In this installment of The Greenwich Property Management Solution, we are discussing HVAC duct cleaning. Air quality continues to be an issue on the minds of homeowners, and for good reason. Poor air quality can lead to allergies, headaches, nausea and other health issues. Our team of Greenwich home maintenance professionals field a lot of requests for duct cleaning. Let’s take a look at some of the more common reasons why cleaning your duct work is important.
At Duffy Home Solutions our Greenwich Property Management team recently helped a Greenwich homeowner with a mold issue in their ducts. The homeowners had closed the vents in two of the rooms to reduce the cold air output in those particular spaces. Unbeknownst to the homeowner, closing the vents had caused condensation to form in the duct work due to the imbalance of temperature between the duct work and the rooms, and the inability for moisture to be released.
In this case our team needed to conduct a full remediation and cleaning to safely remove the mold. If you suspect there could be a mold issue in your ductwork, contact our Greenwich Property Management team. Mold can often be mistaken for dust or dirt upon visual inspection. As a result, our team can closely inspect the inside of the ductwork and take samples for testing if needed.
Regular HVAC duct cleaning can help ensure that your air remains clean throughout the year. In addition to duct cleaning there are a few steps that can be taken to help reduce pollutants from being spread throughout the house. Changing HVAC filters, and using a high-quality filter, is one. Other steps include maintaining low humidity throughout the house, keeping dust at bay with regular house cleaning, and keeping your pets groomed and clean.
Air filter changes are typically part of a regular HVAC preventative maintenance program; however, this type of service occurs only once or twice per year. Optimally you should change out your HVAC filters once every three months. Our clients really appreciate having our Greenwich property management team to help with this type of project.
Cleaning your HVAC ducts can help improve the airflow of the system. Over time dust, pet dander and hair, and debris can build up inside of the duct work. When this happens the flow of warm or cool air can be restricted. This can affect the efficiency of the system and can cause the equipment to work harder. When the system is strained it can lead to premature equipment failure.
The aforementioned dust, pet hair and other debris can also harbor moisture when it becomes trapped in the ductwork. This is a recipe for mold growth. Rooms with higher humidity, such as bathrooms, are prime targets for this type of issue. Duct cleaning by the Duffy Home Solutions property management team can remove mold spores that lead to mold growth.
The National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) recommends cleaning residential HVAC air ducts every three to five years. If you have pets that shed frequently, or if you have allergy sufferers in the house, it may be a good idea to have it done more frequently. And you’ll want to consider a cleaning if you recently completed a home renovation, as dust from construction will be a consideration.
Maintaining the quality of the air inside your home is important to the health of you and your family. At Duffy Home Solutions our Greenwich property management team is equipped to provide thorough, attentive duct cleaning services across Greenwich. Our experienced crew will help ensure that the air in your home remains clean day in and day out.
At Duffy Home Solutions our Greenwich Property Management team deals with a wide range of home maintenance issues across Greenwich, CT. What are some of the most pressing issues that homeowners are facing these days? We’ve been getting a lot of calls regarding clogged drains in the kitchen and bathroom. Our Operations Manager John Duffy Jr. discusses some of the leading causes and solutions for clogged drains.
John JR: There are a fairly wide range of issues that can lead to a clogged drain in the kitchen, bathroom or in the main water or sewer lines. A few of the more common causes include:
Hair and soap (sometimes combined) are leading causes of clogged pipes in the bathroom. This is typically an easy fix for our Greenwich property management team. Clogs can occur when animal fat derivatives from bar soap mixes with minerals to cause build up. Sometimes the soap deposits on their own are enough to slow the flow of water. More significant issues, however, typically occur when soap residue combines with hair. This can lead to clogs severe enough to virtually stop the flow of water.
Sometimes, if the issue is occurring towards the top of the drain, we can remove the top portion of the stopper assembly and reach the hair with needle nose plyers to remove the blockage. Other times, if the hair is further down the drain, we will use a snake to remove the clog.
We advise our Greenwich property management clients to always wipe up loose hairs in and around the sink, and avoid cleaning hair brushes over the sink.
Deposits from calcium, magnesium and metallic elements in the water can build up on the inside of pipes and eventually reduce the flow. This is a natural occurrence caused by hard water that contains dissolved mineral compounds. In addition to pipe scale issues, hard water can also lead to buildup on the inside of appliances and on the surface of sinks, showers and faucets.
Our Greenwich property management team will typically treat pipe scale by recommending the installation of a water softener system. Softeners consist of a tank that is connected to the main water line of the home. Inside the tank, thousands of resin beads attract and capture the mineral and metallic elements, allowing the soft water to pass through.
Tree roots can cause severe drainage issues to water or sewer main lines. Old pipes can eventually deteriorate, allowing roots to burrow into the pipe and block flow. The roots seek out water and waste in the lines. Gurgling sounds in your pipes can be an early sign of a potential root problem.
The first step in diagnosing a tree root issue is to have your Greenwich Property Management plumbing professional scan the drain with a camera. Once the issue has been identified, there are a range of potential solutions. Some include removing roots using a snake, administering chemical root killers, and fixing any visible leaks that could lead to problems down the road. This is typically an issue that is best handled by home maintenance professionals.
Unfortunately, paper towels, dental floss and other trash items do make their way into drains. Since these items do not break down, they can cause significant clogs in main drain lines and septic systems. They can even lead to issues for public sewer works. Even wipes that are labeled as “flushable” should typically not be flushed. They just don’t break down enough for certain systems.
It’s important to note that the only items that should be flushed, or put down the drain, are human waste and toilet paper. Toilet paper is specially designed to completely break down. If an issue does occur within the pipes, the drain will be snaked to remove the clog.
Clogged drains can be a disruption and can sometimes lead to costly issues. If you’re experiencing slow water flow, or a stoppage, call the Greenwich property management team at Duffy Home Solutions. Our Greenwich, CT plumbers can diagnose and fix issues large and small.
Homeowners know it’s a just a matter of time before the next home maintenance issue comes up. This is particularly the case in the harsh climate of Greenwich, CT and surrounding Fairfield County. Weather is constantly testing homes. There are ways, however, to prevent small problems from becoming major issues. Bringing in a residential property management company to maintain your home can help keep systems and materials in good condition, and help stave off costly repairs. To help prioritize the items that demand the most attention let’s take a look at repairs that are typically the most expensive.
Replacing an entire roof is a big, costly job, particularly if you have wood or slate roofing. You can extend the life of your roof, and avoid significant repairs, by conducting regular maintenance from a trusted residential property management company. Yearly roof inspections can uncover minor issues that have the potential to get worse down the line. For example, damaged or missing shingles and flashing should be replaced. Trees limbs hanging over the roof should be trimmed. Leaves and debris should be removed from the roof to avoid rotting. And proper ventilation, such as ridgeline, soffit and even cupola vents should be in place, and not blocked.
Average Cost:$1,200 for a small repair and up to $75,000 for a wood roof replacement.
Foundation issues can be caused by a number of different factors that all revolve around the levels of moisture in the soil. Some of these include poor drainage, poor grading, and/or high levels of clay in the ground. Cracks in the foundation can occur when the soil swells intermittently during heavy rains and melting snow, and then contracts during dry periods. Cracks in the foundation can lead to water infiltration and cause structural issues. These can be costly to fix. If you have an issue like this call a professional to assess the situation. Better yet have someone keep an eye on the foundation and surrounding landscape before there’s a big problem.
Proper drainage can be maintained with yearly inspection. Your handyman should conduct a thorough cleaning of the gutters once per year. In addition downspouts should be cleared of clogs and the surrounding landscape should be monitored to ensure the grades continually slope away from the house. You should also keep an eye on pooling water. Conditions change, and if you start seeing resting water it’s time to have a professional make a change to ensure the water runs off properly.
Average Cost: $850 for a superficial crack repair to $20,000 for structural restoration
The average lifespan of a central air conditioning unit is roughly 12 -15 years. Furnaces last 20 years on average. With regular maintenance, however, these units have the potential to go far beyond that. It is recommended to have your HVAC system inspected, cleaned and tuned once per year. The best time to schedule your AC inspection will be in the early spring before you start heavy use. For the furnace you’ll want to get the inspection done in early fall before the heating season begins. Without proper maintenance small issues can become big issues with big price tags attached.
Average Cost: $472 for AC, $588 for furnace repairs and approximatly $20,000 for a new furnace
Replacing a septic system can be costly and extremely disruptive to your outdoor space. Investing in maintenance it is well worth it. When it comes to avoiding septic issues some preventative steps can be taken by the homeowner. Others require a residential property management professional that can bring in the right specialists.
To keep your septic system functioning at peak efficiency never flush anything other than bodily waste and toilet paper. These items will break down with water and diminish with time. This goes for the kitchen sink as well – only water should go down the drain. Food particles and grease are not septic friendly. Have your home maintenance professional schedule a pumping and inspection every one to two years. This will help avoid any issues and ensure the system is functioning properly.
Average Cost:up to $30,000 for a full septic system replacement and approximately $500 for a yearly pump out
Average Cost:$823 to repair and $4,500 to replace
Water heater issues can lead to flooding and problems can occur when the unit is not maintained. Your home maintenance professional should inspect your water heater yearly. Inspections include checking your shut off valves to make sure they are not broken. In addition joints should be inspected for signs of ware. And it’s always a good idea to flush the system once or twice per year to remove sediments. Failed water heaters are one of the main causes of residential water damage. Regular maintenance can help you avoid getting to that point.
When it comes to home repairs, maintaining is always cheaper than repairing or replacing. Of course finding trusted professionals across the large selection of trades can be time consuming. And it’s hard to know whom to trust. Using a residential property management company, like Greenwich Home Management, is an excellent option because we have the full range of trusted pros at our fingertips. At Greenwich Home Management we can schedule and monitor all of your regular home maintenance inspections, cleanings, and repairs, so that your property remains in peak working order.
