One of the responsibilities of being a homeowner is to make sure all the major appliances are always in good, working order. Keeping household equipment clean and well-functioning not only extends their lives, but can actually help reduce the risk of fire.
Recently, I called in a team from The Butlers & Air Quality to service all the ductwork and HVAC systems in the buildings. According to The National Air Duct Cleaners Association, it is a good idea to have air ducts professionally examined and cleaned every three to five years - vents, and the air ducts behind them, attract dust, pet dander and a host of other particles that can affect the air quality in the home. This process can take several hours depending on the size of the structure, but it's a very important and necessary task.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
When was the last time your HVAC system was checked? Do you know where it’s located in your home? In most homes, they are set up in either the attic or the basement. Here is a view of one in the attic of my guest house studio building.
The Butlers & Air Quality in Yorktown Heights, New York, came out to the farm to service all the ducts and vents. This company is a family-owned and operated business that has been covering the area since 1982. I’ve been using this company for years.
This is a portable diesel fuel air compressor, which provides high pressure clean air to help push the airflow toward the vacuum device.
The vacuum collection device is used to gain airflow control in the ducts and then suction all the debris into its big tank.
This is the opening of the collection filter, where any dust and debris from the ducts ends up. Take a close look at how clean it is now before the ducts are blown.
The setup involves connecting a large suction hose from the air handler in the attic to the collection tank. A standard household vacuum isn’t powerful enough to clean deep into the crevices of the ducts, so it is always helpful to call in professional teams to do the job.
Here is the hose connected into the unit.
These air hoses run through the house from the outdoor air compressor.
The Butlers & Air Quality team is very neat and tidy – towels are wrapped around the hoses at various points, so as not to mar any of the walls or floors.
Moving blankets are also positioned in various areas to protect floors from moving equipment.
Meanwhile, all the air vent covers are carefully removed.
The air return covers are also taken down for the job.
Some vent covers are located closer to the floor.
The vents are inspected and wiped down, and any visible debris is directed toward the main duct area.
The covers are temporarily replaced with pieces of cardboard to allow for stronger suction power.
One by one, Hermes goes to each of the vent openings to snake the hose through and direct all the debris, so it can get picked up by the vacuum.
Any debris blown goes through the large suction hose to the collection tank.
This part of of the process takes two to three hours depending on the size of the home. It’s important to be thorough to get all the debris. Doing this regularly removes dust, dirt, and other pollutants that accumulate over time. It can greatly improve indoor air quality, reduce allergens and respiratory issues, and increase the HVAC efficiency.
The outside vents are also all blown clean.
Here, the vent covers are getting cleaned and wiped completely dry.
This is an atomization machine filled with antimichrobial that is sprayed into the ductwork to kill any potential, bacteria, mold, or mildew.
After each vent opening is cleaned and blown of debris, it is lightly sprayed with antimicrobial solution.
Once the top floor is completed, the vacuum and hoses are moved down to the basement, where they can be used to clean the vents and ducts in the downstairs zone of this house.
Hermes, who has been with the company for many years, opens the system’s air handler.
The vacuum hose is connected to the supply plenum, an air-distribution box attached directly to the handler and all the equipment that heats or cools the house – it is the heart of the duct system.
And the other end is connected directly into the vacuum collection device.
As the hoses are snaked through the air vents from above, Hermes holds the hose from the basement to control its movement and airflow pressure.
Hermes checks that the air handler is working properly and then cleans all the unit’s coils and the blower wheel.
And then sprays the coils with a protective oil.
All the vents are cleaned and the hose is removed from the vacuum collection device.
Look inside – so much dust and debris.
Once everything is cleaned, all the vent covers are carefully returned.
This house is done, but there are a couple more to go… onto my Summer House next. Thank you, Butlers & Air Quality!
There is always so much to see and learn about at my farm.
Over the years I have designed many gardens. One area that is constantly evolving is my pinetum - an arboretum of pine trees and other conifers I planted in a field behind my large Equipment Barn and near my weeping willow grove. This collection has grown extremely well and I continue to add additional specimens every year.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
When I first bought my farm, I knew I wanted to plant many trees. This pinetum collection includes pine trees, but I have also included many spruces, firs, and other interesting evergreens.
Once trees are mature, they need little maintenance except for regular mulching and removal of dead or diseased branches. I keep the ground well-mulched using material made right here at the farm.
On one side of this pinetum are the tall weeping willows. Weeping willows are wide with beautiful curtains of drooping branches that sweep the ground. I have several groves of weeping willow trees here at my property.
The leaves are long and narrow with a light green color and a finely toothed margin.
Callitropsis nootkatensis ‘Pendula’ or weeping Alaskan cedar, is a slender, strongly weeping form that grows to as much as 35-feet tall.
It has widely spaced ascending to horizontal branches with flattened sprays of blue-green leaves that hang downward.
And this is a young Picea orientalis ‘Aurea,’ a Golden Oriental Spruce. It shows off dense, dark green foliage.
New growth emerges bright yellow, fading to rich gold with dark green in the plant’s interior.
Perhaps you recognize this one – a dawn redwood, Metasequoia Glyptostroboides. I have planted plenty of these trees around my farm. This one was just planted here earlier this year.
The dawn redwood has feathery, fine-textured needles that are opposite each other and approximately a half-inch long. Don’t confuse them with the bald cypress needles, which grow alternately. These dawn redwood needles will turn shades of red and brown before falling – it is one of the few deciduous conifers.
Other trees growing here include this dwarf white pine tree. If you’re not sure how to tell some of these popular trees apart, here are some key tips: pines have needles that are arranged and attached to the branches in clusters of two, three or five. Spruce and fir trees have needles attached individually to the branches.
This is a baby blue spruce, Picea pungens ‘Baby Blue.’ This dwarf blue spruce tree stays under 25 feet.
Picea abies ‘Pendula’ describes the weeping forms of Norway spruce. The Norway spruce or European spruce is a species of spruce native to Northern, Central, and Eastern Europe. Its uniquely trained form adds so much interest in this pinetum.
These are the branches of a Japanese Yew, Emerald Spreader, a cold hardy, evergreen shrub that is strong, sturdy, and retains its green color even in winter.
These branches are from a Cedrus deodara ‘Wells Golden’ – a true cedar with rich, golden color, which is beautiful in winter.
I add more specimens to this collection every year – some are very rare and slow growing, but I love the variety of plantings I’ve amassed. This past spring I began developing this area of the pinetum, adding more interesting specimens.
Umbrella pines are unique. The branches of young trees grow straight out and then become more pendulous as they mature.
The foliage of the Obelisk Juniper is dark blue-green. Its needles are pointed and can grow up to a half-inch long.
Burke’s Variegated Red Japanese Pine, Pinus densiflora, is a multi-stemmed evergreen with a distinctive and refined pyramidal form.
It features striking wide, horizontal, creamy yellow bands on each needle, which are visible year-round on rough branches.
I hope this inspires you to try planting more unusual plants that can add both texture and color to your garden.
The world of technology is evolving every day and shows no signs of slowing down. I love technology and am always excited to test new devices and learn about the latest features and applications.
Recently, I received the new Google Pixel 10 Pro XL, Google's newest smartphone. Convenient to carry and easy to use, the Google Pixel has been my blog team's go-to phone for several years. This latest model offers even more impressive photo taking capabilities including a 5x telephoto lens with a 20x super resolution zoom, Camera Coach to assist users in taking and editing pictures, and an "auto best take" feature, which is an AI powered tool designed to enhance the quality of group photos.
We went out and tested the new Google Pixel 10 Pro XL camera, enjoy these images. #giftgromgoogle #googlepixel
My Chow Chow Han is always very photogenic. This image was taken with the new Google Pixel 10 Pro XL. The camera takes photos quickly to capture those special pet “moments” that don’t last long.
Here’s a photo looking between two fenced in pastures and the tall eastern white pines in the distance. The camera captures so much detail.
Over in the allée of pin oaks, this photo captures the afternoon shadows of my antique fencing.
And this is the lichen close up on the 100-year old fence rails.
The Google Pixel 10 Pro XL also takes crisp flower photos. Here’s a close up of a pink rose in my formal rose garden.
There was a gentle breeze at the time of this photo, but this late season Japanese anemone still looks very clear.
The dahlias are still blooming so beautifully and should continue producing an abundance of flowers until the first frost.
Here is a Japanese painted fern with its luminescent blue-green fronds and dark central ribs that fade to silver at the edges.
The quince fruits are developing excellently. The camera adjusts its focus quickly and accurately.
This photo of my Pomeranian geese was taken from outside the enclosure several feet away. The Google Pixel Pro 10 XL has more enhanced magnification, making subjects look great from a distance.
And look at the peafowl – this was also taken from more than 20-feet away.
The “move” feature allows subjects to be moved from one place to another. Here’s my handsome Friesian Hylke in the paddock, standing just in front of the edge of the tree pit under one of my lindens.
With just a few key strokes in edit mode, Hylke was moved a little to the left.
And then he came up right to the fence and said hello.
This sweet autumn clematis displays billowy masses of fragrant white flowers against bold colored green leaves.
This is a long distance photo in my back field of trees just starting to show their fall colors.
And my old corn crib in the late afternoon. These smartphone cameras are getting better and better with every generation.
If you’re looking for a smartphone to take great photos of your family, your pets, your gardens or the sights along your next trip, consider the Google Pixel 10. You’re sure to capture some great memories… and photos.
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