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Fire & Water - Cleanup & Restoration

Archived Cleaning Blog Posts

Have You Cleaned Your Air Ducts? Because they are DIRTY!

10/20/2021 (Permalink)

Breathe easy with SERVPRO of Western Lake County.

It's true. Even if you are the cleanest of clean, your air ducts still collect dirt and debris. In addition to normal accumulation of dust and dirt, our homes also collect pet hair, smoke from cigarettes or cigars, and any materials from home renovation. 

Some people are more sensitive to these contaminants, especially those with allergies or asthma. 

SERVPRO of Western Lake County belongs to the NADCA, or the National Air Duct Cleaning Association. This is a pretty big deal - not many have this special accreditation. They offer continuing education and certification. 

Some of the benefits of getting your air ducts clean include: 

  1. Indoor Air Quality: Thing about it. You are breathing in everything that is recirculating in your home. Through our normal day-to-day, we generate a lot of contaminants and air pollutants, such as dander, dust, and chemicals. These are pulled into your HVAC system and recirculated 5 - 7 times each day!
  2. Energy Savings: According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 25 to 40% of energy used to heat or cool our homes is wasted. Add contaminants, and it makes your system work even harder. 

So, get your ducts cleaned by SERVPRO of Western Lake County, and breathe easy. Call (219) 922-9300 today. 

We are here to help when it comes to reopening your business during COVID19

10/28/2020 (Permalink)

Let us help you get back to business

As our communities re-open, we’re all moving back toward a new kind of normal. The expectations of visitors, customers, and employees who come into our establishments have evolved, and staying safe and well is a top concern. The global COVID-19 pandemic has changed what it means to be clean, and we’ve developed a program to help your business meet the new higher standard of clean that is now expected.

Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned is a defensive cleaning program we’re offering to businesses and commercial locations to address the current COVID-19 pandemic. This proactive viral pathogen cleaning program goes well beyond janitorial or carpet cleaning. By choosing Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, you, your employees, your customers, and your community can rest assured that you’ve selected a higher cleaning standard – you are Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned.

Extensive training and specialized products

As the #1 choice in cleanup and restoration*, we stand on more than 50 years of experience and expertise to help your business become Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned.  Beyond fire & water, SERVPRO professionals are trained and experienced in biohazard decontamination and chemical spills – always adhering to the cleaning and decontamination standards set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local authorities. 

From formulating and creating our proprietary cleaning products, like SERVPROXIDE, at our headquarters in Gallatin, TN, to taking the utmost care while disinfecting, we will ensure you and your business are set up to inspire consumer confidence as the economy continues to reopen.

3 C’s – Consult, Clean, and Certify

When the stakes are this high, you want a partner who has developed an industry leading, proprietary training program, cleaning solutions, and remediation processes over decades. We’ve cleaned up some of the most challenging biohazards imaginable. Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned reflects our unique experiences and capabilities. The program is grounded with our unique 3 C’s: Consult, Clean, and Certify.

  • Consult – Every business is different, which is why you’ll be assigned a Cleaning Protocol Consultant who understands your business and will create a cleaning program to meet your specific needs. This program will be developed based on your business type, size of space, amount of high frequency touchpoints, foot traffic and congestion points.
  • Clean – Based on your specific business needs, your location will undergo a thorough, deep clean, using exclusive cleaning products, according to protocols set forth by the CDC. Our employees have years of experience, and we will go beyond the scope of work that regular janitorial staff perform. Cleanup procedures generally include cleaning of porous and non-porous surfaces, disinfecting of non-porous surfaces, cleaning and disinfecting of equipment, tools, and/or supplies used for cleanup process, and disposal of hazardous materials.  In the event of a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 event, we will be there cleaning within 24 hours to ensure you get back to business as quickly as possible. 
  • Certify - Once your business location has been Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, you will gain access to proprietary signage, digital emblems, and other collateral that communicates that you’ve selected a higher standard of clean available to help protect your employees and customers. And because we add the day, month, and year to that proprietary stamp of clean, your guests will know that not only did you choose Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, but that your location is being cleaned regularly at this standard.

Call today for a Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned consultation

We’re Here to Help – 24 hours a day, seven days a week – until life is back to normal in the communities we all call home.

Call SERVPRO of Western Lake County today at  219-922-9300 for your Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned consultation.

Tips on Air Duct Cleaning from NADCA

12/12/2018 (Permalink)

We are proud to be certified by the National Air Ducts Cleaner Association (NADCA). They recently put together a few tips when looking to have your air ducts. 

1. Cutting costs and saving money whenever possible is a priority for many homeowners - but determining when and where to budget the spending can be a bit of a challenge. Companies that offer products and home maintenance services at discounted rates can appear attractive, but consumers must be able to differentiate between the deals that are too good to pass up - and the deals that are just too good to be true.

It’s important to be cautious of the $39.99 type of advertisements for air duct cleaning and HVAC maintenance. It’s likely that the companies offering these highly-discounted deals aren’t offering full-service cleaning and aren’t performing up to the ACR Standard.

To help consumers determine whether or not a company is reputable, NADCA offers these tips:
• Verify that the company is a NADCA member with a certified contractor on staff.
• Ask for proof of license and insurance.
• Request that a system inspection be performed at your home, prior to hiring a contractor.
• Avoid advertisements and discounts for “whole house specials” under $100.

NADCA reminds homeowners that according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), duct cleaning services typically - but not always - range in cost from $450 to $1,000 per heating and cooling system. The estimated cost of services depends on the size of the system being cleaned, accessibility to the unit, climactic region the level of contamination, and the type of duct material.

2. When looking to hire a company for cleaning your air ducts or servicing your HVAC system, it's important to select a reputable business that has gone through the NADCA certification process. As the HVAC Inspection, Maintenance and Restoration Association, NADCA is the leading organization for industry professionals. Companies with NADCA-certified technicians on staff are able to provide the complete service that aligns with the ACR Standard - the standard for the Assessment, Cleaning, and Restoration of HVAC systems.

Clean Your Air Ducts Before the Holidays

11/15/2018 (Permalink)

The time for holiday cheer is fast approaching, bringing with it colder climates and the potential for winter storms. As outdoor temperatures start to drop, homeowners should begin taking steps to stay warm indoors and keep the winter weather out. However, preparing your home for winter involves more than just closing storm windows and turning on the heat. Checking your home’s furnace filter and air ducts is important for maintaining your home’s indoor air quality and keeping you and your family healthy all season long. 

The Hidden Dangers in Your Air Ducts

Your heating and cooling system acts as the lungs of your home, with a connected network of air ducts throughout the building to circulate air from one room to another. Over time, dirt, pet dander, dust, and other contaminants can build up and recirculate around your home five to seven times a day on average. Homes are built to be airtight to keep the heat in and the cold out. This means that circulating contaminants are trapped indoors which could contribute to breathing or health issues, especially during winter months when little fresh air gets inside.

Having a spotless home in preparation for the changing seasons and the annual visits from family is usually high on many homeowner’s holiday to-do lists. However, many common household products used to clean the home are made with organic chemicals that emit natural gases called volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are bad for your indoor air quality. These compounds can be found in cleaners, hobby supplies, aerosol sprays, and even candles.

On top of dealing with the potential allergen build-up in your ductwork, which could cause increased sneezing and coughing, VOCs bring their own health problems. When exposed to low levels of VOCs over a period of time, people, especially those with respiratory problems, may start to experience nausea, headaches, or dizziness. Exposure to high levels of VOCs may lead to more serious conditions like kidney damage, cancer, or problems with your nervous system.

How Air Duct Cleaning Boosts Holiday Cheer

If you notice increased allergy symptoms or difficulty breathing when the heat is turned on, you may need to address the air quality inside your home with air duct cleaning. Removing, or limiting, the build-up of pollutants in your home before closing everything up for the winter is a crucial step in preventing the negative health effects caused by continued exposure to poor indoor air quality. Maintaining your home’s ventilation system will ensure it is free from dirt, dust, and other things that can clog filters and impact air flow. With a clean heating and cooling system, anyone suffering from poor indoor air quality can instead focus on fighting off the flu or common cold that frequently puts a damper on celebrations.

We would be happy to help with any of your HVAC & Air Duct cleaning needs. Contact us today!

Thanks to our friends at the National Air Duct Cleaners Association for the helpful information!

Prepping for Fall

11/4/2015 (Permalink)

With the cold weather coming at us, now is the time to have your furnaces cleaned and checked by a reputable HVAC company. Follow that up with an air duct cleaning by SERVPRO to rid your duct work of any allergens that might have gotten in to the system over the spring and summer. Having your ductwork cleaned may also save a little money on your heating bill.  SERVPRO of Western Lake County is NADCA certified and can clean residential and commercial buildings.  Breathe safely!

Air Duct Cleaning

3/26/2015 (Permalink)

With the coming of spring, now is a good time to contact us about having your air ducts cleaned!