Blog - Windy City

April 17, 2020December 17, 2020

Looking for Effective Dryer Vent Cleaner? Know This First

Your clothes dryer is an important part of your household procedures. After all, we all need to be able to keep things clean and dry. However Dryer fires are the number one cause of house fires in the United States. The primary reason for dryer fires is a filthy dryer vent. Protect your home by cleaning your dryer vent. So, what can you do to keep the risk of fire and other dryer related issues at bay? The simple answer is to keep your dryer vent clean and in good repair. Maintenance of Dryer Vent at least every once a year is suggested asit is best to dim down the dangers of a house fire. This also improves efficiency in your dryer. Cleaning will make it more productive. This will also ensure your families safety as well.

Dryer Vent cleaning improves efficiency
Frequency of cleaning Dryer Vents -When determining how often you should get your dryer vents cleaned, you need to figure out how often you use your dryer. If it has been more than a year since you had your vent cleaned, you should get it cleaned right away.

How to keep Dryer Vents clean- To keep your dryer clean and with little need of repair. Make sure that after doing the laundry every time, you should make sure that the lint tray is cleaned and does not accumulate any dirt residue. This habit is a very safe a good practise as it will both increase the efficiency of your drier as well as dry your clothes quicker.

Additional actions for minimizing the need for dryer vent repairs include:

If building a new home, be certain that your dryer vent system is independent of other home systems such as chimneys or the exhaust.
All joints should be installed so that the male end of the duct, points in the direction of the airflow.
If you inspect your dryer vent duct work and notice that it is partially clogged, bring in a dryer vent duct cleaner and have them clean out the ductwork.
The expert servicesof a professional cleaner will assist in stopping dryer fires, one of the main reasons of home fires in Chicagoland area. In this context here is the best professional agency that can help you out.

Experienced technicians for Dryer Vents cleaning

Get your Dryer Vent Cleaned with windycityductcleaning.com

The skilled and experienced technicians use most advanced tools and tried and tested procedures to restore maximum operational efficiency of your dryer. Being a responsible and reputed indoor dryer vent cleaning Chicago service provider, the professionals here guarantee fast turnaround and timely completion exactly according to your convenience. Their accomplished professionals do not leave any dirt or debris behind to cause inconvenience for our clients. Residential as well as business owners in Chicago, IL can hire Windy City to perform top quality and affordable dryer repair and maintenance services. So what is the wait all about? If you need a service for cleaning your dryer vent, contact now!

April 15, 2020December 17, 2020

5 Most Common Dryer Vent Problems and Ways to Avoid It

When dryer vent malfunctions, you would end up facing a lot of issues. Many people search for a technician when they have to deal with a serious issue. Dryer vent issues make laundry a complex task. Excess debris and lint also make the laundry time-consuming. This situation can offer a fire hazard to your house. The overall efficiency of the machine gets compromised. The energy expenses go higher. It also promotes the harmful biological growth. What are the 5 most common dryer vent problems and ways to avoid them?

1) Compressed dryer transition tubing

There is only a short distance between the wall and back of many dryers. You need to be careful about this aspect. The transition tubes would get compressed or flattened when they are pushed against the wall. If you experience such as issue, the tubes should be replaced with a semi-rigid metal duct. The unit must be moved a bit from the wall. If you choose a reputed and experienced dryer technician to install the unit, you can avoid this problem.

2) Unusual noises and strange vibrations

Many people complain that they hear unusual noises and strange vibrations from the dryer vent. You need to suspect a failed dryer drum seal if you find these symptoms. The primary reason behind this issue is the frequent contact or overloading with external objects. The most obvious solution to this problem is to replace the seal. If you want to avoid this issue, you must hire a reliable duct cleaning service provider for frequent inspections.

3) Immediate dryer shut off

Many people have to deal with unexpected shut off of the dryer after functioning for a couple of minutes. The underlying reason could be a broken a broken thermostat. What are the possible situations that result in the breakage of thermostat? Blocked ventilation is the most common reason. Other reasons include regular machine overload and clogged lint screen. The best solution to address this problem is to replace the thermostat failure. If you choose a special maintenance package from a reputed company, you can avoid this problem effectively.

4) Running without heating up

The dryer keeps running but doesn’t heat up to provide the expected results. If you experience this issue, you have to check the thermal fuse. The most common reason behind this problem is a faulty thermal fuse. Why does the dryer run but never heat up? The reasons can be frequent machine overload, clogged lint screen, or blocked ventilation. How can this problem be addressed? You need to replace the heating element to find a permanent solution. Frequent examinations of the dryer will offer the much-needed protection and you can avoid this issue.

5) Unwanted vent turns

A perfect dryer vent must be in a straight line. Unwanted vent turns lead to increased debris and lint accumulation. This situation lowers the overall efficiency of the unit. You must make efforts to avoid multiple turns in the dryer vent if you want to stay protected against this issue.

These are the 5 most common dryer vent problems and the most effective ways to avoid them. You need to identify a reliable and renowned duct cleaning company to maintain the functionality of your equipment at optimal levels.

April 14, 2020December 17, 2020

Benefits of Opting for Furnace Cleaning Services

Fine-tuning and getting your furnace cleaned regularly can be hugely beneficial for you. When done regularly, it ensures that your furnace keeps running smoothly without any glitch of deterioration in its performance.

In this article, we will individually look at a few of the major benefits you can enjoy when you opt for furnace cleaning services regularly.

Optimum airflow maintenance

When you opt for a professional technician, they will almost always check for any form of inconsistency in the airflow in your furnace. This matters because, when the airflow is restricted, the energy efficiency can get affected which in turn leads to the wear and tear of your heating systems.

This results in the reduction of lifespan for the entire system. If any form of restricted airflow is detected, the technician would take necessary measures to remove such a restriction which can positively impact the system performance.

Reduces energy bills

A major benefit of opting for furnace cleaning services is that it can drastically reduce your annual energy bills. Especially during the winter season, your heating systems can increase your energy bills.

Without regular maintenance, the furnace at your home will need an extra amount of energy for generating warm air. When you opt for furnace cleaning and maintenance services, it will ensure that your furnace works efficiently without any hiccups. This, in turn, reduces the energy bills.

Fewer chances of an emergency breakdown

Professional furnace cleaning and maintenance services also help you in avoiding an emergency breakdown during which the furnace is put out of commission. These services will ensure that the furnace functions efficiently throughout winter without any issues.

Avoid expensive repairs

Repairs in your home can end up costing you a large sum of money. The regular maintenance and tune-up of your furnace would reduce the chances of incurring costly repair charges. At the initial stages, any form of repairs in the furnace can be managed easily. If left unattended this can lead to a major problem in the future, fixing which may end up costing you a fortune.

Ensures safety

There are several problems with a furnace, like the cracked heat exchanger, which can potentially lead to grave issues that are much more than just a repair or reduction in performance efficiency.

A cracked heat exchanger can release a substantial quantity of carbon monoxide inside your house. This is a majorly serious issue that should be dealt with at the earliest as it can hamper the safety of your family.

If you suspect such a leak in your furnace parts, turn the gas off immediately and contact emergency services. Once the issue has been dealt with and your family is safe, you can contact us for furnace repairs.

Windy City Duct Cleaning is a well-known company in the field of heat system maintenance. They have a variety of cost-effective furnace cleaning and maintenance services that can be availed by you to enjoy the benefits mentioned above. Contact us now to know more about our furnace cleaning, tune-up, and maintenance services.

April 13, 2020April 18, 2020

Why furnace maintenance plans are a smart choice?

These days’ people are so much into new products and high-tech equipment which makes their life luxurious and easier because just by few movements you can change the temperature of a particular area especially when it’s winter and snowing.

There are a lot of approaches to remain warm and shield yourself from those brutal, bone-chilling temperatures this coming winter. You can basically wear layers of clothes, dressing in sweaters, socks, and even scarves to keep your body warm. You must have thought of making a cup of coffee or tea and just enjoy having a blanket placed on your body on your couch and feel the warmth in chilling winters.

What is a furnace?

Well, if you live in a cold country or in a place where the temperature falls to less than zero or zero than you must know about a furnace. Basically, this is an industrial equipment that melts metal like iron and many other heavy-duty metals.
But, let me tell you that this particular furnace won’t melt your room rather a residential furnace works as an Air Conditioner which tends to provide the apt amount of heat to your house or any particular area through the vents, to be particular it only provides warmth not cold so you can also call it as a heater.

So, in this blog, we will have a look at a brief account of whether the maintenance of the furnace at your houses is necessary or not.

Maintenance will make sure that no safety factors are neglected

Furnaces today are planned with various progressive wellbeing highlights. Well, when you talk about residential furnaces there are safety measures that have to be taken otherwise you could be in great danger especially when your furnace uses fuel or gas, there are several factors like fuel leakage, carbonmonoxide that comes out of the furnace could enter through vents.
Even if your furnace is electrically powered you can also expect a short circuit that can cause great fire or the furnace can also take down the whole electricity supply of your house. So, it’s better to call up a professional and let them check all the parts and vents too if you are frequently using the furnace.

Maintenance increases the efficiency of your furnace

During a standard furnace upkeep arrangement, your qualified professional will verify whether your furnace is drawing enough air and delivering the necessary measure of the warmth or not.
Regular usage of the furnace can also let the dirt particles trapped in the vents because furnace takes air from outside and delivers warm air to the house so in case you can also feel uncomfortable or spreading of bacteria is also quite possible. This will eventually lower the efficiency of the furnace and you won’t be able to get the benefits of a furnace.

It Increases Your Furnace’s sustainability

Similarly with any kind of machine, the longer we use the particular machine the more maintenance and problem it creates. It’s an unavoidable truth. However, what is avoidable is having basic pieces of your furnace quit working before they should.

Furnace parts are particularly inclined to mileage if they are not adjusted or cleaned in any event once per year; that is because each furnace contains various moving parts. One yearly registration or a straightforward fix can add long stretches of life to your furnace

March 30, 2020December 17, 2020

Top 6 ways to check Ac installation mistakes

Operating an air condition seems easier. However, installing it is indeed a complex task. During warm days, AC installation seems a necessity. Installing AC may sound cumbersome. Ensuring a cool indoor environment is no longer a tough task now if you know how to avoid common mistakes. Obviously, you should avoid these common mistakes if you actually want peace of mind.

Read on to know how you can ensure that that job of AC installation is done right in one time.

#1. Installing the Wrong Size

Ac Installation

This is the most common mistake that people usually go with the wrong size. Of course, the most common reason behind it is that they believe that bigger Air conditioners are better. The notion is not right and you will face difficulty in meeting your cooling needs that suit your home. In the end, you will end up buying another.

#2. Wrong Position of Air Conditioner

The ventilation of the room matters when it comes to deciding the location of installation at a home. AC placement is indeed the most important aspect that you should never take lightly. Be sure to pick the right position. Most experts prefer the eastern and northern sides to install AC in the room.

#3. Improper Insulation

AC Insulation

Proper insulation is more important than you think. If you are installing a window AC, you should consider insulation panels that are specifically built for window AC. You should consider the right size of the duct if you are installing a split AC.

#4. Hiding Air Conditioner

Excessive summer electricity bills are no pretty just like your air conditioner. You should avoid hiding the air conditioner behind shrubs or plants. They will make the air conditioner less efficient to work and hinder ventilation.

#5. Overlong Refrigerant Pipes

Keeping refrigerant pipe too long is another common mistake that you must avoid making. The pipe connects indoor and outdoor units and the long pipes make it difficult for AC to complete the cycle of cooling.

#6. Choosing the Wrong Contractor

Ac Services

You should always choose to hire professionals to get the job done in a flawless manner. However, people often avoid checking their backgrounds and success stories. Choosing the right installer is important.

Mistakes usually happen when you don’t put attention to the above-mentioned things. If you focus on these things, you can easily get the AC installation done in a perfect manner. Now, keep this guide in mind and install the air conditioner perfectly to improve the lifespan of your system.

March 28, 2020March 31, 2020

Simple Steps to Keep the Furnace Blower Clean

You need to keep your furnace clean to maintain the operational efficiency at higher levels. Blower is an integral part of a furnace. No matter what kind of blower your furnace has; timely blower maintenance is needed to keep the furnace optimally functional. You should check your system frequently for dust, debris or dirt buildup. Here are some simple steps to keep the furnace blower clean:

Keep checking and lubricating the blower motor

Blower motor

An electric motor is the one that runs the blower and helps it move the heated air through ductwork. You need to lubricate the motor bearings of the blower. If you want the unit to operate efficiently, you have to make sure that there is adequate quantity of oil between the bushing and shaft of the blower motor.

Clean the blower compartment

Furnace machine

You have to look inside after opening all access panels to the unit. If there is dirt and debris, you should remove it. It is always advisable to make use of a wet or dry vacuum to eliminate the debris, dirt, and dust around the motor and blower. You have to get inside the blower compartment for removing the mechanical parts with a soft brush. A wet or dry vacuum can be used as well.

Examine the wear and tension of the blower belt

Furnace Maintenance

The blower may get slow down due to a loose belt. You need to replace the belt if you find the belt displays any signs of wear and tear. Replacement is necessary if the belt is frayed. Experts always advise the tightening of the belt when belt deflection goes beyond 3/4 inch upon pressed forcefully. You can tighten the belt by sliding the motor back.

If you find any difficulty while making efforts to maintain the blower clean, you need to hire a professional. Reliable service providers offer customer-friendly maintenance packages that optimize the functionality of your blower and furnace efficiently.

March 27, 2020March 31, 2020

Some strict protocols followed by our expert team during Coronavirus Pandemic

As we all know that the world is going through a difficult situation right now and nothing can be said about when this is going to end. The World Health Organization has declared the coronavirus issue as a pandemic, some strict protocols are being followed by the government and citizens of all the countries -all across the globe. More than 2,70,000 people have been tested positive with the coronavirus and 11,500 people have already died globally.

Some strict measures that have been taken by our government to minimize the spread of coronavirus are as follows:

Travel ban from and to Europe completely:

U.S government has already banned the entry of visitors coming from Europe to the United States. This is done because Europe has been largely affected by this virus and the cases are even increasing there on a daily basis. Even the traders are not allowed to travel to Europe for their business.

NBA league has been suspended:

Due to the coronavirus cases increasing on a large scale, the NBA season schedule has been called off for now.

Financial Relief assured:

All the people or workers who have been tested positive carrying the virus will be provided financial relief by the U.S government. Also, the health insurance companies are going to waive off the co-payments spent on the treatment of coronavirus. This is going to help the people a lot and also waive off their stress to work for bread and butter in this pandemic situation.

Shows banned:

Most of the studios have stopped recording their late night shows and the regular shows after the advisory released by the government.

Social Distancing:

It has been advised to avoid partying with friends and visiting the market without any emergency.

If people deliberately follow the strict protocols suggested by the government, this pandemic situation can be controlled in time. Adhering to the advisory can help us get a world that we all feel safe living in. Not following the orders issued by the advisory board can lend up in the stages that Italy and China are in right now. So, let’s all follow the principle of social distancing to keep ourselves safe.

March 26, 2020March 31, 2020

PRECAUTIONARY SERVICE STEPS IMPLEMENTED AMID CORONAVIRUS

The world is on high alert! The recent virus outbreak has hampered the lives of many human beings. It is growing at a really fast pace and is sabotaging the life routine of masses. The virus is a mortiferous and highly destructive nature. It is really very crucial to implement precautionary steps that are necessary for avoiding the fatal consequences of the virus.

Following are some of the service steps implement amid the coronavirus outbrake.-

PROPER COMMUNICATION AND EDUCATION-

It is really mandatory to educate the employers, employees and the workers about this deadly virus and its dangerous aftereffects. The head authorities are trying to communicate well with their subordinates and employees so as to provide them with imperative guidelines like how to avoid getting infected, or how to maintain social distance and other facts. The employees should be given the work from home facility.

EMPHASIS ON SICK LEAVE POLICIES-

The companies are trying to fortify and reinforce the sick leave policies of their employees. The symptoms of the virus are very common like fever, cough and neck pain. Because of this fact it becomes difficult for the person to detect the chances of getting affected by it. If any particular employee is suffering from any of these symptoms, it is advisable to send them their home. The company can also arrange a proper health checkup for its employees.

SANITATION OF THE WORKPLACE-

Many companies and offices have sanitized their work so as to maintain a clean and healthy environment. It is important that the offices must be decontaminated so as to avoid any chances of the employees getting infected by Corona.

SOCIAL DISTANCING-

To avoid the chances of getting infected by the COVID-19, it is important to maintain physical distance, as the virus is spread rapidly through physical contact. The people are completely isolating themselves and maintain proper social and physical distance.

PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE.

These days it is important for us to take care of ourselves and our families. The only way we can fight with this virus is to practice quarantine, maintain hygiene and ur health, avoid any kind of unnecessary gathering.

February 17, 2020March 17, 2020

Air Quality Tips For Better Environment At Home

Do you think that pollution is only outdoors? Well, you might want to revisit that thought because the truth is that even our indoor environment gets polluted. What a lot of people don’t realize is that the indoor air might be more polluted than the outdoor air. As you spend most of your time indoors, it is essential that you work upon enhancing the indoor air quality to improve your overall health and keep allergies as well as infections at bay. Fortunately, improving indoor air quality isn’t that difficult and can be achieved through easy steps and measures. Listed below are some tips that can help you out.

Duct Cleaning

When we make use of air conditioning or heating on a regular basis, the air ducts start accumulating dirt and dust. Pet’s dander, cigarette or cigar smoke, water contamination, remodeling projects contributes to the accumulation. You can clean the rest of the house but air ducts are hidden away so they miss the eye. Also, it is difficult to reach such places and clean it effectively. If left unnoticed, the dust and dirt will combine with the air passing through it and enter your living and breathing environment. From then on it can cause various health and breathing problems to the dwellers. You can call the professional once or twice a year to get the ducts thoroughly cleaned so that you can breathe clean air without any fears.

Make Sure Your AC Is Clean

Air conditioners have proved to be very helpful, especially in the summer months as it provides with cold air and refreshing the stale air. Now, what we forget is that there are filters in every kind of ACs must be cleaned too. When the ACs work, impurities, and pollens get stuck in the filter, which after some time, it starts throwing the same pollutants into the indoor air, decreases the air quality of a home. So it is critical to clean them regularly or take professional help.

Keep Your Upholstery Clean

Another thing that people usually overlook is their upholstery and carpets. If it looks clean, it doesn’t mean that it is not hiding dust and dirt inside it. You will get various signs like nose irritation, throat feeling dry and tired when there will be dust inside the upholstery. The dust mites if left untreated, will linger in the fabric of your homes such as bedding, cushions, and curtains. Do clean those as well on a regular basis to breathe easily when in close contact with fabrics and upholstery.

Take A Close Look At Chemicals Used In Your Home

We use a lot of chemicals at home to clean the floor, bathrooms and other things. Now, these chemicals will definitely offer great results but it can affect the air quality of your house. Ingredients like perchloroethylene, ethylene glycol, ammonia, chlorine, methylene chloride, formaldehyde, acetone, and benzene are quite common in VOCs. So, you can either avoid using such chemicals or can switch to organic products.

February 12, 2020March 17, 2020

Why Annual Furnace Tune-Ups are Necessary

Did you know?

The furnaces that we have installed at home produce heat by burning fuel.

So, it is very important to maintain the efficiency and safety of the system, the burning of the fuel, must be accurate. The cracks and leaks in the system might increase the quantity of the carbon monoxide to dangerous levels that can be dangerous for us.

Having getting properly examined the heat exchanger, gas burner and gas valve calibrations are important to the operation of the furnace. Who would want to take any chances of risk when it’s about our beloved family?

A regular check-up for your furnace isn’t always top of the priority. But in order to ensure the guarantee of your furnace and to provide you maximum comfort throughout the winter months, a scheduled furnace tune-up is crucial.

Is Annual Furnace Tune-Up Necessary?

Professionals say that Furnace inspections and maintenance by a qualified technician is an important thing to consider. Let’s check out, WHY?

Keeps You and Your Family Safe

As we have already discussed that furnace burns fuel to produce heat and the combustion process must be kept accurate to maintain the safety and efficiency. Even a minute issue in the system can lead to gas leaks into your home or hazardous carbon monoxide levels.

It’s better to take precautions and ensure the health and safety of you and your family.

Ensures proper airflow of the system

During the furnace tune-up inspection, the heating technician will check your heating system to ensure if your systems are receiving the proper airflow. Any restricted or limited airflow puts an unnecessary strain on your furnace that can later demand in increased repairs and will become less efficient.

Saves a Lot of Time

Scheduling a furnace tune-up at the right time, before the winters hits the city, is much more convenient than waiting for a technician during the winter in a chilled home without heat.

No need of Emergency Repairs

During winters, very often we receive emergency calls regarding furnace repairs which could have been prevented if one already has done with routine maintenance.

In addition to cleaning and filter replacement of the furnace system that keeps the system run efficiently, a furnace tune-up can identify potential problems before they turn into major ones.

The Manufacturer’s Warranty Actually Works

If the furnace installed at your home is under a manufacturer’s warranty, then it is important to get an annual furnace tune-up (which shouldn’t be over-looked at). Some manufacturers demands that the furnace is maintained more frequently in order not to void the warranty.

An Annual Furnace Tune-up can very well satisfy this requirement and maintain the warranty of the furnace.

What does a furnace tune-up do?

During a furnace tune-up, the technician is supposed to thoroughly clean and adjusts the parts and mechanisms inside your furnace. It will keep the furnace running efficiently throughout the season without letting you face the issue in between. He will also perform a comprehensive inspection to detect the potential problems before they turn up into a full-scale furnace breakdown.

There’s nothing best than taking action immediately and be prepared not regret it during the middle of winters when your furnace actually come in the role play. Schedule your service today!