is excess moisture, like ducts. This is a problem because mold spores can be inhaled and cause health problems, especially for people with asthma, chronic lung conditions, or weakened immune systems. Mold can also make a home smell musty and unpleasant. The best way to identify a problem with mold is to open the vent grate and look inside. If there are splotches or colored spotting, there’s a good chance that mold is present.

If you spot signs of mold in your ducts, it’s best to call for a professional air duct cleaning service immediately. Even if the mold isn’t visible to the naked eye, mold is likely hiding in the corners of the ducts or behind vent covers.

If mold isn’t treated, it will continue to grow and spread. Mold spores can linger in the air, causing respiratory symptoms, including sneezing, coughing, and itchy eyes. Prolonged exposure to mold spores can lead to more severe respiratory conditions, including pneumonia and lung cancer.

Clean air ducts can reduce the mold and mildew spores that family members inhale. However, if the underlying causes of the mold growth are not corrected, the mold will recur.

If you have a persistent mold problem, getting an HVAC preventative maintenance plan that will include regular inspections and cleanings is a good idea. These services will ensure that your air ducts are free of clogs and moisture leaks, preventing mold formation. This will also allow your HVAC system to work efficiently, which means that you’ll save money on energy bills. Plus, you’ll get peace of mind knowing that your family is breathing cleaner air. Contact us today to schedule an air duct cleaning appointment. We offer services throughout the Twin Cities area. Our highly-trained technicians will help you keep your home healthy and livable for years. We’re a locally owned and operated company that you can trust to provide the best possible service.

Home Services

The Importance of a Home Inspection

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Home Inspection Colorado Springs CO look at everything from leaning walls to whether toilets flush properly. It’s usually a good idea for buyers to tag along with the inspector and ask questions.

This can help them decide whether a defect is major enough to warrant renegotiating or leaving the deal.

Home inspections visually examine a home’s physical structure and systems, from the roof to the foundation. A home inspector is a qualified professional who inspects a house and provides a written report on the property’s condition. The inspector’s report will identify any significant defects or safety hazards and recommend any needed repairs. Homebuyers should clearly understand the home’s condition before making a final purchase decision. A thorough home inspection can also help home sellers understand what conditions will likely arise during the selling process.

Home buyers should always choose a licensed and insured inspector. A reputable home inspector should be able to provide references from past clients and should be able to demonstrate their technical knowledge of the systems of a house. In addition to a general home inspection, some inspectors offer specialized services such as radon testing and termite inspections. Homebuyers should inquire about the services provided and request a sample of the home inspector’s report before hiring the company.

A home inspection should be distinct from a home appraisal, used to determine a home’s value and typically performed by a licensed appraiser. A home inspection focuses on the condition of a house, while an appraisal assesses a home’s market value.

During a home inspection, the inspector will evaluate the condition of the house and its major systems, such as the heating and cooling system, the plumbing and electrical system, and the house’s structural integrity. The inspector will also examine the drainage system, water heater, and interior surfaces such as floors, walls, and ceilings.

Buyers should be aware that a home inspection is not a warranty, and the inspector will not guarantee that any problems identified will be fixed. However, the results of a home inspection can give a buyer leverage during the negotiation process by providing documentation of issues that may allow them to ask the seller to make repairs or reduce the sales price.

While there is no legal requirement for a seller to fix any problems discovered during a home inspection, serious issues such as a sagging foundation or wood-destroying organism infestation can be used to negotiate a lower sale price. In addition, a buyer can request that the seller address any safety-related problems discovered during the inspection before closing.

A home inspection is often one of the largest single expenses a buyer will incur in purchasing a property. However, a home inspection is often well spent, as it reveals problems that can be addressed before they become major issues requiring costly repairs or total rebuilding. Home inspections are important for buyers and sellers alike. For buyers, they help to ensure that they are purchasing a sound investment, and for sellers, they can ensure that their property is in good condition and will appeal to the most buyers.

A good inspector will take the time to explain their findings and answer any questions the buyer may have. It is recommended that the buyer be present for the inspection to see the damage for themselves and ask any questions that arise. This will also give the seller a chance to point out any improvements that have been made and to address any concerns that the buyer may have.

Once the home inspection is complete, the inspector will provide a written report to the buyer. The report will include a list of defects found in the home and a description of their severity. The buyer can then use this information to decide whether or not to continue with the sale or request that certain repairs be made before closing.

In some cases, the issues found during the home inspection will be significant enough to cause the buyer to withdraw from the sale completely. This is why it is a good idea for the buyer to incorporate a home inspection contingency into their contract. This will allow them to back out of the contract without penalty if the inspection uncovers serious problems they can’t live with.

If the problems are not major, the buyer can negotiate with the seller for a price reduction or credit against the purchase, or they can arrange for the seller to make the necessary repairs. Having an experienced real estate agent on the buyer’s side is essential in this situation. The real estate agent can help to determine the best course of action based on the market conditions and the leverage available to their client.

When the inspector’s inspector is done, they’ll write a report and send it to you. It will include a summary, recommendations, and detailed information on each inspected item. The inspection report will often have photos to make things more clear, as well as a key that describes the different symbols or codes used in the report to indicate the severity of an issue (I = Inspected; R = Recommended repair; S = Safety concern; NP = Not present).

The bulk of the report will be a list of items with details, including what was observed and whether it’s a problem. The report will also detail the condition of the home’s heating system; central air conditioning system (temperature permitting); interior plumbing and electrical systems; roof, attic, and visible insulation; walls, ceilings, floors, windows, doors, and cabinets; and the foundation, basement, and structural components. The report will also note any issues that could pose a safety risk to the homeowner, such as evidence of mold or wood-destroying organisms, and recommend further evaluation by a specialist.

While the inspector will do their best to examine the home thoroughly, there are some things that they need help to see. Inspectors are not required to climb on roofs or enter crawl spaces, and they don’t have the power to force their way into locked rooms or remove personal belongings from furniture. If the inspector can’t access an area, they’ll explain why it’s impossible to inspect and provide a contact name and number for the person who can help.

If the inspector finds something that is a major problem, you can use it as leverage to negotiate with the seller. If it’s a minor issue, like a missing shingle or a dirty air filter, you can fix it after you move in. However, if it’s something serious, such as a major foundation crack or significant leak, you should reconsider the purchase and get an opinion from another professional.

A home inspection is a valuable piece of the real estate purchasing process. It can help buyers spot needed renovations and upkeep necessities and alert them to any safety issues that may have yet to be discovered during the buyer’s due diligence period. A home inspection contingency in your purchase contract can give you the option to back out of the deal or renegotiate with the seller, depending on what is found during the inspection.

The report can also help determine who is responsible for covering the cost of certain repairs. Crucial repairs deemed necessary by the inspector will typically fall on the seller, while less urgent repairs could be the buyer’s responsibility.

While no one expects a home to be perfect, it is reasonable to request that a few minor problems be fixed before closing. A few examples of reasonable repair requests would be broken shingles, water leakage, and faulty electrical outlets that present a fire hazard.

Once you have your home inspection report, review it thoroughly. If you have any questions, the inspector should be able to provide further explanation or clarification. It would be best if you also went over the photos that the inspector included in the report.

Some things you can do to prepare for a home inspection include:

Clear the home of clutter, especially in closets and under sinks. It will make the home inspector’s job much easier and quicker if they can get through without opening everything. Replace any burned-out light bulbs, and ensure any outside lights are working.

Be aware that your inspector may recommend further, more specialized inspections for things like the presence of asbestos, termite infestations, radon, and lead paint. These extra inspections will require additional fees but can be vital to the buying process.

If you are ready to become a homeowner, contact us today to schedule a home inspection. We look forward to working with you! Copyright 2019 – All Rights Reserved.