KITCHEN AND BATHROOM VENT CLEANING
By Steve Wolfson, Environmental Cleaning Systems
During the past nine years that I have been involved in the indoor air quality business I have cleaned thousands of vents. Most building managers are diligent in having a professional service clean vents on a regular basis. Vents are important to insure the quality of the air that we breathe. This takes on even more importance when we realize that most of us spend 90% of our time indoors. Over the last two decades there has been a push to make buildings more airtight to save on heating and air-conditioning costs. Making a building airtight places more emphasis on keeping this trapped indoor air cleaner. This is especially important to residents with allergies. Trapped dirt and dust can act as allergy triggers. If there is dirt in your vents, there is dirt in your lungs.
VENT CHECKUP
"Vent," according to Webster's Dictionary, is an opening for escape. Therefore clogged vents cannot operate as designed. This can lead from bad aromas throughout a building, to bug infestation or even in extreme cases may cause Sick Building Syndrome.
If the fans on the roof are not working, then there is no hope that the vents will be able to do their job properly. Building personnel should check the operation of these fans on a weekly basis.
An environmental cleaning company will inspect the top floor kitchen and bathroom vents in high-rise buildings. The examination is done by removing the vent covers in the kitchens and bathrooms and inspecting for dirt, dust and debris. It would probably be a good idea for the manager or superintendent of the building to escort the cleaning company on their inspection. This way there is independent confirmation of the cleaning company's report.
If dirt, dust or debris is found on the top floor, then you can be sure that your building can use a good cleaning. This is not a costly or difficult job when done by trained technicians. The proper procedure is to start at the top floor, remove the vent covers in the kitchens and bathrooms, then, an industrial cleaning machine (we use the best, a HEPA System with rotary brushes and vacuum) is inserted into the shaft and all residue is accumulated into the machine. The actual vent cover is thoroughly cleaned and replaced. Any dirt, dust or residue not absorbed into the machine falls down the shaft and as the cleaning company works their way down the shaft, what has fallen down the shaft is picked up. This is not a costly operation, but one that can drastically improve the quality of air within your building. With the cost to inspect and find out if there is a problem being free, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain…fresh, clean air to breathe.
Steve Wolfson is President of Environmental Cleaning Systems, Inc. ECS provides a variety of indoor environmental services, installs and maintains compactors, chutes and hopper doors. Steam America, another division of ECS, cleans carpets, upholstery and does graffiti removal. ECS national headquarters is in Valley Stream, New York with offices in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.You can reach Steve at 1-888-Clearair (1-888 253-2724) or www.ecsclearair.com.
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