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What the United States Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A.) says about air duct cleaning methods

Warning

If a duct cleaner fails to follow proper duct cleaning procedures, duct cleaning can actually cause more indoor air quality problems because of Inadequate vacuum (less than 2,300 CFMs) collection systems can release more dust, dirt and other contaminants into the indoor air than if you had left the ducts alone

-Reprinted from the EPA study released in October 1997.

The above example is of a “duct cleaner” giving a customer a low advertised price and then charging the same customer 4X what the price in the ad said…. they call it “Up-Sell” as this company knew they could not do the job at the LOW advertised price.

Whether the “duct cleaner” is a “Carpet Cleaner” or an Air Conditioning Company, make sure you always find out what type of equipment they will be using to clean your duct work. Find the answers to these must have items:

1. The vacuum power of the equipment has to be greater than 2,000 CFMs to properly clean your air system and ductwork.

2. The equipment to agitate the contaminates in the duct work which would be captured by the HEPA filtered vacuum should be high pressure air duct cleaning tools and/or a separate rotating brush system. The one piece of equipment that has a rotating brush on a large hose hooked to a “Hepa” filter vacuum the size of a rectangular shop vacuum will not properly clean duct work.. we know we tried one for about 20 days with poor results.

3. If they do not have an Air Conditioning license, then they cannot legally disassemble your air handler, clean the coils or blower fan. Without cleaning your air handler, coils and pulling and cleaning your blower fan, once the system is turned back on, the dirty air handler will re-contaminate your duct work and your whole system again.

4. Proper duct cleaning should take 3-4 hours minimum with two men for an average home and much longer for larger homes and commercial buildings.

You should be aware of the vacuum power and the type of the equipment that the “duct cleaner” will be used in cleaning your air systems for your home or business, regardless whether the air duct cleaning company is an A/C company or not. There are a number of companies that clean ductwork, including some AC Companies, using inferiorLOW vacuum power equipment with small vacuums (vacuum power of shop vacuums) with and without a rotating brush, that WILL NOT clean like our HIGH vacuum power equipment (Our smallest piece of air duct cleaning vacuum has a minimumof 2,300 CFM as compared to 100-500 CFMS with the small vacuums).

With over 15 years in the business and buying and trying a number of different pieces of “duct cleaning equipment”, our opinion is that the equipment we presently use to be the very best and most effectivein cleaning and decontaminating our clients air ducts, Residential as well as Commercial, Industrial, Government (Local and Federal) and Military Navy and Cruise Ships, based on the type of duct systems and wide variation of air systems we have cleaned.

Our equipment has a MINIMUM of 2,300 Cubic Feet per Minute of VACUUM POWER as compared to small vacuum equipment which typically has 100-500 CFMs. Again this is just another case of “bigger is better” (more vacuum power) when it comes to vacuuming out the contaminates in your air duct system.

Unlike other pieces of equipment used to clean air ducts,  Atlantic Environmental Service &Products, Inc., uses only high power air devices, motorized, and manual brush systems designed to get into the smallest ductwork without damaging the ductwork or your air control devices within your ductwork such as zoning devices (where one system has multiple thermostats controlling individual rooms), dampers, etc. Additionally our air hoses along with the high-pressure air agitation devices used to dislodge and “push” the debris in the ductwork back to be captured by the HEPA filtered 2,300 – 3,000 CFMs high velocity vacuum systems. This is important as there is such a variation of the configuration of many duct systems that we have cleaned over the 15 years, vacuum hoses can get hung up on obstructions (screws, pan heads, duct work connections, zoning equipment, various air distribution devices, etc) within the duct work and the need of pure vacuum power to do the job right.

Our commercial equipment ranges from 4,000 to 6,500 CFMs and more when a number of our HEPA filtered vacuum commercial vacuums are used in tandem.  

Compare “their” equipment and methods with our.. we look forward to the comparison.

If they do, check to see if they are a licensed A/C contractor. If you are unsure, contact your State Contractor’s Licensing Board.

Check to see if they will clean the air handler, blower fan assembly (disassemble, clean, and reassemble) and motor, and coils. If they don’t they are not cleaning your system because debris and contamination starts here. If they do clean the air handler, blower fan assembly and motor, and coils… they MUST have a A/C Contractor’s License… Check to visually see that they are a licensed A/C contractor.

If you’re unsure, call your State’s Contractor’s Licensing Board.

Watch out for companies that send out a air duct cleaning crew to inspect your ductwork. The newest gimmick are companies that send out a duct cleaning crew to give you the estimate but, instead “push” you to get the duct cleaning done while the crew is there.

To properly clean and disinfect your air system, more than just duct cleaning is required. Air handler’s blower fan needs to be removed to be cleaned and sanitized (especially for mold), b) coils need to be cleaned AND SOMETIMES pulled to be cleaned of mold and sanitized, c) air ducts need to be checked for leaks and minor repairs made, and d) the air systems checked for proper operation. Additionally, some special services, such as replacement of ductwork, replacement of air handler liners, application of EPA registered fungicidal sealers maybe required depending on severity of the contaminates in the air system. NON-LICENSED companies cannot perform these services without violation of the State Florida Law.

Just because they have a well known department store name, BEWARE.. Check them out! Do they have an A/C License (ask them for a copy) and find out if they will be sending qualified air conditioning technicians on these duct cleaning jobs…WE DO!!, do they have trained certified A/C technicians that will clean your system?, do they open the air handler and clean and sanitize the interior of the air handler were 90% of the contaminates start?, do they pull the blower motor to clean the fan?, do they clean the coils?, do they belong to the National Air Duct Cleaners Association?, what professional organizations do they belong to, to assure you get an effective air system cleaning for the price you pay?

SO, what is it they do?? They do only about 50% of the proper job at 100% of the price(even with their “specials”). They just clean the air ducts because they do not have an air conditioning contractor’s license or A/C trained technicians to properly clean and sanitize your total air system.

Watch out for Carpet Cleaners and Chimney Sweeps that advertise they clean air conditioning systems. MOST ARE NOT licensed A/C companies. Florida State Law requires an Air Conditioning Contractor’s license to properly clean A/C systems. This includes Opening Air Handlers, Pulling & Cleaning Blower Fans, Cleaning Coils (in some cases due to the type and amount of contamination, coils need to be pulled…can that company legally do this?), cleaning the drain pans and drain pipes, replacement of severely contaminated air ducts, and installing air filtration devices on the air system.

NOTE: Some of these companies think they can get around having an air conditioning license by contracting an A/C contractor to open-up and/or clean the air handler. By Florida Law, this is illegal as well and the company should be reported to the Florida State Licensing Board.

BEWARE…of these  misleading and illegal companies coming to Jacksonville to take your money and do less than half the job….and  they can damage your air conditioning and heating equipment in the process.  When you get your quote, GET IT IN WRITING to include EXACTLY how they are going to clean your air system and compare it to what should be done & check to see if they are a Florida licensed air conditioning contractor.

What about the Air Conditioning Companies Advertising or Offering Environmental or “Healthy” Check-ups? There are a number of Air Conditioning Companies that are getting on the “mold” and/or “duct cleaning” bandwagon to make money. Unfortunately, most do not have the proper IAQ  personnel that have been through and certified for “Mold Awareness“, “ Certified Environmental Specialists“, and”Certified Environmental Inspector“. At Atlantic Environmental, we have the personnel and the specialists with the proper certification. While we strive to resolve the problem with a cost effective solution, their normal answer is to replace the ductwork and replace the air handler… Why not, they can get 2-4 times the amount of money for replacement rather than cleaning. While there may be some isolated situations that may require ductwork and/or air system replacement (which we are also qualified to complete), majority of the times IT IS NOT NECESSARY.

If a company recommends replacement, get the following items in writing; 1). Justification as to why it needs replacement, 2). What specifically they will do and 3). The TOTAL cost. Then call us for a second opinion and price.

Check to see if the company is listed in the Yellow Pages, or do they work off of newspaper and/or coupons working with a Toll-Free Number? Could be one of those companies who are here today and GONE tomorrow.

If they are in the Yellow Pages, do they show their Air Conditioning License Number, which is REQUIRED by STATE LAW? Florida and Georgia Do!!

Does the Crew they are sending you to clean your air systems, have A/C Technicians? There are a number of companies (Carpet Cleaners and Chimney Sweep companies) have been known to BUY A/C Contractor licenses from other A/C contractors either retired or unprofessional, who put up their license for sale or to the highest bidder giving the consumer a false sense of security because they obtained a license. However, what they don’t let you know is the people who are cleaning your system are NOT A/C Technicians and in fact are the same people that clean carpets, furniture, and chimneys.

With the cost of A/C equipment, the complexities of newer A/C equipment, and the fact these people have NEVER been trained on A/C equipment, it’s BUYER BEWARE, especially if they damage your furnace or Air Conditioner!Atlantic Crews have trained A/C technicians to assure that the air system and air duct cleaning is accomplished properly and without damage to your air system.

Has the company been cleaning air duct systems long enough in your city (5 or more years minimum) to have adequate experience in air conveyance system decontamination?

Compare the cleaning process; i.e.,

1. Are they licensed as a Florida or Georgia State Air Conditioning Contractor with qualified air conditioning technicians cleaning your air systems?
2. Do they take down the vents to be cleaned?
3. Do they open the air handler to vacuum, clean, and sanitize?
4. Do they clean the Drain Pan and Drain Lines?
5. Do they clean the air ducts by using HEPA filtered vacuum (minimum of 2,500 cfms) equipment and agitation equipment (brushes and/or high air pressure tools)?
6. Do they remove, clean, reinstall and test the blower fan assembly to clean the blades, which are normally coated with dust and mold?
7. Do they clean the coils TOP & BOTTOM (in some cases they may have to be remove for cleaning due to the amount of contamination)?
8. Do they clean accessible ductwork and air distribution boxes in the attic or crawl space to open up and clean the main duct runs?
9. Do they check for duct leaks?
10. Are they licensed to replace ductwork and equipment if it is necessary, install air filtration systems, whole house dehumidification and HEPA systems?

IF NOT, THEY ARE NOT CLEANING YOUR SYSTEM PROPERLY.

GET IT IN WRITING and GET A COPY OF THEIR AIR CONDITIONING CONTRACTOR’S LICENSE.