Author: McMichael's Heating Oil

Cleaning Dryer Vents

HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU CLEAN A DRYER VENT IN BALTIMORE, MD?

JAN 07, 2020 How Often Should You Clean a Dryer Vent in Baltimore, MD?

Is your dryer vent taking more time than usual to dry your clothes or overheating when it’s used? If it is, it’s crucial you get an HVAC contractor to check it out and clean your dryer vents if they need cleaning. There are many reasons why you need to let a professional service technician clean the dryer vents in your Baltimore home rather than trying to do it yourself.

WHAT DO YOU GAIN FROM REGULAR DRYER VENT CLEANING?

Dryer vent cleaning offers you many benefits. They include:

Energy savings
Reduced maintenance costs
Reduced risk of fire
Reduced wear and tear on the dryer

WHEN SHOULD YOU CLEAN YOUR DRYER VENT?

The dryer vent needs cleaning at least once a year. Some factors make it so you have to clean your dryer vent more. For instance, if you have a large family, you generally have to wash and dry more clothes, which means more debris will form in your vents, and faster.

Additionally, if you have pets, their hair can make its way into your dryer vents. So if you have a large household or live with furry friends, you’ll probably need to call an HVAC professional to come out and clean your vents two or three times a year — if not more.

HOW TO TELL IF THE VENT NEEDS CLEANING

Fortunately, there are a few tell-tale signs that let you know your vent needs cleaning. They include:

Clothes taking a long time to dry
Dryer exterior and clothes getting very hot
Debris around the dryer hose
Failure of the vent hood flap to open

Air Quality

How To Tell If My Fauquier, Fairfax, or Prince William County Home Has Bad Indoor Air Quality

Post author By McMichael's Heating Oil
Post date January 5, 2021
No Comments on How To Tell If My Fauquier, Fairfax, or Prince William County Home Has Bad Indoor Air Quality

How Can I Tell If My Washington, DC, Home Has Bad Indoor Air Quality?

Indoor air quality (IAQ) has the ability to negatively affect your health in Washington, D.C. Air pollution can lead to allergy symptoms, the growth of carcinogens and even the rare condition of hypersensitivity pneumonitis. There are many causes of poor indoor air quality in your Washington, DC, home, but there are ways to improve it.

CAUSES OF BAD INDOOR AIR QUALITY IN YOUR WASHINGTON, DC, HOME

The main cause of bad indoor air quality are sources of pollution and bad ventilation. Sources such as tobacco products, building materials, and wet carpet can release gases, toxins and particles in the air. Without proper ventilation and an air purification system, the pollutants will continue to accumulate, increasing the density of pollutants in the air.

HEALTH EFFECTS OF BAD INDOOR AIR QUALITY

Symptom of bad IAQ can show up quickly or take years to develop. If there are toxins in the air, you may experience headaches and dizziness. If you have allergies, you may find your respiratory system and sinuses are constantly irritated.

While air pollutants can cause serious health problems, it is still not known how long exposure needs to be or the level of concentration of the pollutants it takes to develop a specific health problem. However, how quickly symptoms appear depends on the individual’s medical history and age.

CHANGING BAD INDOOR AIR QUALITY

One machine our professionals may recommend is a whole-home air purifier. These systems connect to your HVAC system, and they pull pollutants directly from the air. The Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) rates air filters, allowing you to choose the level of filtration you want in your home.

A clear sign that you have bad IAQ is that you feel sick when you’re at home and that the symptoms go away when you’re away all day. Our professionals can help you find the source of the pollutants and eliminate it. Contact Griffith Energy Services to improve the air quality in your home so your family can feel healthier and safer.