Healthy Indoors Magazine - USA Edition

HI Dec 2017

Healthy Indoors Magazine

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20 | COLUMN—November/December 2017 Insist that the company you hire to do this work also in- spects your furnace and cleans it as needed, including the blower, blower cabinet and air conditioning coil (if present). The cooling equipment may have to be dismantled for the job to be done properly. Containment (to isolate the work space) should be set up to prevent the spread of potentially allergenic dust. (Duct cleaning by professionals who only use a vacuum is inadequate; brushes must be used.) If you have duct board or flexible ducts and they are very soiled, consider replacing them, as these kinds of ducts cannot be adequately cleaned. Panned bays (using a building cavity as a return ple- num — https://www.nachi.org/building-cavities-supply- return-ducts.htm) are very difficult to keep clean, and can often lead to leakage of allergenic basement dust into the duct system. How can this panned bay be cleaned? May Indoor Air Investigations LLC If you have panned bays in your home, consider having them opened up, cleaned and lined with smooth material, and made airtight. Mechanical equipment in the attic: Duct cleaning also offers an opportunity to have ducts that may be located in your Dry, cool fall air is refreshing after hot, humid summer weather. It's a good time of year to open up windows on a temperate afternoon to air out the house, but many of us are starting to turn on the heat. Winter is around the corner, so it's time to start thinking about the condition of your heat- ing equipment. Hot-Air Heat Keep the system clean: If young children are living in the house, you might be surprised at what you find in the "boots" (the metal area beneath each grille). I've seen Cheerios and toys in boots. If you have a pet (or if a pre- vious owner did), the return duct may even be packed full of pet hair and dander. Vacuum the supply and return grilles. Remove any floor grilles so you can vacuum out the boots. Use a vacuum with HEPA filtra on (with a bag, please) for all household cleaning. Have your furnace and ducts professionally assessed to see if cleaning is needed. Return duct full of dust: note dust patterns caused by airflow Envirotech Clean Air; www.breatheasier.com Clean the Mechanicals ©2017 Jeffrey C. May

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