BUSY BEE USES NEW VACUUM TRUCK TO CLEAN AIR DUCTS

POWERFUL VACUUM: Thumper Baum uses the new power vacuum truck at a residence in Island City Monday. (The Observer/PHIL BULLOCK).

By The Observer

Busy Bee Carpet Cleaning has changed its name to Busy Bee Professional Cleaning and has purchased one of the largest power vacuum trucks available anywhere.

Our furnace and duct cleaning previously was limited mostly to residences. Now this opens us up to all residential, commercial and industrial cleaning, said Thumper Baum, son of the company founders.

Rod Johnson, a full-time service technician, and Baum spent two weeks in Canada training on residential/commercial heating systems and truck operations as part of the companys planned expansion.

While the business operates out of the owners home on Century Loop in La Grande, since 1991 it has added three carpet cleaning trucks in addition to the new power vac truck.

The company has grown from three employees to seven full-time and two part-timers.

With many new discoveries and information on indoor air quality, air duct cleaning has become much more in demand, said Baum.

Evidence has linked dirty air systems to causes of allergies, breathing difficulties, excess dust, foul odors, he said.

Gerald Baum and Bonnie Baum founded Busy Bee in 1970, operating one truck for 21 years.

Over time, they were joined by all three of their sons: Brad, Jon and Thumper.

Its now the largest cleaning and restoration company in Eastern Oregon, Thumper Baum said.