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indoor air pollution
Is an Issue
For years people have thought of air pollution
solely as an outdoor problem. However, studies have
revealed that the air inside our homes and offices
may be considerably more polluted than the outside
air. Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
(HVAC) systems collect an astonishing array of
contaminants that have the potential to affect your
health. These include mold, fungi, bacteria, and
very small particles of dust. Removing these
contaminants from the HVAC system is an part of the
overall process of improving indoor air quality.
A
Clean HVAC and Duct System is a Solution
Since
1990 Ductmasters has been committed to improving the
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) for our residential,
commercial, industrial, and marine clients.
Ductmasters invests in state of the art equipment
that is designed specifacily for use in cleaning
HVAC systems. Serving the South Florida tri-county
area since 1990. We are a NADCA (National Air Duct
Cleaners Association) certified company and state
licensed air conditioning contractor.
Our
commitment to the customer includes cleaning to the
NADCA Standards and EPA guidelines. We are committed
to providing the highest level of professional
quality service. Ductmasters is the air duct
cleaning professionals to call when you need to
improve the quality of the air you breath.
Do You Need Duct Cleaning
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Watch this short video clip
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OH_o3TxZbo4
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You may consider having your air ducts cleaned
simply because it seems logical that air ducts
will get dirty over time and should occasionally
be cleaned. You should consider having the air
ducts cleaned if:
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There is visible mold growth inside the ducts or
on other components of your heating and cooling
system.
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Ducts are infested with rodents or insects.
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Ducts are clogged with excessive amounts of dust
and debris (drywall or tile dust) and is
actually being blown into the home or office
from the supply registers.
If any of the conditions identified above
exists, it usually suggests one or more
underlying causes. Prior to any cleaning,
retrofitting, or replacing of your ducts, the
cause or causes must be corrected or else the
problem will likely recur.
Choosing a Duct Cleaning Service Provider
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To find companies that provide duct cleaning
services, check your Yellow Pages under "duct
cleaning" or contact the National Air Duct
Cleaners Association (NADCA) Do not assume
that all duct cleaning service providers are
equally knowledgeable and responsible. They are
NOT!
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Make sure the service provider is licensed and
insured. As of 1996, Florida required air duct
cleaners to be licensed HVAC contractors (Class
A or B license)
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Make sure the duct cleaner you choose will
provide a written agreement outlining the total
cost and scope of the job before work begins.
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Do not hire duct cleaners who make sweeping
claims about the health benefits of duct
cleaning -- such claims are unsubstantiated.
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Do not hire duct cleaners who recommend duct
cleaning as a routine part of your heating and
cooling system maintenance. You should also be
wary of duct cleaners who claim to be certified
by EPA. EPA neither establishes duct cleaning
standards nor certifies, endorses, or approves
duct cleaning companies.
Ask for
references to be sure other customers were
satisfied and did not experience any problems
with their heating and cooling system after
cleaning.
Contact your county or city office of
consumer affairs or local Better Business Bureau
to determine if complaints have been lodged
against any of the companies you are
considering.
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If
you decide to have your heating and cooling
system cleaned, it important to make sure the
service provider agrees to clean all
components of the system and is qualified
to do so.
How
should a HVAC system be cleaned?
The only effective way to clean air ducts and
ventilation systems is to employ Source Removal
methods of cleaning. This requires a contractor
to place the system under negative pressure,
through the use of a specialized, powerful
vacuum. While the vacuum draws air through the
system, devices are inserted into the ducts to
dislodge any debris that might be stuck to
interior surfaces. The debris can then travel
down the ducts to the vacuum, which removes it
from the system and the home. (More
Information)
What kind of equipment is best for cleaning-truck
mounted vacuums or portable vacuums?
NADCA does not endorse one kind of equipment
over another. There are two main types of vacuum
collection devices: (1) those mounted on trucks
and trailers, and (2) portable units.
Truck/trailer mounted equipment is generally
more powerful than portable equipment. However,
portable equipment can often be brought directly
into a facility, allowing the vacuum source to
be located closer to the ductwork. Both types of
equipment will clean to NADCA standards.
All vacuum units should be attached to a
collection device for safe containment prior to
disposal. Any vacuum collection device which
exhausts indoors must be HEPA (high efficiency
particulate arrestance) filtered.
Are there any health benefits that come from HVAC
system cleaning?
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
(HVAC) systems have been shown to act as a
collection source for a variety of contaminants
that have the potential to affect health, such
as mold, fungi, bacteria, and very small
particles of dust. The removal of such
contaminants from the HVAC system and home
should be considered as one component in an
overall plan to improve indoor air quality.
Will HVAC system cleaning reduce our home energy
bills?
Research by the U.S. EPA has demonstrated that
HVAC system cleaning may allow systems to run
more efficiently by removing debris from
sensitive mechanical components. Clean,
efficient systems are less likely to break down,
have a longer life span, and generally operate
more effectively than dirty systems.
What is the normal price range for the air duct
cleaning service?
The Environmental Protection Agency says that
“duct cleaning services typically – but not
always – range in cost from $450 to $1000 per
heating and cooling system, depending on the
services offered, the size of the system to be
cleaned, system accessibility, climactic region,
and level of contamination” and type of duct
material.
Consumers should beware of air duct cleaning
companies that making sweeping claims about the
health benefits of duct cleaning – such claims
are unsubstantiated. Consumers should also
beware of “blow-and-go” air duct cleaning
companies. These companies often charge a
nominal fee and do a poor job of cleaning the
heating and cooling system. These companies may
also persuade the consumer into unneeded
services with and/or without their permission.
What are sanitizers, and why would they need to be
used?
Sanitizers are anti-microbial chemicals applied
to the interior surface of the air ducts,
designed to control microbial contamination.
Before any sanitizers are used, the system
should be thoroughly cleaned. It is critical
that any anti-microbial treatment used in your
system be EPA registered for the intended use in
HVAC systems. Ask to see the chemical’s Material
Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). If you are still
concerned, call the EPA at 1-800-438-4318.
How long should it take to clean a typical
residential HVAC system?
The amount of time it takes to clean a
residential HVAC system depends on many
variables such as the size of the home, the
number of systems, the extent of the
contamination and the number of HVAC cleaners
performing the job.
How can we determine if the HVAC system cleaning was
effective?
The best way to determine if the HVAC system
cleaning was effective is to perform a visual
inspection of the system before and after
cleaning. If any dust or debris can be seen
during the visual inspection, the system should
not be considered cleaned. While you can perform
your own visual inspection using a flash light
and mirror, a professional cleaning contractor
should be able to allow you better access to
system components and perhaps the use of
specialized inspection tools. In addition,
following this
post-cleaning check list can help to
ensure a top quality job.
Very Important! We also clean Dryer Ducts. If
you dryer duct is dirty it may catch on fire!
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