Cleaning your Air Ducts and Dryer Vent is a good idea.

Dryer Vent Cleaning

Do you think that emptying the lint trap is sufficient? You may have to guess again. Despite regular emptying of the lint trap, some lint still finds its way through the vent and accumulates heavily on the ridges of the flexible hose. While ECOsential Clean is in your home cleaning your carpets and upholstery, consider having your dryer vent cleaned.

Warning Signs of Congested Dryer Vent 

• The clothes are taking longer to dry than usual
• As a result of a standard drying cycle, clothes are hotter than usual.
• When the dryer is in operation, the flap on your outside dryer no longer flaps.
• The lint trap on the dryer does not fit tightly
• Hoses made of flexible or plastic for dryer vents.
• There is a considerable distance between the dryer and the exterior dryer vent.
• The ducting installed for the dryer vent to the exterior has a number of bends.
• Gas, motor oil, cooking oil, and other flammable materials have been soiled into the clothing being washed.

Tips for Decreasing Dryer Lint Build-up 

• Ensure that the dryer vent hose is regularly cleaned
• After each load of laundry, clean the lint trap
• It is not recommended to operate the dryer without a lint filter
• Use metal ducts and replace foil or plastic ducts with rigid or semi-rigid ducts. This will improve airflow, reduce flammability, and reduce lint accumulation.
• You should wash your lint screens every few weeks in order to remove the residue left behind by fabric softeners.
• Check that leaves, sticks, and other outdoor debris do not obstruct the outdoor vent flap
• Maintain your dryer. A professional should inspect gas dryers to ensure that the gas line and all connections are secure and that there are no leaks
• Make sure the dryer is not overloaded
• You should keep your dryer away from combustible chemicals.
• Keep flammable items away from the dryer
• Run the dryer only when someone is at home.
• Make sure that the dryer ducts are at least four inches in diameter.
• The manufacturer's instructions should be followed when using a dryer
• Metal tape should be applied to all duct joints
• Install the duct joints so that the piece nearest to the dryer is on the inside
• Make sure that dryer vents are vented to the exterior of the house
• To prevent animals from entering the duct, install a screen on the exterior vent. 

Air Duct Cleaning

ECOsential Clean does not simply vacuum your air vents, we actually clean them. In general, it is considered healthy to clean air ducts on a regular basis as we do with the rest of our home maintenance. You cannot remove all dirt and debris with regular vacuuming, so it ends up in your air ducts and circulates throughout your home. As a rule of thumb, every few years is recommended unless someone in the home has breathing issues, allergies, or one of the following is occurring:

• The presence of rodents and other vermin 
• Debris and dust in excess 
• Microorganisms

The above issues are likely to recur until the source of the problem is identified and corrected.

Mold

Whenever there is visible mold growth inside the hard surfaces of your ducts or anywhere else in your HVAC system, you should consult a professional as soon as possible for the following reasons:

• It may appear that the material is mold, but it may not actually be mold. Only an expert can provide an accurate assessment of this issue.

• In the event that the suspected mold was caused by wet insulation, the area cannot be effectively cleaned. Replacement is necessary.

• There may be parts of your heating and cooling system that are not accessible for a visual inspection, so ask the service provider to show you any mold that they believe to exist in these areas.

• Mold growth will occur again if the conditions that caused it in the first place are not corrected.

 Controlling Moisture

Air ducts should not contain moisture, according to experts. As a result of dirt and moisture in the air ducts, biological contaminants can grow and spread throughout the home. The most effective method of preventing mold growth in all types of air ducts is to control moisture. To prevent moisture from entering your ducts, follow these steps:

• Correct leaks or standing water
• Correctly clean humidifiers 
• Remove and have wet insulation professionally replaced
• Less steam or humidifiers near the air ducts 

Other Tips

• Air handling units should be constructed so that maintenance personnel have easy, direct access to heat exchange components and drain pans for proper cleaning and maintenance.

• Remove standing water from under the air unit cooling coils. Make sure the drain pan actually slopes down to the drain.