Air Duct Cleaning
Dirty air ducts have a build-up of mold, allergens, dust, dust mites and pet dander in the ducts that are re-circulated throughout the home, despite furnace filters. We recommend cleaning your ducts every 12-18 months, more often for allergen sufferers or families with small children. We provide services for most varieties of ducts, including gravity, forced air, air-to-air exchange, transite, and in-floor.
KMS was instrumental in the cleanup of an enormous number of residential and commercial buildings after the 1997 Grand Forks, ND floods when even ductwork was flooded. According to FEMA, 83 percent (9,001) of Grand Forks homes and 62 percent (751) of the city’s commercial units were damaged by the flood waters. KMS was right back in North Dakota in 2011, when the Souris River broke a 130 years flood record and forced a mandatory evacuation of over 11,000 residents from their homes, along with commercial buildings. KMS, again, was involved in the cleanup of those buildings, working to return them to their original condition.
Having your ducts cleaned doesn’t void the warranty on your furnace and prevents the furnace components from breaking down due to dirty conditions. Like changing the oil on your car, routine maintenance to your air ducts and furnace can prevent a lot of damage later to the life of your property.
We start our duct-cleaning process by removing all the registers in the home and then use high-pressure air sweeping. Next, we employ agitation techniques such as brushing or rubber agitation to remove all the dust and debris. Then, we use the specialized vacuum for your home to remove all the contaminants. We finish each cleaning by performing a carbon monoxide testing to ensure the safety of our customers and process.
We have portable HEPA vacuums, truck-mounted vacuums and vacuum trucks to make sure the equipment is tailored to your unique situation. All our technicians are cross-trained on each piece of equipment. This range of equipment and experience means that the right tools are used for your home.
HEPA filtered portable vacuum. For customers worried about leaving a door open to the elements during the cleaning process, whatever the season, a HEPA filtered portable vacuum can be carried to your furnace. This electric, portable HEPA vacuum still has strong suction near the furnace without having a hose throughout the house to stumble over.
Gas portable vacuum. This vacuum is suitable for older homes with narrow basement stairs or cellars that don’t allow for easy traffic. The vacuum is placed outside the home near a door or basement window, enabling us to access the area but maintain strong suction with a shorter vacuum hose.
Vacuum trucks. For those with heating systems on an upper floor or in the attic, a vacuum truck is our recommended method of cleaning. We, also, have the equipment built into our trucks so only one visit is required, and no other secondary equipment needs to be rented or furnished at an additional price.
Truck-mounted vacuum. This vacuum is the traditional method of cleaning and the method most homeowners are familiar with. A hose from the truck is threaded through the home into your air ducts and the debris, dust and allergens are taken up directly into the truck.
Post Construction/Remodel Cleanings
Heavy construction and remodeling projects, fiberglass insulation installation and other home improvement projects make your home dirtier than normal, causing extra buildup in appliances and ducts. Wood dust, saw dust, dirt from extra traffic through your home and insulation particles can be redistributed through your home from dirty ducts and cause aggravation of allergies and damage to electronic equipment. KMS offers special “new to the block” cleanings to combat the special needs associated with construction and remodel projects.
Mold and antimicrobial coatings
Mold can sometimes grow in air ducts and chimneys, causing health issues. KMS has cleaners and sanitizers necessary to eradicate the mold and restore your home to a healthy condition. We use only EPA‐registered and approved sanitizer and antimicrobial coatings. After the mold has been removed and the area has been completely disinfected, our trained technicians will apply an anti‐microbial, anti‐mold coating to the inside the air ducts to reduce the chances of the growth of mold. Due to the powerful chemicals used, the State of Illinois requires anyone applying the sanitizer or coating be certified as a pesticide applicator. KMS technicians have this certification and have been rigorously trained in the proper application of the chemicals to ensure the correct amounts are used.
Disaster/Fire Restoration
Using our many years of experience, we can help return your heating and cooling appliances to a workable condition after a fire, flood, tornado or other disaster situation. We will, also, rigorously clean your air ducts after a kitchen fire or grill fire to remove the soot and smoke smells. We apply sealants to ensure the soot doesn’t re‐enter the home after cleaning and recoat it with anti‐microbial sealant to combat the smoke smell. For water damage, we remove any mold buildup in the ducts and apply the anti‐microbial sealant to reduce the chances of the mold growing back.