Corona Virus vs HEPA Filter and Other Air Purifier Options | Residential & Commercial Properties

HEPA Filters

HEPA filters have been used since the 1940s starting in military biomedical applications to prevent the spread of viral organisms and airborne bacteria.  CNN suggests in their anti-viral article “Look for a model with a HEPA filter, which is what most allergists and doctors recommend.”

HEPA filters down to 0.3 microns and is 99.97% effective with a fresh filter, and traps pathogens, bacteria, many viruses (98% according to MIT including flu), mold spores, dust, allergens, smoke and odours and more. Silver infused HEPA filters, as silver has natural antibacterial, antiviral and anti-fungal properties.

Silver nanoparticles make contact with the outer membrane of the pathogens and create structural changes that degrade the microbe, which ceases the reproduction of germs.

Since bacteria and viruses can be airborne, it’s almost impossible to keep from breathing in germs that are floating around in the air. Air filtration is commonly used in both residential and small and large commercial applications such as office buildings, schools, large apartment buildings, medical and public buildings.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the most effective way to improve indoor air or remove or at least reduce the sources of pollutants inside the dwelling is to ventilate with clean outdoor air (see air exchangers article).

Next, EPA recommends is using a whole building filtration system where possible (over a portable unit) such as air purifiers and air sanitizers to improve indoor air quality.

Additional Air Purifying Options

Many Commercial and Residential spaces utilize dual systems in tandem, for greater efficacy adding UV technology in tandem with the HEPA system, depending on the application (such as medical building or daycare) as some viruses can be smaller than .3 microns. SARS for example was 0.1 microns. However, having said that, airborne viruses are generally attached to water molecules, which make the whole package much larger than .3 microns, and therefore could be picked up by a HEPA filter.

Germicidal UV technology oxidizes odours and vapours by removing them instead of trapping them and is effective on microscopic particles, bacteria and viruses as well as small as .001 microns. Not just the aforementioned, but also herbicides and atmospheric dust.

Air Exchangers too, are of great importance, buildings like humans need to breathe. An air exchanger brings in fresh air from outside and exhaust out the stale air from inside, as the Environmental Protection agency suggests above. Thus diluting the stale air with fresh air, and getting rid of airborne nastiness as an extra measure. (see air exchangers article)

Corona Virus

At the time of this writing, it is unknown the exact micron size of the Corona virus NL63 (HCoV-NL63), however NBC news has suggested it is of the same viral family as SARS; and CDC (Center for Disease Control) suggests only those coming in direct contact need wear a specially fitted mask. Surgical masks, however only generally filter particles larger than 5 microns. An N95 mask filters particles greater than 0.3 microns.

Toronto University Health Network suggests paper masks are “counterproductive” as prevention. “Corona viruses are named for their corona-like (halo) appearance in electron micrographs. They account for 50 per cent of all upper respiratory infections in humans, and a mutant form of the virus is a cause of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The virus can be fatal and has been shown to cause liver damage in mice.”

However, Professor Finkelstein at Harvard Medical School states “healthy person is wearing a mask and walks into a sickroom and touches infected surfaces, the mask makes it hard to touch his or her own nose and mouth”.  According to Global News, the average person touches their face 3x’s per minute.

Thus like wearing gloves, in Canadian winter when inside at the grocery store or other public places, especially where touch screens for checkout or elevators can be helpful as well (let’s just say there’s a reason the Queen wears gloves, eh?).

Professor Finkelstein goes on to say that the number of face to face contacts is going to statistically increase the possibility of exposure, thus minimizing risk by lessening in person contact is something to consider.

Humidity, Temperatures and Viruses

MIT also suggests that controlling temperature and humidity is a viable option for reduction of viruses – higher temperatures and humidity levels can kill or disable viruses.  Not just MIT, University of Nebraska cites similar findings with wheat mite virus.

Dr Farhad Memarzadeh at National Institutes of Health has this to say in a review of more than 120 papers “The incidence of illness and infectivity of a virus that is transmitted by the airborne route in an indoor environment is the result of a host of factors…

…These include humidity, temperature, population density, number of susceptibles, length of exposure, number of infected people producing contaminated aerosols, ventilation rate, infectious particle settling rate, whether the virus has a lipid or non-lipid envelope, the presence of surrounding organic material, exposure to Ultraviolet (UV) light or antiviral chemicals, microorganism resistance to antibiotic or antiviral therapy”,

The review also “showed that human influenza viruses could survive on a variety of surfaces at 35%–49% RH [relative humidity] and a temperature of 28°C (82.4°F).”

Harvard.edu states in their article The Reason Why Flu Strikes in Winter “we can conclude that, at least in regions that have a winter season, the influenza virus survives longer in cold, dry air, so it has a greater chance of infecting another person”. ..

…“At 43°F with very low humidity, most of the virus was able to survive more than 23 hours, whereas at high humidity and a temperature of 90°F, survival was diminished at even one hour into incubation.”

And goes on to say “During the winter, people spend more time indoors with the windows sealed, so they are more likely to breathe the same air as someone who has the flu and thus contract the virus”.

This is likely a factor in why seniors’ long term care homes are really warm, more than the fact that the elderly are often cold, having the heat at 83%F helps keep the viruses away, especially due to the proximity of the residents. Washing hands for more than 20 seconds as well is recommended on MIT and other sites for viral prevention.

The Harvard Article by Hannah Foster PHD goes on to say “So, as the temperature and humidity keep dropping, your best bet for warding off this nasty bug is to get your flu shot ASAP, stay warm, and invest in a humidifier.”

Thus it may be a consideration to have the humidifier in one’s home checked, or installed as an add-on unit.

Heat Sterilization & HVAC Incinerators – Going the Extra Mile

One thing a virus, as noted above, cannot escape, is extreme heat. “Generally, as temperature rises, virus survival decreases. Maintaining temperatures above 60°C (140°F) for more than 60 min,” says Dr Memarzadeh.”

This is an add-on unit to the HVAC system. Air gets pulled through a chamber and microorganism are incinerated by the heat, in which no particles of any kind can survive. This more extreme method of air purification also burns up allergens, dust, mold spores, dander and pretty much everything else. The air is cooled before released back into the living/work space.

Disinfect Surfaces

CNN as well as Most Medical sites suggest disinfecting surfaces with a product effective against viruses. Duct work has surfaces too, and the air in the home regenerates through the duct work approximately 60x’s per day. Benefect is a 100% natural medical approved grade disinfectant that can be used as a treatment after duct cleaning. This will add extra protection to the air quality in residential or commercial property.

Conclusion

There are lots of options to choose from, which will work well to destroy germs, mold and pathogens, thus choose the one or a combination of systems that best suits your needs, space size and application (residential and commercial) as well as budget. Call for an estimate 416-410-3777.

Canaduct is a Canadian Company, and offers fast efficient appointments for our commercial clients for these services:

Do you have multiple workplace facilities, franchises, homes or offices?

Canaduct has a broad air filtration service area in Southern Ontario including the Greater Toronto Area. No need to deal with multiple companies, technicians and locations. One call will solve it all.

Types of Buildings:

• Offices: high rise, low rise and ground floor
• Retail stores & Grocery stores
• Medical buildings & Hospitals
• Schools; Elementary, Secondary, Public, Private; Day-cares
• Seniors homes, long term care facilities, retirement homes
• Real estate buildings & holdings, high rises, rental properties
• Townhouses, walk-ups, low rise, homes, condos, lofts
• Warehouses

Call us if your building isn’t listed above, we can make arrangements.

Canaduct offers fast efficient appointments for our commercial clients for these services:

• Indoor Air Quality Specialists
• Commercial Humidifiers
• HVAC maintenance
• Ventilation cleaning
• Commercial duct cleaning
• Air vent cleaning
• Dryer duct cleaning
• Boiler Systems
• Commercial carpet cleaning
• Odour removal Specialists (natural treatments avail)
• Fire or Flood restoration

Ensure your heating and cooling systems at your home or business are operating at peak efficiency will help you breathe clean, healthy air at work or home; saving money on energy costs and can also help improve the bottom line.

Air Exchangers vs Duct Cleaning Residential & Commercial Ventilation

What is air exchanger? An air exchanger is a unit that brings in fresh air from outside and removes stale air from inside, whether it be a residential or commercial property. Just like humans, buildings need to breathe.

Because new construction has better insulation and less air leaks, it creates an environment where the air inside the home because it is better sealed, now becomes stale. It also can trap in toxins, being released from carpets, furniture, including cabinetry.

Now that materials are treated with fire retardants, pesticides if shipped from overseas as well as formaldehyde, and other pollutants, and oxygen depletion as it is used, not just by humans but fire places, stoves, etc. If there is an attached garage to the dwelling, pollutants can migrate into the living space.

Depending on the property, it can have more humidity than other homes/workplace, thus if windows are frosted or condensating, for example may be an indication of needing to check on the indoor air quality.

Why not just open the window? Well, that is one way to do it, but isn’t as efficient and isn’t practical when away at work and having to do this in multiple rooms, for example and clearly, not very efficient. For commercial high rises with sealed windows, this is not an option. Also in some places the outdoor air quality without filtration is poorer than the indoor air quality.

Even Health Canada states that the “second most important strategy for improving IAQ is to ensure efficient ventilation to introduce outside air into the building and exhaust polluted indoor air in order to remove or dilute it.” canada.ca – The first being minimizing the sources of indoor air contamination.

The Canada.ca site goes on to say “Generally, they require ventilation rates of about 5 to 10 L/s of outdoor air for each house occupant or roughly a complete house air change every three hours, but these rates vary according to the number of occupants, house volume, occupant activities, and the presence of indoor sources of pollutants. In a typical house, these target ventilation rates are established to dilute air pollutants generated within the house (including carbon dioxide, humidity, and odours) as well as some pollutants off-gassing from the house structure, building materials, furniture, and consumer products.”

The Third Strategy recommended by Health Canada is to “remove pollutants that are already in the air through the use of air cleaners or filtration. Filtration is most effective for pollutants such as particles and has been shown to be an effective method for reducing the risk of particle-related mortality.”

What are the other options to get rid of stale air and bring in fresh air?

Air Exchangers – ERV’s vs HRV’s

They are both similar in the sense that they both supply fresh air to the home and exhaust the stale air, however to maintain energy efficiency – they recover the energy from the exhaust air in the process. Main difference: HRV transfers heat only – while ERV transfers heat and moisture.

HRV – Heat Recovery Ventilation – mainly for dry non- humid climates like Western Canada and mid United States.

• Removes moisture and provides fresh air into the home that is already pre-heated by the existing outgoing air.
• No coils, runs by fans.

ERV – Energy Recovery Ventilation – great for Ontario weather when it ranges both cold or humid or both.

• In winter – an ERV will pre-heat and humidify incoming air from outside the dwelling/facility.
• In summer – an ERV will pre-cool and dehumidify the incoming air from outside the dwelling/facility.
• No drain required for condensation, ERVs also have the ability to transfer moisture through membranes.
• ERV’s easily allow for maintaining the humidity around 40-50% in home environments.
• Be sure to have extra housing if in colder climates
• Can lower air conditioning energy consumption by up to 12% a week.

Indoor air quality – this is a giant topic on its own – however suffice to say bad stuff floating around in a home is not good, especially if it is well sealed. To know for sure one can order an IAQ test (Indoor Air Quality Test) which should be done by a licensed professional. This will give real results of what is going on in the air of a home or commercial property.

Duct Cleaning vs Air Exchangers – An air exchanger is a great everyday appliance to maintain fresh ongoing oxygenated air in the home or commercial building, while duct cleaning is good every few years to ensure debris, dander, microbes in the vents don’t recirculate around the home to be re-breathed in or cause a fire hazard by ending up on the furnace heat exchanger.

For all your options, contact our office. We are a Canadian Company! For an instant free estimate, call us at 416-410-3777 fill out the form below or see our locations on our contact us page:

Canaduct offers fast efficient appointments for our commercial and residential clients for these services:

• Commercial duct cleaning
• Air vent cleaning,
• Ventilation cleaning
• Dryer duct cleaning
• HVAC maintenance
• Boiler Systems
• Commercial Humidifiers
• Commercial carpet cleaning
• Indoor Air Quality Specialists
• Odour removal Specialists (powerful yet all natural treatments)
• Fire or Flood restoration

Ensure your heating and cooling systems at your home or business are operating at peak efficiency. Our air duct quality service will help you breathe clean, healthy air at work or home; saving money on energy costs and can help improve the bottom line.

Do you have multiple workplace facilities, franchises, homes or offices?

Canaduct’s broad range of coverage provides a huge duct cleaning service area in Southern Ontario including the Greater Toronto Area. No need to deal with multiple companies, technicians and locations. One call will solve it all.

Types of Buildings:

• Warehouses
• Offices: high rise, low rise and ground floor
• Retail stores & Grocery stores
• Medical buildings & Hospitals
• Schools; Elementary, Secondary, Public, Private; Day-cares
• Seniors homes, long term care facilities, retirement homes
• Real estate buildings & holdings, high rises, rental properties
• Townhouses, walk-ups, low rise, homes, condos, lofts

Call us if your building isn’t listed above, we can make arrangements.

CRTC finally finds some solution to ROBO callers and spammers who are frustrating Canadians and wreaking havoc on various industries and organizations. The average Canadian household receives over 12 unwelcome calls a month, according to the Globe and Mail, which is the 11th highest in the world; countries such as Brazil receive over 45 such calls.

It skyrocketed due to the advent of VOIP and the government and phone companies unwillingness to keep up with legislature, offsetting technologies and lagging in policy making.

The Canadian government has now mandated that by DEC 19 2019 phone companies were to have in place universal call blocking systems and have recommended tracing systems as well. Call blocking automatically filters out call displays which are either vacant or zeroed out such as 000-000-0000, as well as those with more than 15 digit and have recommended tracing systems that compare the caller id with the actual owner of the line, and gives a digital fingerprint of sorts on every wireless phone number. Calls without a signature will not be put through the system.

This will help alleviate natural frustration as well as major inconveniences for the disabled or elderly but also help reduce not only robo calls but potential fraud calls as well.

Just as there are good doctors and bad doctors, and the same can be said about lawyers, good companies in specific industries were getting slammed for things they disapprove of and don’t participate in – such as duct cleaners who DON’T use telemarketing. As well as the credit industry and even the Government and Police were having to explain they were not the perpetrators of such calls.

There is more work to be done and may not eliminate the perpetrators completely, but it should knock it down significantly and companies will be honing the technology until they can come up with better options.

Canaduct is a 100% Canadian company. We DO NOT telemarket! (so this news is great news for us too!)

For over 19 years our clients come to us for repeat services such as air conditioning and HVAC maintenance, repair service and cleaning. Our reputation has gained us many referrals.

We also service furnaces, do air quality testing, we install maintain and repair air conditioners as well as boilers and a host of other home services.

Contact Us Page

Phone: 416-410-3777

Household dust is comprised of approx 80% dead skin cells from humans, dander from animals, dust mites, clothing fibers, dead bug bits, soil particles, pollen, pathogens, bacteria, mould, microscopic metals, plastics, toxins from household cleaners.

Also, endocrine disruptors (immune system), hormone disruptors, reproductive system disruptors have been found in household dust and according to Heather Stapleton of Duke University, and can be contributing to excess fat storage in humans!

“Year over year, dust accumulates in the home,” says the environmental chemist Miriam L. Diamond at University of Toronto, “Dust gets resuspended when it’s disturbed and will recirculate throughout the house, picking up substances before returning once more to the floor … a continual source of exposure for the residents.”

Dust gets entrenched in carpets and crevices, and may retain legacy pollutants banned long ago, such as DDT. Only 10% of debris and dirt in carpet fibres (and carpet pads) are removed with regular household vacuuming.

Not to mention the compounds in carpets, underpadding, furniture foam, vinyl flooring, electronics, flame retardants in clothing, food containers, cosmetics and other household items, Veena Singla at Natural Resources Defense Council says “for many of these compounds, governments have not set safe levels”.

Scientists Robin Dodson and Veena Singla at NRDC ranked contaminants in volume of dust with the estimated intake vs the health hazard. The additive DEHP was at the top of the list and can disrupt hormone function in both animal and human studies is linked to reduced sperm motility (see partial list in paragraph above), as well as carcinogens.

Toddlers, whom spend around 90% of their time indoors on the floor and exploring the world with their mouths, the evidence of pollutants in dust is disconcerting, especially since they are more chemically sensitive than adults.

Scientists have not effectively itemized the extent of health risk from dust exposure, other than Dodson and Singla found that the concentrations of some phthalates and flame retardants exceeded standards for house dust.

Pet flea treatments, fungicides, food particles, and cocaine have been found in standard house dust testing. Scientists are still being surprised that the exposure is far beyond their understanding and beyond the set of compounds they expected to find.

Thus for both older homes, legacy toxins are a concern and for new builds, flame retardants, plastics and cleaning chemicals, drywall dust can be issues.

As for fat, scientist Stapleton’s work at Duke University maintains that exposure to contaminants in dust could be contributing to weight gain. The lab findings maintained flame retardants will bind to a human cell receptor which in turn triggers fat storage in human cells.

Not just adults… when testing human cells in the lab with samples of dust levels that a child might be exposed to, they observed activation of these fat receptors about 50% of the time, suggesting the dust compounds may very well increase weight gain.

Wouldn’t you love to have your home free of dust mites, allergens, dander, pet hair and all the unpleasant debris and odours that can accumulate in your air ducts? Regular duct cleaning can remedy this quickly and easily, using high powered commercial equipment and treating the vents with medical grade yet 100% natural Benefect.

Not just home – have you considered the workplace, school and daycare?

We a Canadian Company! For an instant free estimate, call us at 416-410-3777 fill out the form below or see our locations on our contact us page.

Canaduct’s extensive coverage area, 19+ years of experience, fleet of trucks and qualified personnel, provide an extended residential and commercial duct cleaning service area across Southern Ontario including the Greater Toronto Area.

Our Residential and Commercial Duct Cleaning Service Area Includes: Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville, Georgetown, Milton, Scarborough, North York, Etobicoke, Islington, Rexdale, Weston, The Beaches, East York, Richmond Hill, Newmarket, Bradford, Aurora, Innisfil, Markham, Stouffville, Uxbridge, Unionville, Aurora, Newmarket, Vaughan, Concord, Woodbridge, King City, Bolton, Caledon, Pickering, Bowmanville, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa and more.

Cut Heating Bills

As if our heating bills and energy costs in the Toronto Ontario area weren’t enough, the Canadian “powers at be” saw fit to slap on some carbon tax to the pile. Anything we can do as home owners, commercial or even as renters to enhance our property energy efficiency is definitely worth a little bit of effort.

On Energy Star’s Checklist They offer some valuable suggestions on where to look to find savings on home energy expenditures, and more specifically heating, here are some of their suggestions for reducing energy costs…

Maintaining HVAC Equipment – according to Energy Star – dirt and neglect are top causes of heating system inefficiency and even failure. They recommend routine maintenance such as…

• Changing the air filter regularly – preventing dirt and dust building up in the system – if left unchecked can lead to larger system failure. Energy Star suggests checking the filter every month, or in the very least in the heavier usage months during summer and winter. Change it if it’s dirty or if 3 months have passed since the last change.
• Inspecting the flue pipe – looking for any gaps, disconnections or rusting – which can cause back drafting
• Checking furnace cycles to make sure the system starts up, runs, and shuts off properly.
• Furnace Tune Up – by a qualified technician – checking connections, pressure, burner combustion and the heat exchanger – as a cracked heat exchanger or dirty burner can cause the equipment to operate less efficiently and more importantly less safely. Leaking oil or gas connections can also cause fires or contribute to health issues.
• Sealing up Duct Work – using metal foil/aluminum tape (not duct tape as it loses adhesion quickly) – access can be tricky since duct work is often hidden behind walls, attics, basements (crawl spaces) and ceilings. Occasionally they can get disconnected altogether, or be kinked.
  • According to Energy Star, 20% air is lost through the duct system of houses with forced-air heating due to leaks, holes, or poorly connected ducts. Resulting in an inefficient HVAC system (and high utility bills) even with the thermostat set modestly.
  • Energy Star also suggests making sure the connections at vents and registers are well sealed where they meet the ceiling, walls and floors; which are common locations where leaks and disconnection occurs.
  • Energy Star goes so far as to suggest having a contractor inspect the entire system. An HVAC professional will have a better idea if the size of the system is suitable to the size of the house, but also for full inspection, properly evaluating the supply and air return balance – as sometimes the ducts are too small. And re-attach, straighten or detangle crushed duct work; and ensure there is no back drafting and do combustion safety tests, and use diagnostic tools to evaluate air flow.
• Good quality maintenance can do wonders – Even Energy Star agrees that lubing parts to reduce friction in motors which reduces the amount of energy needed to run them. Lack of lube can also cause equipment to wear out more quickly and therefore requiring more frequent repairs and parts replacement. Therefore annual furnace maintenance can be wallet friendly in multiple ways in the long run on both energy and parts.
• Choosing the right equipment – the age of the furnace and the efficiency of it may be related. If it’s old and constantly breaking down, a furnace that works harder costs more to heat the dwelling. Some clients have saved up to 50% on their heating bills just by changing the furnace alone. Energy Star suggests considering a furnace replacement of a furnace over 10 years old.
• Checking the shell or envelope of the house – look for any leaks or gaps in the outer walls, ceiling windows and floor. Energy Star suggests this can save up to 20% on heating costs (and up to 10 percent on total annual energy bill). Sealing leaks with caulk, weather stripping or spray foam often has a great impact. The easier the furnace runs, the less stress on it and the system, the more savings to be had. If you choose to hire a contractor for this, be sure to ask if they have the special diagnostic tools to pinpoint and seal the hidden air leaks in the home. A home still needs a certain amount of fresh air, but in the right way, some homes are too tight and a fresh air ventilation system may be recommended, especially when using gas appliances, and that your combustion appliances are venting properly, also recommended as important from Energy Star. An IAQ or “Indoor Air Quality” professional can measure this for you.
• Adding Insulation – it’s one of the easiest ways to get the biggest savings by adding insulation in an attic that needs more. One way to know is to inspect the attic and if any of the floor is uncovered or if your insulation is level or below the floor joists, you likely need to add more. General recommended insulation by the Ontario Building code has been raised recently from R-50 to R-60 in the attic. Depending on the type of insulation used will depend on the depth needed to obtain that R-Value. Exterior walls are a different R-Rating than the attic. If you are unfamiliar with insulation, it’s best to get advice from a professional or hire one as there are many codes around insulation and vapor barriers, where and how they are used.
• Checking thermostat settings – Not just about having a good programmable thermostat operating efficiently, but and the connections leading to it, a DIY thermostat mis-installation can end up having air and heat on, on the same time (it has happened) – essentially cancelling each other out and costing twice as much for half the heat (or cooling). A properly installed and programmed thermostat can save approx $250CAD ($180US) per year in energy costs according to Energy Star’s heating and cooling guide.
• Have baseboard heaters? Heat pumps can be a great cost saving alternatives. They provide zone heating, are often used in commercial applications, but there are great home / residential heat pumps available that are extremely efficient and a fraction of the running cost of baseboard heaters. They do not require duct work.

We are a Canadian Company! For an instant free estimate, call us at 416-410-3777 fill out the form or see our locations on our contact us page.

Our 8 Point Inspection is a thorough cleaning procedure, making sure that all dust mites, pollen, mold and allergens are removed. You’ll sleep better at night, and be more alert and productive at work, thanks to Canaduct Commercial Duct Cleaning’s coming up 20 years of experience.

Commercial & Residential | Canaduct offers fast efficient appointments for our commercial clients for these services:

• Commercial duct cleaning
• Air vent cleaning,
• Ventilation cleaning
• Dryer duct cleaning
• HVAC maintenance
• Boiler Systems
• Commercial Humidifiers
• Commercial carpet cleaning
• Indoor Air Quality Specialists
• Odour removal Specialists (powerful yet all natural treatments)
• Fire or Flood restoration

Ensure your heating and cooling systems at your home or business are operating at peak efficiency. Our air duct quality service will help you breathe clean, healthy air at work or home; saving money on energy costs and can help improve the bottom line.

Do you have multiple workplace facilities, franchises, homes or offices?

Canaduct’s broad range of coverage provides a huge duct cleaning service area in Southern Ontario including the Greater Toronto Area. No need to deal with multiple companies, technicians and locations. One call will solve it all.

Types of Buildings:

• Warehouses
• Offices: high rise, low rise and ground floor
• Retail stores & Grocery stores
• Medical buildings & Hospitals
• Schools; Elementary, Secondary, Public, Private; Day-cares
• Seniors homes, long term care facilities, retirement homes
• Real estate buildings & holdings, high rises, rental properties
• Townhouses, walk-ups, low rise, homes, condos, lofts

Call us if your building isn’t listed above, we can make arrangements.

Service Area:

Our Residential and Commercial Duct Cleaning Service Area Includes: Toronto, Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville, Georgetown, Milton, Scarborough, North York, Etobicoke, Islington, Rexdale, Weston, The Beaches, East York, Richmond Hill, Newmarket, Bradford, Aurora, Innisfil, Markham, Stouffville, Uxbridge, Unionville, Aurora, Newmarket, Vaughan, Concord, Woodbridge, King City, Bolton, Caledon, Pickering, Bowmanville, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa

Why is that room always too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter?

Ever have a room at home or work that is either boiling in summer or freezing in winter? It may not be the insulation in the structure; it could be the duct work vents. If you don’t have duct work, zone heating / cooling all in one units can be a great solution.

There are a few options when it comes to HVAC, Ductwork, Vents and Cold and Hot Air Returns:

1 )  The vents could be blocked or clogged.

Excess dirt dust debris, a critter, or especially large debris such as drywall cut-offs (bits left over from repair or reno) or a ball, toy or other blockage.

(See weird things down the vent article for more)

If there’s an odd smell, either electrical, charring smell or dead thing – it’s best to contact sooner rather than later! A smoldering smell could be debris on the heat exchanger and be a potential fire hazard.

Blockage isn’t just for the heating and cooling vents connected to the furnace but also the cold air returns. A dresser, sofa, picture, armoire or other item blocking the cold air return can affect the pressure of the house affecting the furnace and air conditioner (called static pressure).

The general rule is keep everything 10 inches away from the cold air return.

2) Damper air flow calibration issue.

Many residential and commercial properties have a damper, which is a piece of metal inside the venting system, which works like a keel or rudder in a ship to both direct and control air flow inside the facility.

If a room is getting too much air flow (meaning other rooms are getting less) then the damper can down-play the excess air, which should then make more airflow available to other rooms (unless that room’s damper system is also constricting airflow).

In some instances the dampers are pointed the wrong way for an entire wing (commercial) or level of a house (ie: upper level or 2^nd story).

If your house or commercial facility does not have dampers, they can often be added, such that if there is no regulation of air flow from vent to vent, this can help by directing the flow to where it is needed most.

3) Disconnected or Incomplete Venting.

Either it wasn’t installed properly or something happened and it got disconnected along the way by a renovation, repair or some other anomaly. Usually installs are pretty solid for the most part, but for whatever reason it does happen.

Cold air returns too help with house air pressure and moisture, if there is a situation with these, then it can throw the balance off in a room or the facility.

Sometimes, it’s just plain poor design or installation. The wrong size of duct work or equipment for the facility, or just simply improperly installed.

4) The Wrong Size of Furnace or Air Conditioner.

Interestingly the wrong size air conditioner can cause excess moisture in a structure. As for most things, and in this case, size matters.

Too small, the furnace works way too hard, pushes energy costs up, lessens the life of the furnace and won’t get the necessary air flow where it needs to go.

Oddly, a furnace or system too big for the home or commercial property can overheat the space, causing the thermostat to shut the system down too soon, causing immense stress on the furnace which can cause the system to be noisy in some instances and also to break down, usually blowing a motor or compressor. (Chain reaction)

5) A really dirty system and filter.

Sometimes, especially in rural areas with dirt roads and wood fireplaces, lots of pets, and open fields, it can collect in the system overtime. With Canadian summers being so short, we squeeze out every opportunity to crack open a window.

There have been instances where it’s just, for whatever reason, previous occupants who never got duct cleaning in the life-cycle of the facility;  or a commercial or residential development close by or the construction of a park or various other combinations that the filter and the venting system gets bogged down with debris. In this case a good duct work cleaning and filter replacement(s) can do wonders.

6) I Don’t Have Duct Work:

Not to fear, there are other such as an all in one heating/cooling system called a heat pump. Single or Multi Units are installed just where they are needed with no duct work required.

There are also alternate solutions for radiators, boiler systems, etc. just contact our office for various solutions unique to your situation.

Specialty Investigative Tools:

A company with video capacity tool can look down the vents and see where the disconnect or blockage is. It’s a great tool and keeps from pulling things apart unnecessarily.

Thermal tools to are excellent, because it can show at a moment’s notice where the heat loss is, and eliminates any guesswork.

Expertise:

Of course it goes without saying that someone with a lot of experience in the industry who has almost seen it all, can often pinpoint straight away after some testing what the true situation is. With the price-points of HVAC systems these days, this is the job for a crew with experience and not for a novice!

About Us:

You’ll sleep better at night, and be more alert and productive at work, thanks to Canaduct Commercial Duct Cleaning’s coming up 20 years of experience.

We are a Canadian Company! For an instant free estimate, call us at 416-410-3777 fill out the form below or see our locations on our contact us page:

Canaduct offers fast efficient appointments for our commercial and residential clients for these services:

• Commercial duct cleaning
• Air vent cleaning,
• Ventilation cleaning
• Dryer duct cleaning
• HVAC maintenance
• Boiler Systems
• Commercial Humidifiers
• Commercial carpet cleaning
• Indoor Air Quality Specialists
• Odour removal Specialists (powerful yet all natural treatments)
• Fire or Flood restoration

Ensure your heating and cooling systems at your home or business are operating at peak efficiency. Our air duct quality service will help you breathe clean, healthy air at work or home; saving money on energy costs and can help improve the bottom line.

Do you have multiple workplace facilities, franchises, homes or offices?

Canaduct’s broad range of coverage provides a huge duct cleaning service area in Southern Ontario including the Greater Toronto Area. No need to deal with multiple companies, technicians and locations. One call will solve it all.

Types of Buildings:

• Warehouses
• Offices: high rise, low rise and ground floor
• Retail stores & Grocery stores
• Medical buildings & Hospitals
• Schools; Elementary, Secondary, Public, Private; Day-cares
• Seniors homes, long term care facilities, retirement homes
• Real estate buildings & holdings, high rises, rental properties
• Townhouses, walk-ups, low rise, homes, condos, lofts

Call us if your building isn’t listed above, we can make arrangements.

The Weirdest Things You’d Never Believe Duct Cleaners Have Discovered in Your Duct Work

Ever wonder why your ducts may not be “bringing the heat” they used to? There could be several reasons, but one of the biggest is clogged ducks. You’d be as shocked as we are to hear about some of the strangest things we’ve found that seem to make their way down the vents.

By the way – it may not be your own kids,  if you’ve purchased a re-sale home, you’ll never know if previous owners could had curious children who thought vents were a great, secret storage space, especially cold air returns as often shown in the movies.

Surprisingly, even in new home construction, we are often called for duct-cleaning only to discover that new ducts don’t necessarily mean clean ducts.

Here’s our list (as well as from some other duct cleaning companies) that will make you wonder “what in the world”?

• stuff the cat swats down the vent that you don’t know about
• stuff the kids throw down the vent (much like the toilet) that you don’t know about
• baby & toddler items, pacifiers, food (cheerios, goldfish crackers anything that can fit in a child’s fist and be flung) especially at the grandparents house
• tennis balls, rubber balls, Nerf balls, laundry balls
• plastic bags, wrappers of all kinds
• socks & underwear, towels & rags (even a full size flag)
• small dead: pets, reptiles & rodents (mice & rats especially) don’t put the traps too close to the vent
• small alive critters – birds especially in the outdoor exhaust for the dryer vents; a kitten was lost and was found down the duct work, eyes peering back at them – was retrieved successfully but not easily.
• human and animal feces & urine residential buildings (it’s true this is a stunt my nephew pulled because he was told he couldn’t leave his room)
• human and animal feces & urine commercial buildings – homeless or contractors, one technician found a bed and table in a large commercial vent
• dirty magazines, love letters, novels, books
• jewellery which has fallen in duct work or for safe keeping in a cold air return, coin collections
• pieces of drywall & metal, leftover construction debris
• nails, screws, tacks
• rolls of partially-used duct tape
• candy: Smarties, jelly beans, M&Ms, Skittles, gum
• food: sandwiches, bananas
• children’s toys: marbles, Lego, army men, Barbie doll, even an RC helicopter was found
• craft supplies
• contraband (teenager or dealers), weapons (apparently a crazy ex boyfriend)

Our machines use 200PSI of suction power to draw out anything that could be lurking in the hidden chutes in your ceiling. We start down at the furnace level and create an access panel. If you don’t have an access panel for duct cleaning by your furnace, your ducts were never cleaned (or not cleaned properly).

We use a special unit which loosens the debris from the sides of the vents from the bottom up, then a specialized powerful industrial unit to pull the loose debris into the holding bin. We also suction the fine silt and sediment that settles at the bottom of the cold air returns, such that it doesn’t blow up and around when the furnace comes on.

Have you ever noticed you or your children sneezing when the furnace comes on? Especially if you have pets, lots of people living in the house or the previous owners, and the people before that may have never had the ducts cleaned, now is likely a good time!

Weird smell? Could be a dead thing, weed from a previous occupant, mold or mildew. As for an IAQ test (indoor air quality test)! Get real results.

Not only do we clean you ducts, cold air returns & laundry vents, we also use a medical grade all-natural disinfectant that kills, bacteria, viruses, mold, fungus, insects, fleas & dust mites, so you can sleep easier at night knowing the air you breathe in your home (11 times/minute) is fresh & pure.

Some people don’t see the value of duct cleaning, but if you have a child with allergies, you already know it’s essential to keep as clean of an air environment as you possibly can.

Have a room that’s always too cold in the winter and too hot in the summer? There is either something clogging the vents or improper calibration of the dampers on the initial install of the venting system or often times, and how the flow is balanced – sending too much air to one room and not enough to others.

You would also be amazed at how much easier the air flows when ducts are cleaned and or balanced, so air can get up to top floors (balancing of the dampers is a separate service, so be sure to state your situation at the time of inquiry).

Why not just vacuum the vents?

A great question. While a standard vacuum hose can remove visible debris from the top of the registers and surface portion of the vents, proper duct cleaning starts with access panels at the furnace level.

Take a look at the furnace; if there are no substantial access holes near the furnace duct work, then proper duct cleaning has never been done.

Professional duct cleaning equipment has extensive psi (suction) by a motor located in the commercial vehicle outside (or large portable unit), with a special device with tendrils to loosen the debris off the side of the vents.

Static electricity (cohesive forces) causes debris to be stuck to every nook in cranny and every surface inside of the duct work all the way down the shaft far beyond the reach and strength of a standard household vacuum. It continues to build up collecting more and more dust over as days, months and years pass by.

Cold air returns too, accumulate a lot of settlement, that doesn’t make it back to the furnace filter and remain on the floor of the cold air return shaft. This is often fine silt that is a common contributor to mystery coughs and allergies.

Mold, dust mites, bacteria and pathogens can stick to vent surfaces; the more moist the air in the home, the more habitable for these pathogens, professional equipment is required, as well as vent treatment after professional cleaning to ward them off for the near future.

House Fire Concerns – Debris can also settle on the heat exchanger and be a potential fire hazard, again, a standard vacuum would not have the power to handle this. Also if the clothes dryer is taking too long to dry, have the technician check the piping all the way to the exit whether at ground or roof level. It has been found a basket ball size of moist lint was compacted into the very top of a widowers roof vent! Once removed there was no more humidity in the laundry area and caregivers said the towels and sheets dried in half the time.

Previous Tenants – No one knows how many Christmas tree needles, confetti or kid toys, pet hair, dander, cigarette butts, or the like ended up at the bottom of the “vent sea” from your own family or the previous families!

Renovations: Do your kids sneeze when the furnace comes on? Did you or previous occupants do renovations? Drywall dust too is a concern for fire.

Professional Equipment – Proper professional duct cleaners will have a big truck or sizeable portable unit (for units where parking is unavailable with the large truck). They will need access to the furnace as well as each vent, as a proper cleaning will be done at both the furnace and the vents. All vents will be sealed off except for the one being worked on, and the crew will work from vent to vent, ensuring maximum pressure is used to remove any debris.

Ask to See the Debris – Proof is in the pudding: Up to 40lbs of dust is created in an average home on an annual basis. Good duct cleaning techs are more than happy to show clients how much debris was collected in their bins, to show how much the family and fur family was breathing in.

It may also make cleaning easier, without films of dust on everything. Some clients have experienced reduced heating bills too, without the furnace or air conditioner (or laundry) having to work so hard.

Commercial Duct Cleaning – What about your place of work? Not just for the home, many people spend 8 or more hours at their place of work.. It’s one thing to breath in “air” from your own family, but since the average human sheds 30,000 skin cells per hour, not to mention whatever other contaminants are in the carpet and wherever else floating around it’s often a good idea to ask when the last time duct cleaning happened in the place of employment, your kid’s school, your parents retirement facility etc.

Do you have multiple workplace facilities, franchises, homes or offices?

Canaduct’s broad range of coverage provides a huge duct cleaning service area in Southern Ontario including the Greater Toronto Area. No need to deal with multiple companies, technicians and locations. One call will solve it all.

We are a Canadian Company! For an instant free estimate, call us at 416-410-3777 fill out the form below or see our locations on our contact us page:

Types of Buildings:

• Warehouses
• Offices: high rise, low rise and ground floor
• Retail stores & Grocery stores
• Medical buildings & Hospitals
• Schools; Elementary, Secondary, Public, Private; Day-cares
• Seniors homes, long term care facilities, retirement homes
• Real estate buildings & holdings, high rises, rental properties
• Townhouses, walk-ups, low rise, homes, condos, lofts

Call us if your building isn’t listed above, we can make arrangements.

Canaduct offers fast efficient appointments for our commercial clients for these services:

• Commercial duct cleaning
• Air vent cleaning,
• Ventilation cleaning
• Dryer duct cleaning
• HVAC maintenance
• Boiler Systems
• Commercial Humidifiers
• Commercial carpet cleaning
• Indoor Air Quality Specialists
• Odour removal Specialists (powerful yet all natural treatments)
• Fire or Flood restoration

Ensure your heating and cooling systems at your home or business are operating at peak efficiency. Our air duct quality service will help you breathe clean, healthy air at work or home; saving money on energy costs and can help improve the bottom line.

Furnace Filters VS Duct Cleaning

I have a furnace filter, so why would particles blow back up through the duct work?

Because of static electricity and cohesive forces dust also gets stuck to every nook in cranny and every surface inside of the duct work, and it continues to build up collecting more and more dust over as days, months and years pass by at work and home.

The furnace filters are only designed to trap the free floating dust hairs and particles. Also, when the furnace isn’t being used, the particles that are traveling in the duct work accumulate on the sides of the ducts which can get stuck and doesn’t flow to the filter.

Dusty Film:

As is common in houses any surface that isn’t being used accumulates dust, the same is true with the venting system. While replacing your furnace filter often is a great idea, it is only just one component of working towards healthy air.

If you dust in the morning, and there’s a film by evening, look into duct cleaning sooner rather than later. It’s likely not for lack of elbow grease… if every time the furnace or air conditioning comes on if it’s poofing up dust, there’s a very good chance it needs a cleaning.

Not just the heating vents:

Cold air returns too, accumulate a lot of settlement, that doesn’t make it back to the furnace filter and remain on the floor of the cold air return shaft. This is often fine silt that is a common contributor to mystery coughs and allergies.

House Fires:

It’s not just clothes dryer vents that can cause house fires (over 16, 000 per year) but dust particles on the heat exchanger can be a factor in causing a home to burn, and unfortunately (and sadly) sometimes the people in it.

Icky Pathogens:

Mold, dust mites, bacteria and viruses can stick to vent surfaces; the more moist the air in the home, the more habitable for these pathogens. Some houses have the wrong size air conditioner, which creates excess humidity in the house.

High energy costs:

Sometimes, the vents are so coated that it makes the furnace or air conditioning work harder, and uses more energy than it needs to.

Thus, it’s best if there are ongoing problems to ask an IAQ specialist (indoor air quality specialist). There are varied and practical solutions. Is the furnace or air conditioner to small, too big, too old. Is there sneezing when the furnace comes on, or a cough that won’t go away?

Air can be tested, furnaces can be repaired, maintained, replaced. We have seen up to 60% savings on energy bills due to replacement of inefficient systems. Sometimes a furnace tune up and repair and can do wonders!

Why is that room always too cold/hot :

Have one cold room or a cold area in the house in the winter? Have that space that is always too hot in the summer? Making sure the vents are adjusted correctly by a seasoned HVAC technician can make a world of difference.

HVAC as cohesive system:

It’s more than duct work, the HVAC in a house works as a complete system, taking into consideration furnace, air conditioning, venting, moisture content, particle analysis, and more. We don’t feed our kids off dirty dishes, thus similarly we should make sure they are breathing clean air as well.

The Workplace:

Somehow we often forget that our workplaces too need clean air. You don’t just breathe at home, you breathe at work too, for the entirety of your time there, as well as the kids at their school or daycare, and even their grandparents at their retirement or long term care home. It’s a good idea to ask the health and safety committee to provide proof of when each of these places when the last time the vents were cleaned commercially.

Do you have multiple commercial or workplace facilities, franchises, shopping centers or rental homes or offices?

Canaduct’s broad range of coverage area provides an expansive duct cleaning service area in Southern Ontario including the Greater Toronto Area.

No need to hassle with multiple companies, technicians and locations. One call will solve it all.

Canaduct offers fast efficient appointments for our commercial clients for these services:

• Commercial duct cleaning
• Air vent cleaning,
• Ventilation cleaning
• Dryer duct cleaning
• HVAC maintenance
• Boiler Systems
• Commercial Humidifiers
• Commercial carpet cleaning
• Indoor Air Quality Specialists
• Odour removal Specialists (powerful yet all natural treatments)
• Fire or Flood restoration

Types of Buildings:

• Warehouses
• Offices: high rise, low rise and ground floor
• Retail stores & Grocery stores
• Medical buildings & Hospitals
• Schools; Elementary, Secondary, Public, Private; Day-cares
• Seniors homes, long term care facilities, retirement homes
• Real estate buildings & holdings, high rises, rental properties
• Townhouses, walk-ups, low rise, homes, condos, lofts

Call us if your building isn’t listed above, we can make arrangements.

Our 8 Point Inspection is a thorough cleaning procedure, making sure that all dust mites, pollen, mold and allergens are removed. You’ll sleep better at night, and be more alert and productive at work, thanks to Canaduct Commercial Duct Cleaning’s 15+ years of experience.

We are a Canadian Company! For an instant free estimate, call us at 416-410-3777 fill out the form below or see our locations on our contact us page:

 Illegal Telemarketing Air Duct Cleaning Fraud

In July of 2014, the Government of Canada set up a joint task force with the CRTC, Canadian CASL law states that continued harassment by email or telemarketing is illegal. If you have told a company you no longer wish to be contacted again, it is considered harassment and these companies can face heavy fines. Unfortunately, there are a few duct cleaning companies in Toronto that use telemarketing organizations out of Pakistan to call all Canadians asking if they want duct cleaning. Even if you tell them you are on the CMA Do Not Call List, beg or plead with them to remove you off their list, the calls keep coming. These illegal call centers regularly change company names they claim to be calling from (of their unscrupulous clients in Canada), and will often use legitimate company names such as Canaduct to book the calls, but obviously another company’s truck shows up. By that time the homeowner either doesn’t pay attention or doesn’t care, they just want their ducts cleaned. Canaduct will pay $100 to a homeowner who books a telemarketing call claimed to be from Canaduct, to take a photo of the truck & license plate so we can have evidence to take legal action against this highly unethical practice.

Watch this CBC Marketplace video for more info:

 Here’s What You Can Do To Help Eliminate This Fraud:

1. Do NOT book any appointment with these telemarketing companies as it will prove to them that it works
2. join the Canadian Marketing Association’s Do Not Call List: https://www.the-cma.org/consumers/do-not-mail
3. tell the telemarketers you do not want to be contacted again – record the time and date (try to get the company name if possible – they will likely hang up at this point)
4. if they call again, record the time & date and phone number then file a complaint with http://fightspam.gc.ca
5. Don’t fall for “bait and switch” fraud (quoted one price and charged another). If someone gives you a quote – get it in writing, and hold them to it. Make sure you know what the service includes and they perform it completely. Additional services should be optional.
6. You can use a call-blocker device (or switch from a Bell phone to VOIP) such as can be found on Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=call+blocker&ref=nb_sb_noss
7. if you do need air duct cleaning, please call a reputable company such as Canaduct at: 416-410-3777

Here are Some Articles on the Canadian Companies in Violation of CRTC Telemarketing Laws:

• https://www.ductcleaning.xyz/2018/01/09/air-duct-cleaning-service-once-again-receives-crtc-fine-for-non-compliance/
• https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/crtc-issues-149000-in-fines-against-duct-cleaner-firms-using-telemarketers/article23600825/
• http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/duct-cleaning-companies-pay-55-000-for-violating-do-not-call-list-1.3007159
• https://www.pressreader.com/canada/toronto-star/20170627/28220083093084

An Example of Proper Air Duct Cleaning Service:

Canaduct Air Duct Cleaning (as well as most other air duct cleaning service providers in the GTA) would never engage in such an unethical & illegal practice as this, and if you do receive these continued calls, you should file a complaint with http://fightspam.gc.ca, but please note that it IS NOT Canaduct Cleaning that has been calling you. We get our clients through Online Marketing in accordance with our Privacy Policy.  Some unethical agencies have given the industry a bad name and we apologize on behalf of the honest companies that strive to treat customers with the utmost of respect and highest level of customer service. As you may have noticed over the past few years, your complaints have been working and it seems the calls are fewer.

The Air Duct Cleaning Service You Deserve

Here is a video that shows you the level of service Canaduct offers our home & office owners, so they can be sure we come and go without leaving a trace other than the distinct difference of great fresh air.