Taking a family vacation is a great time to bond, but long travel times can make even the most patient children antsy. This can lead to unnecessary bickering and a damper on the family fun. This article will help ease some of the travel-time tension by giving you some ideas to keep your children entertained throughout the whole trip.
Get local menus online while you are traveling. There are often countless restaurants located around hotels. If you have an internet connection where you are staying, use it to look them up online. Often you can find menus on their websites. You can also find directions and relevant reviews.
Before purchasing a package deal for travel, check out the prices of the individual components. In many cases, the package deals are cheaper than buying the pieces separately, but not always. It never hurts to check out pricing for yourself before becoming locked in to purchasing the whole package, and you might discover there’s a part of the package you don’t want, such as meals.
Long driving trips can be fun and economical, but the cost of stopping for meals every few hours will add up, especially for a family. If you are planning a longish car trip, make sure you have plenty of car food available in advance. You may be able to get away with skipping the hourlong lunch stop, which will not only save you money, but will get you to your destination sooner. If you have a second adult in the car, that person can serve as “lunchmaker,” handing around sandwiches, cutting fruit, and making sure everybody gets their midday meal on the road.
A family vacation is a great time to bond, but as stated at the beginning of the article, long travel times can lead to boredom and bickering. Hopefully, this article has given you some great tips for easing the travel boredom, and will make your next vacation a memorable one.
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When it comes to home maintenance, air duct cleaning may be overlooked. However, a dirty venting system can lead to poor indoor air quality and even mold growth.
When choosing a company, look for one that uses natural cleaning methods and adheres to NADCA standards. They should also offer sanitizing for mold-ridden ducts and HVAC equipment.
1. Experience
Air duct cleaning is not a DIY project. It requires specialized tools and equipment that most homeowners don’t have, including a powerful vacuum and rotary brushes. It’s also a complicated job that’s best left to professionals. A reliable air duct cleaning service will have technicians with years of experience in the industry, and they should be certified by the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA). NADCA has established standards for duct cleaning services. Look for a company that adheres to these standards and displays their certification on their website.
A professional duct cleaning service should begin the job with a visual inspection of the ductwork, often using a video camera that extends into the vents to survey their condition. Then they’ll seal each supply and return vent in the home, generating negative pressure throughout the ductwork that sucks dust and debris from inside. Depending on the size of the house and number of vents, a duct cleaning job can take up to eight hours to complete.
While duct cleaning is the main focus, some companies will clean other components of an HVAC system as well. These may include blower motors, evaporator coils, and drain pans. Those who specialize in green maintenance can even clean ducts with natural cleaning products.
A good online resource for vetting local and national duct cleaners is HomeAdvisor, which rates local companies using a 5-star system and allows verified customers to write reviews. It also provides a list of local duct cleaning companies and their contact information, so it’s easy for homeowners to find the best company in their area. ServPro, for example, is another reputable local and national duct cleaning company with over 2,000 locations in the United States.
2. Reputation
When hiring a duct cleaning service, look for a company that has a strong reputation for customer satisfaction and follows NADCA guidelines. Checking online reviews can help you decide if the company is the right fit for your needs. You can also find out if the company has insurance and liability coverage before you hire them. Liability insurance protects you if damage occurs to your property during the process, or if one of their technicians is injured on your property.
A trusted and reputable air duct cleaning service will be able to provide you with a detailed price quote before starting work. Beware of companies that advertise a low whole-house price and then add on extra charges such as equipment cleaning, or per-vent fees. Some duct cleaners also charge for specialized services, such as mold inspection or removal, which may not be required for routine duct cleaning.
Make sure you get a price quote in writing before agreeing to any services. Also, be aware that if anyone in your home suffers from allergies or asthma, you should consult your doctor before getting your ductwork cleaned. Your doctor can suggest alternative ways to help improve your health, such as addressing any moisture problems, which could be contributing to your symptoms.
Some duct cleaning companies may tell you they need to apply a chemical biocide or ozone to the inside of your vents, to kill bacteria (germs), fungi (mold) and prevent future biological growth. However, there is much controversy over the effectiveness and safety of these techniques, and ozone is known as a lung irritant. Rather than using these potentially harmful chemicals, an environmentally conscious duct cleaning service will clean your ductwork with natural methods, such as hot water and PH-balanced, enzyme-based cleaners.
3. Insurance
Air ducts are a vital part of a home ventilation system and are responsible for circulating fresh air throughout the house. As such, they are susceptible to a variety of contaminants that can affect the indoor air quality. Air duct cleaning services help to remove these contaminants and extend the life of the ducts. However, it is important to choose a reliable service provider to ensure that the job is done correctly. A good way to check a company’s credibility is to look at its insurance policy. Ideally, the company should have general liability insurance that covers any damage caused during the cleaning process.
In addition to general liability, it is also important to find out whether the company has workers’ compensation insurance. This will protect you in the event that one of their employees is injured on the job. This is especially important if you are hiring an independent contractor who will be working at your home.
If the company does not have an insurance policy, you may want to reconsider hiring them. Insurance is an essential part of running a business and it is unlikely that you would want to take the risk of hiring an uninsured contractor.
In addition to general liability, you should also check the company’s insurance coverage for worker’s comp and general property damage. In addition, you should ask the company if they adhere to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines. This is important because the EPA sets strict standards that companies must follow. You should also make sure to physically inspect the work that has been completed before giving final payment. A reputable company will be willing to come back and fix any issues that arise.
4. Equipment
Air Duct Cleaning Services use a variety of equipment to clean and sanitize your home’s ductwork. They generally do a thorough job of cleaning, often taking only a few hours to complete the job. However, not all companies are created equal and choosing the best service provider is important for you and your family’s health. Jendco Safety offers both gas powered and electric Nikro air duct cleaning packages that meet NADCA standards and are ideal for commercial or residential duct cleaning.
Air ducts collect bacteria, mold and mildew, pest droppings, pollen, and other pollutants that can make people with allergies or respiratory problems feel unwell. Regular duct cleaning is the best way to remove these contaminants, and it can also improve your heating and cooling system’s efficiency.
While a professional may have several tools at their disposal, the one they use most is an air whip, which blows compressed air into the vents to loosen debris and then vacuums it up with a powerful vacuum. These machines are usually truck-mounted, though portable varieties are available. In order to work effectively, these tools require a support machine, usually a compressor. The best air compressors are the twin-motor ones, which provide more power than other single-motor models and can be positioned closer to the ductwork for greater suction.
If you want to know more about an air duct cleaning company, visit their website or call their local offices. Many offer online scheduling, which can be more convenient, but a phone call will typically expedite the process. A good duct cleaner will not only clean your air ducts but will also inspect and clean other parts of your HVAC system, such as the blower motors and evaporator coils.
5. Customer Service
Air ducts gather large amounts of grime, dust mites, pet dander, pollen, and mold spores. These pollutants contaminate the air, leading to a variety of health issues, including asthma attacks and allergic skin reactions. Professionals clean ductwork to remove these allergens and halt their spread. A good duct cleaning service will inspect the ductwork to ensure it is in good condition, patch holes and leaks where necessary, and vacuum all components of the system, including blower motors and evaporator coils.
A top-rated company, Stanley Steemer, provides thorough cleaning services that include the use of a compressed air flush and HEPA equipment. The family-owned business has nearly 300 locations in 49 states and is a great option for homeowners who are looking for a trustworthy, accessible air duct cleaning service. The company also offers carpet, upholstery, and disinfection services that can be booked online.
Another top-rated service, ServPro, is available around the clock to assist homeowners with their HVAC needs. The team offers a comprehensive air duct cleaning that includes a visual inspection of the ductwork and plenums, a power wash, and a vacuuming using high-powered HEPA equipment. They also offer dryer vent cleaning and more extensive HVAC repair work. Customers can book appointments online or by contacting their local branch.
It is important to note that the price of duct cleaning can vary greatly depending on the type of work required. For instance, if ducts are infested with mold or mildew, the pro will need to remove these contaminants and disinfect the ductwork, which can increase the cost of the project. Additionally, if there are difficult-to-access ducts or plenums in attics and crawl spaces, the price may also be increased.
