Improve the Indoor Air Quality of your Phila. PA Business

5/9/2024 (Permalink)

Since the onset of COVID-19 pandemic, indoor spaces, cleanliness of surfaces, and air flow have become more important elements when considering the overall health of a commercial property.  Maintaining a healthy environment in your Philadelphia area business, maintains the health of employees, customers, patients and residents alike.

What determines clean air?  According to the EPA pollutants fall into 3 main Categories:

• Biological
• Chemical
• Particles

Indoor Air Quality or IAQ is defined by the EPA as the “air quality within and around buildings and structures,” which can impact the health and wellbeing of the building’s occupants.  Exposure to indoor pollutants can impact the health of occupants immediately or build over many months or even years.

Air pollutants can be created by indoor and outdoor sources.  Inadequate ventilation can increase indoor contaminates by not bringing sufficient outdoor air in to dilute emissions or the reverse, but not expelling enough indoor air.  High humidity and temperatures also increase the concentration of harmful or hazardous particles.

DETERMINE THE SOURCE

The most effective way to minimize the effect of indoor air pollution is source control.  By eliminating the source of the pollutant to reduce their emissions.  Common indoor sources of pollutants can be building materials such as asbestos, fuel burning combustible appliances, building materials (flooring, carpeting, upholstery, cabinets of pressed wood products), household cleaning products, tobacco and excessive moisture. Outdoor sources are Radon, pesticides and outdoor air pollution.

Indoor Air Quality is best handled by:

• Isolation: Removing the pollutant from the air
• Dilution: Removing the pollutant through ventilation
• Filtration: Removing the contaminants through cleaning the air

Action steps to improve indoor air through integrating air quality protocols in purchasing decisions for building, furniture and cleaning products.  Establish and enforce an effective no smoking policy.  Educate employees in the building on management of air quality and healthy building environment.

SERVPRO of Pemberton/Bustleton is available 24/7 to address your water, fire and mold restoration needs.

 Call us at: 215-671-7777. We are proud to serve our local communities in Philadelphia County.

Dryer Vent Cleaning

8/1/2022 (Permalink)

If you were to ask most people what cleaning they should do to their dryer they would tell you, clean the lint trap. However, that is not enough what many people do not know is that you have to get your dryer vent cleaned as well. I'm sure you are asking, what's that? The dryer vent is the tube that runs from your dryer to outside and the vent part that it passes through. It helps you remove hot air and moisture from your laundry room. 

Why does it need to be cleaned? Over time it can get filled up with dust and other debris from your washing machine. Debris and highly flammable lint can build up in your dryer vent, reducing airflow and backing up exhaust gasses. That mixed with the heat from the washing machine is a very dangerous combination. According to the National Fire Protection Agency, fire departments respond to around 15,970 home structural fires each year  that involve clothes in dryers or washing machines. There is also a chance that gasses and carbon monoxide that should be released outside of the home through the dryer vent could get backed up into your home through a clogged vent. This is something that can be easily avoided by simply getting your vents cleaned. 

How can I tell when it's time to get the vent cleaned? According to an article on the NCADA (National Air Duct Cleaning Association) website these are some signs you are ready for a cleaning. 

1. Clothes take longer to dry than usual
2. The dryer is hot to the touch after a cycle
3. Your laundry room is hot after a cycle
4. The dryer emits a burning smell
5. There’s inconsistent airflow from the exhaust vent
6. Excess lint appears in the lint trap after each cycle
7. You find debris in your yard outside of the dryer vent or can see it trapped in the vent itself

Getting your vents serviced will help you reduce your energy costs over time. It will also help your clothes dry faster and improve the life of your dryer. Clearing events allows extra heat to come through that leads to shorter drying times which will save you money. The NCADA also lists some proactive steps to take in addition to getting your vent cleaned to help reduce fire risk. 

1. Empty lint trap after every load
2. Let your dryer cool off for 15-20 minutes between loads
3. Replace your flexible vent pipe with a solid metal one
4. Move the dryer close to an external wall
5. Use liquid fabric softener instead of dryer sheets
6. Regularly inspect the vent pipe from outside the house to see if there is debris 

Should I try to clean my dryer vent myself? No, many people who attempt to do it themselves often do not get them cleaned properly. Most people fail to remove all of the debris that is in the vent. The recommendation by the NFPA is to get your dryer vents professionally cleaned once per year. Doing so will make your home a much safer place for you and your family. Even though you will spend money to get them cleaned, it will save you big on your energy bill each month. It is definitely worth the investment, call SERVPRO Team McCabe to schedule your cleaning today 215-536-7989.