Archive for Air Ducts

How’s Your Indoor Air Quality?

Do you ever evaluate your indoor air quality? Let’s just be honest for a minute, did you even know that was a thing? At Sams, cleaning carpet is just one sector of services we perform for businesses and homeowners in the St. Louis area. Our Dirty Duct Cleaning Service, a subsidiary of Sams Carpet Cleaning & Repairs, comes prepared to address your indoor air quality problems. Of course, dust and dirt are found in all homes with air ducts, but there are underlying reasons as to why this cleaning can become an urgency. There are a number of things that can be affected by such buildup like pets, occupants with allergies/asthma, home renovations and many more factors. If you’re not sure what you’re breathing in, we’ll tell you about the potential and possible problems you can face if you don’t fight this now.

What’s in the Air Inside Your Home?

The EPA has estimates that shows that indoor air quality in a home may be up to 100 times worse than the air outside. Those pollutants that stick to your HVAC system continues to recirculate while your unit is running. The germs and dust becomes compounded when the ducts aren’t cleaned properly. Alright, so if your system is blowing the air just fine, just imagine if your motor can’t turn on due to dirt and the air filter is clogged with dust. Dust contains more than dirt- dead skin, pet dander, fungi, feces and even mold spores. If not treated properly, your HVAC systems and air ducts can quickly become a playground for bacteria and other pests. Sams always go the extra mile, we make sure to use an anti-microbial disinfectant to inhibit the growth of molds, mildews, and other odor causing bacteria. We do all this for our clients at no extra cost to ensure that they are getting the best air circulation in their homes.

 

We understand that the ductwork is your homes lungs, and we want to make sure you that they are kept clean from any airborne hazards that may threaten your space. This includes mold contamination within the ductwork and any exposure to mold can create some unhealthy conditions for everyone in your home. This mold can spread throughout the home’s vents and begin to form a moisture presence that can cause respiratory allergic reactions in people. You can look for similar reactions that you would normally see from those who have seasonal allergies. Just like drinking an icy beverage, the waters beads up on the outside of the glass and moisture starts to form. Where moisture is present in your vents is where mildew can be introduced. Inspecting your air ducts can be a bit tricky, so it’s best that you call professionals to conduct a proper investigation.

If you reside in a humid environment and experience various humidity levels throughout your home, we suggest investing in a dehumidifier. This won’t solve all your problems, but this will definitely remove some of the excess moisture you’re experiencing in your home. As mentioned earlier, Sams Carpet provides an anti-microbial disinfectant treatment that is registered with the E.P.A and is approved for use by professional cleaners. The ducts and vents can take up to a maximum of 4-6 hours to clean, depending on the size of your house and how cluttered your system is. We utilize powerful truck-mounted systems that cleans out all the buildup of dust and dust mites. As it’s removed from the ducts, all of the debris is collected in the van outside, and not recirculated in your home.

Let the Sams Team Help with Your Air Quality

At Sams, we care and value your experience with our company so much that we ensure our community the best technicians. Our trained technicians intentions are always to exceed the expectations of our customers without question. Our intent is to satisfy our customer and if you’re ready to receive a superb service, contact us today.

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Your Local St. Charles County Solution for Odor Removal

“What’s that smell?” This is usually a visitor’s first thought when they’re greeted with an unpleasant odor at any home. Lingering smells that live in your home will soon affect the love you once had for it. Sadly, spraying air freshener won’t solve that stinky issue of yours. In fact, you’ll find that even after showering your place with the finest Febreze on the market, the smell has remained. But never fear – you don’t have to move out of your musty home to escape the stench! Help is closer than you think, right here in St. Charles, MO. Let the Sams team help. Here are a few tips that will help you banish bad odor and kick them to the curb!

Clean Your Air Ducts to Prevent Odors from Spreading

Central heating and air conditioning systems are everyone’s best friend during those hot summers and cold winters. But they can also be a prime place for odors to build up. As the air passes through your hallways, you begin questioning the unpleasant scents you’re smelling. Before you tackle the problem, identify what’s causing your air ducts to smell. If you’re a do-it-yourselfer, you can try cleaning your condenser coils and collection pan utilizing a strong cleaning solution, preferably one with bleach, to kill off mold. Using your vacuum, suck up loose dust or debris from the fins and coils. If the smell wasn’t coming from the air conditioning unit, then it can be coming from any part of the duct system, and you’ll need professional help for that.

Clean Your Home to Address Odors at the Source

You’re going to pick up those dirty socks, right? Honestly, this is something you should already be doing, but if you’re just letting your teenager’s cleats lay around it’s time to make a change. Clean your home thoroughly with cleaning solutions and antibacterial rags regularly. Be sure to pay attention to places you normally wouldn’t clean, such as cabinets, window sills, vents, and under the sink. Take it one step further and wipe down the walls, baseboards, doors and countertops.

Dog & Cat on bed

Eliminate Pet Odors

You think Fluffy and Fido only leave odors behind when they have an accident? Think again. Just like us, dogs sweat when they’re hot, and the body parts that produce the greatest smells are bigger on dogs. Their paw pads spread on your carpets, floors, sofa and any other thing they can stand on. It may be best to keep Fluffy and Fido on a routine bathing and grooming schedule to reduce the aroma that’s sticking around. Speaking of sticking, let’s talk about those accidents on your carpet. A lot of accidents, specifically urine, can leave permanent stains – affecting the dyes on your floor. With a proper inspection, Sams will identify the best course of action to clean the stains and remove odor. Click here to read about the impact of urine deposits on your carpet.

Clean Your Carpet and Upholstered Furniture

“Knock, knock. Who’s there?” It’s the stench you’ve been stressing over. Pull out those odors in your carpet with a vacuum cleaner. A vacuum can help to keep your home smelling fresh by getting rid of dirt and other particles lodged in your carpet. To help with your vacuuming process, you can try an “at-home” remedy for odors and use baking soda. Try sprinkling it on your fabrics surface, letting it settle overnight, and vacuuming the carpet for the best results. Although this is an odor neutralizer, this will only get you so far. Instead of taking your chances, call a professional.

Call Your St. Charles Odor Removal Professionals

At Sams, we’re experts in eliminating offensive odors, and our trained technicians help identify areas holding the harsh smells. By highlighting the cause and location of the odor, we’re able to determine an appropriate course of action to remedy the situation. The science of identifying these areas can be tricky, but our cutting-edge equipment helps restore your home. We’re passionate about helping our customers maximize the enjoyment of their space. Between our infrared lighting technology to identify the cause of many odors to our thermo fog process and dehumidifiers, we’ll be sure to hunt down the problem, neutralize odors and kill pollutants.

So, what are you waiting for? Give us a call today and free your family of those stinky fumes. We love our community, and we would love the opportunity to be welcomed into your home. Let us properly remove the odor, and leave the restoration process to us.

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Allergies at Work: How to Reduce Allergens in the Workplace

“It’s just allergies.”

It’s a familiar refrain this time of year as those who suffer with seasonal allergies explain away our sneezing fits, tired eyes, and tissue hoarding to concerned coworkers. But just allergies probably isn’t the right way to explain something that can lead to miserable days and sleepless nights for weeks at a time. While not contagious, allergy symptoms can be every bit as disruptive and insufferable as a cold to the person experiencing them.

So what can you do to create a healthier workplace environment? These four tips can help to keep your workplace cleaner and your team in tip top shape.

Make it Easy for Employees to Keep Personal Workspaces Clean

Minimizing allergens in the workplace starts with ensuring each employee takes the responsibility to keep their immediate workspace clean at all times. Make sure employees are reminded of this responsibility and have wipes and other cleaning supplies readily available for them to use. One of the most typical office allergens is dust. Regularly committing time to wiping down surfaces and equipment at least once a week can make a big difference.

Help Your HVAC Filter Do Its Job

Airflow is essential to removing allergens and pollutants from the air. Air that is stagnant never makes it to the filter in your HVAC system. Make sure your building’s vents are open and unobstructed by furniture or boxes. Creating an environment where air can flow freely will help the filter in your HVAC system do its job.
While airflow is a good thing, it depends on where the air is coming from. Open windows will increase airflow, but they also introduce pollen into the air inside your building. Your best bet for using air circulation to minimize allergens is a clean and unobstructed HVAC system.

Clean What Can’t Be Seen

Speaking of your HVAC system, when is the last time you took a close look at the vents and air ducts in your building? You wouldn’t believe the amount of dust and dirt that builds up over time, restricting airflow and leading to a constant and steady stream of airborne allergens. Sams has a high-powered, truck-mounted system designed to completely clear dust and debris from your vents. Using a rotating brush to scrub the vents, the system removes any build up as well. Best of all? There’s no cleanup required when we’re done. The system pulls the dirt out of your building to a collection container in the truck outside.

Professionally Clean Carpet and Upholstery

The carpet and upholstered furniture in your office acts like a trap for dust and all sorts of other airborne pollutants. It’s important that the carpeted floors be vacuumed regularly, but that’s not enough. The vacuum won’t pick up all the allergens, and in some cases will only agitate them.

In addition to helping your workplace look its best, professional carpet and upholstery cleaning is also a great solution for ridding your building of pollutants that activate employees’ allergies. The Sams team uses the latest technology and techniques and skilled professional technicians to hit the reset button on allergens, dirt, and grime in your company’s carpet.

Sams is Your Partner in the Fight Against Allergens

You don’t have to go it alone in your fight to minimize allergens from your workplace. The Sams team has a history of helping companies in the St. Louis area provide a safe, clean environment for their employees, and we can help you too. Contact us today to talk through strategies for keeping your workplace looking its best and your team feeling healthy and productive.

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Clean Dusty Air Ducts to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

You vacuum your carpet and have it professionally cleaned on a regular basis. All surfaces are regularly dusted.  Your tile and grout shines and your countertops sparkle. Yet dust continues to find its way back in, and it’s a never-ending cycle. Perhaps it’s time to consider having your dusty ducts cleaned.

Sometimes, the need for air duct cleaning is apparent when you look at your supply and return vents. Other times, it’s not as clear what’s lurking in the walls of a building without a more thorough inspection. But even when the signs of dirty ductwork are less obvious, you would be surprised how much dust and debris is inside them.

In this blog, we’ll explore some of the advantages of air duct cleaning in a home or office building, and explain Sams’ proven and simple process for safely cleaning ducts and minimizing contamination.

How Duct Cleaning Improves Air Quality

One of the primary reasons customers reach out to Sams for air duct cleaning is to improve air quality. Every particle of air in your home or business travels through your HAVC system multiple times each day. Air circulation by itself is a good thing. But when that air is travelling through dirty ductwork, it has the opportunity to pick up contaminants as it travels.

Contaminated air isn’t something any of us should be breathing. But if someone in your home or office is particularly sensitive to dust, pet hair or dander, or other pollutants, it could be making them sick. Having air ducts professionally cleaned is critical to ensuring the health and safety of your family or employees.

Save Energy, Save Money

Beyond health and safety risks, dusty air ducts can cost you more in energy usage and lead to premature system failure. Contaminants in your heating and cooling system reduce efficiency, forcing the system to work harder. Even with the use of filters, dust and dirt can build up in your system and shorten the life of your expensive HVAC equipment. Clean systems are more easily able to maintain your desired comfort level by expending less energy, which means greater energy cost savings for you.

The Sams Dusty Duct Cleaning Process

The Sams team are experts when it comes to cleaning dirty and dusty air ducts. We employ a powerful, truck-mounted system to remove all the debris from your supply and return ductwork without turning it loose in your home. The system features a powerful rotating brush that scrubs the walls of your ductwork, removing stubborn dust buildup along the way. The dust and debris travels through the hose directly to our truck outside, ensuring your home is left clean and uncontaminated.

Depending on the size of the building and the amount of buildup in the ducts, we can typically have your entire HVAC system cleaned in 1½ – 4 hours, minimizing downtime for your HVAC system. Once the ducts are completely clean, with client approval, we apply an EPA-registered anti-microbial disinfectant to limit future growth of mold, mildew, and other bacteria, at no additional cost.

You don’t have to live with dusty ducts. While taking on your entire ventilation system might seem like an insurmountable cleaning task, it’s just another day at the office for the Sams team. Contact us to learn more about our duct cleaning services or to schedule you’re a duct cleaning appointment for your home or office today.

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Issues That Affect Odor and Indoor Air Quality

Odors in your home can come from everywhere and everything, including (but certainly not limited to) cooking, pets, smoke, and even dirty clothes.  Headaches, dizziness, and fatigue, as well as irritation of the eyes, nose and throat are all possible side effects of short-term exposure to pollutants found in indoor air with poor quality.  Health effects from poor indoor air quality can be experienced soon after exposure or even up to years later.

The quality of the air in your home can directly affect the health of you and your loved ones.  But not to worry, because there are a number of things you can do to reduce odors and keep your home smelling fresh and clean.

  • Have your air ducts cleaned. Dirty air ducts and dryer vents can not only restrict air flow throughout your home, but they can also affect your health.  Not only can we clean them for you, but we also use an Anti-Microbial Disinfectant to inhibit the growth of molds, mildews, and odor causing bacteria.  This will help keep the air in your home fresher, longer!
  • Thoroughly clean carpets and upholstered furniture. Your furniture, as well as your carpets, can play host to all kinds of dirt, bacteria, and odors that can affect the air quality of your home.  We use a number of steps to care for each one and help improve air quality.
  • Remove pet urine immediately. If not treated quickly, pet urine odor can be incredibly tricky to completely remove.  We can determine just how severe the odor damage may be and proper course of treatment to remove the odor. This could range anywhere from minor impact, which may only require a simple cleaning, to a more intense impact, which may require cleaning the subfloor, padding, carpet backing, and sealing the subfloor.  No matter the severity, we can help your home smell clean and free of pet odors again.
  • Heavy duty cleaning of walls, ceilings, cabinets, etc. This is especially helpful with cooking smells and smoke. Be sure to only use products that are meant to be used on these types of surfaces.  Repainting walls, ceilings, or wooden furniture would also help to cover up any lingering odors.
  • Dust frequently and properly. The hard surfaces and floors in your home should be cleaned at least once a week with a damp rag or mop to capture the dirt and dust.  Dry cloths and feather dusters will just push those allergens and dust right back into the air.
  • Invest in a dehumidifier. Humidity levels in your basement or crawl spaces can easily become quite high, created a moldy or musty smell.  A dehumidifier will reduce the humidity level and the subsequent mold; keeping your home smelling fresh.

Candles are another great way to reduce odors in your home. However, candles can sometimes leave a trace of soot in rugs or carpets that can be quite difficult to remove depending on the severity of the soot.  Keep an eye on your candles and don’t burn them for too long at one time.  Although they tend to be a bit more expensive, soot free candles are certainly an option.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, Sams is here to help.  Feel free to contact us at any time.

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