Though it’s not that common, some homes in and around King County do have the laundry room situated on the second floor. If this is the case, the home likely has a rooftop dryer vent. This makes maintenance more challenging.

Rooftop Dryer Vent Inspections Near King County 

Maintaining a dryer vent on a rooftop is more or less the same as when the unit is at ground level. However, more precautions are required. After all, the inspector has to get and move around the roof. This is why we advise against DIY cleaning. 

The contractor scales the roof and evaluates the vent. This is done by running the unit on air-only and verifying all connections are in good order. If there are blockages, then the air shuttling out of the rooftop vent is drastically inhibited.

The Cleaning Process

One of our methodologies includes using a reverse-blowing air ball that we apply into the duct. Employing an air trigger, the air ball cleans the vent interior lining, including the damper and hood. This blows out the lint in hard-to-reach spots like the inner hood surrounding the damper. The lint often becomes lodged as it hardens upon exposure to cold weather. Once the lint loosens, swaths of lint balls begin discharging and fall to the floor, which you can then easily sweep up. 

For a complete cleaning, a professional cleaner needs to access the roof. From the ground, you can only remove some amount of lint and certainly not all of it.

We Perform Dryer Vent Cleaning

Regardless of where your dryer vent is located, leave it to Aurora Edmonds Furnace Cleaning for a thorough cleaning. We also suggest using this cleaning appointment to take care of other maintenance needs, including air duct and fireplace cleaning.

Rooftop Dryer Vent Maintenance Near King County

Serving Seattle, Tacoma, Everett, Bellevue, King Countyand South Snohomish County

Posted on November 22, 2021 | Published by Ignite Local | Related Local Business

With fall here and winter not far off, many homeowners are looking for cost-effective methods to keep the home nice and warm. One hack some residents are resorting to is a closed heating vent for the main living quarters and personal bedrooms. Is this really effective at warming the home while saving money?

The Idea Behind a Closed Heating Vent Near Bellevue

Here’s how this DIY trick supposedly works: sealing the vents in unused rooms causes the air to be redirected towards the rooms that are occupied. The idea is that when the air runs into a closed vent, it reverses direction and is re-shuttled to rooms with their vents opened. Homeowners will seal vents by taping a piece of cardboard over the vent. Unfortunately, this trick doesn’t improve home heating.

The Truth About Sealing the Vents

If the HVAC is in peak operating order, then this method may work to a small degree. The reality, though, is that most residential HVAC systems have openings and cracks in the air ducts that lead to air leakage. Any heat from a furnace that’s redirected will escape through these openings before they reach any rooms with an open vent.

Here’s another point: even if the vent is sealed, the room still has other openings, such as the space under the door. The room will use this opening to suck air from sections of the home with an opened vent.

The truth is that HVAC systems work most efficiently when the air is evenly spread out over the home. You can’t receive additional air and heat by sealing the vents in unused rooms. The air has a natural tendency to rebalance itself in an interior space. Sealed vents may just lead to hot and cold spots.

We Restore Air Flow Consistency

If you suspect heating discrepancies in your home, contact Aurora Edmonds Furnace Cleaning. Fall is the ideal season for furnace and dryer vent care. The lesson here is that a closed heating vent is not the way to go for improved airflow.

Exposing the Truth About a Closed Heating Vent Near Bellevue

Serving Seattle, Tacoma, Everett, Bellevue, King Countyand South Snohomish County

Posted on October 22, 2021 | Published by Ignite Local | Related Local Business

Autumn is here. This means the summer heat is gone and chilly days are ahead. This is the time of year when homeowners get reacquainted with their furnace. This makes fall furnace cleaning for your Snohomish home all the more essential.

Why Fall Furnace Cleaning in Snohomish Matters

Middle autumn is when many homeowners begin using their furnaces after not touching the appliance over spring and summer. During this long period of nonuse, the air ducts can gather dust and more harmful contaminants like mold. Keep in mind that heat from the furnace travels through the same ducts as the cool air from the AC. This causes more debris to accumulate during AC peak use in the summer months.

Early fall is the transitory phase between the summer heat and autumn cold. This is the ideal time period for arranging a furnace cleaning. Continue Reading →

When searching the market for a house, you need to really do your homework. You should, for example, inquire about the condition of the plumbing, flooring, and roof. Most buyers, though, completely forget to ask about the HVAC. A homebuyer HVAC inspection is essential if you’re scouting for property in Seattle.

Inspect the HVAC

The AC and furnace are typically located out of sight. You should request to see these units. Of course, a visual examination alone doesn’t reveal a whole lot. Ask if the homeowner will be ok with a professional inspection. A technician will actively examine for system irregularities, such as rattling or low output.

Know the System’s Age

Enquire about the system’s age. This gives you a ballpark estimate of the length of time you have before you need to replace the HVAC. Typical units last around 10 to 15 years. An older HVAC unit, however, doesn’t have to be an automatic deal-breaker. If the homeowner has properly cared for the system over the years, then it likely still has plenty of life left in it.

Continue Reading →

A house interior naturally accumulates dust. Your only feasible response is to wipe the surfaces clean. It really seems like the dust is manifesting out of thin air. We’ll discuss what leads to a dusty home and how to keep the dust to a minimum.

Dirty Air Ducts

The air ducts gather dust, not to mention a plethora of other unsanitary stuff, such as dead bugs and cobwebs. When the HVAC turns on, all that debris blows into the rooms via vents. This is exactly why it’s imperative to book an air duct cleaning annually. Dust from the vents is particularly a problem for homes with carpets. The carpet holds onto the dust and vacuuming only eliminates the surface-most layer.

On the topic of air ducts, leaks in the ducts are also an issue. When the HVAC switches on, the suction can pull air and allergens from outside and blow them into the interior. Continue Reading →

We don’t have to inform you that smoking is hazardous for your health. However, not a lot of homeowners are aware of the possibility of third-hand smoke from a neighbor/tenant in an adjacent apartment or condo. Residual fumes do indeed circulate from one living quarters to another. Residents need to be mindful of the correlation between HVAC and cigarette smoke.

HVAC and Cigarette Smoke: Exploring the Connection in Everett Homes

We strongly discourage smoking indoors if you reside with other people. The truth is that residual smoke does remain for hours after the cigarette has been put out. Carcinogens and other harmful chemicals can rest on surfaces and affect other people even if you’re home alone at the time of smoking your cigarette.

You can keep residual chemicals at bay with routine dusting and wiping of upholstery and hard surfaces. However, some of the chemicals may rest in the inaccessible sections of the air vents. Every time you turn on the AC or furnace, the air blows the chemicals back into the living space. Continue Reading →

Summer is when homeowners really ramp up AC use. Before increasing usage, however, we suggest cleaning the air ducts and furnace. This also includes cleaning of the evaporator coil, also known as the A-coil. Find out why A-coil cleaning is integral for caring for your HVAC.

The A-Coil Explained

The A-coil is a triangular tube located above the furnace. Air moves past this part before escaping through the vents and into the living space. The air flows across the coil when either the AC or furnace is switched on.

Due to the constant movement of air, the coil surface is prone to contamination. It can collect dust, pet dander, insect remains, and allergens invisible to the naked eye.

Why A-Coil Cleaning Is Necessary in King County

Homeowners can conduct a visual examination of the coil if it’s not encased. If you see dust and grime, then there is a high likelihood the air filter is just as in dire need of cleaning. When a filter is clogged, larger debris is able to make its way in and cling to the coil. If the coil is visibly dirty, then you need to arrange professional servicing.

Continue Reading →

Some homeowners who purchase a new dryer aren’t sure how to connect it to the vent. Instead of bringing in a professional installer, they just proceed to use the dryer as is without hooking it to the vent. This is a bad idea and is one of the many dryer vent hazards that’s easily preventable.

Why Dryer Operation Without Vent Attachment Is Bad

Despite what some people say, you should never use the dryer if it’s not hooked to the vent. Operation in this way can lead to premature wear to the appliance; it also causes unnecessary safety risks.

When the dryer is in use, it releases moist air. Where does the air go? Well, without a vent attachment, the air circulates into the home interior. Humid air combined with hot weather is a recipe for mold growth. The air also contains microscopic lint particles, which can be dangerous if inhaled. Continue Reading →

When you think about house fires, you may think about the stove or electrical wires as the most likely culprits. The dryer, though, is another fire hazard. We’ll discuss dryer safety and some alarming statistics.

Dryer Fire Statistics

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) released some alarming numbers pertaining to dryer fires. Washers and dryers can both catch on fire. However, in 92% of cases involving washer and dryer appliances, the latter was the primary culprit. In 2017, nearly 16,000 American residences sustained property damage stemmed from a dryer fire. Those cases led to 440 bodily injuries and $238 million in damage.

How Dryers Cause Fires

Fires are typically ignited from lint and dust. The NFPA estimated that about 1/3rd of dryer fires are due to a backed-up dryer vent. Dryer vent fires also increase around wintertime. The issue, however, is problematic no matter the time of year. Continue Reading →

Homeowners typically think of the faucet or pipes when a leak comes to mind. Did you know, however, that air ducts are just as prone to leaks? Not a water leak, obviously, but a leak of air. In fact, an estimated 10% of indoor air escapes due to leaky air ducts. This leads to needless energy waste.

Signs of Air Duct Leaks

Higher Utility Bills—Is your utility fee steadily rising each month? If so, then the ducts may be the culprit. Air loss forces the HVAC to expend more energy, more so than a unit connected to a fully sealed air duct system. Leaky ducts ultimately take a toll on your finances.

Erratic Temperature—Where does the leaked air go? Much of it seeps outside or flows into the attic. This also prevents the air from making its way into individual rooms. If switching on the air conditioner or furnace, you might feel the full effects in the living room but much less so in the bedrooms. Continue Reading →