The US Environmental Protection Agency states that poor indoor air quality is one of the top five environmental threats to our country. So why does the EPA feel so strongly about indoor air in homes and workplaces? Well, according to the EPA, indoor air is on average a staggering three to five times more contaminated than outdoor air and in some instances as high as seventy times.

So why is indoor air so much worse in our home than outdoor air?

The answer is in modern day construction practices. Homes are being built more air tight in an effort to be more energy efficient and environmentally conscious. Older homes are being re-insulated and getting air tight window upgrades. The result is less drafty homes that no longer have natural ventilation to bring in fresh air.

Normal everyday living provides an ongoing source of airborne contaminants like dust, dander, chemicals and other allergens. These pollutants become trapped in your home due to this poor ventilation and then are re-circulated by your heating and cooling system.

So what does this mean for you?

The average American family now spends ninety percent of their time indoors. That means that the bulk of our days is spent breathing in these irritants and pollutants and the health effects are significant. Dust, pollen, household chemicals and smoke can create an unhealthy situation in your home for everyone, but especially for people with compromised respiratory systems such as children, the elderly, and people with asthma and allergy sufferers.

So what can you as a homeowner do to improve your air quality?

Today doctors agree that one of the healthiest things to do is to minimize your exposure to these indoor pollutants, allergens and irritants in your home. One of the most logical places to address indoor pollutants is in your heating and cooling system. Think of this system as the lungs of your home. It takes in air and breathes it out; it circulates all the air and everything in the air throughout your home. In fact, on average all the air in your home passes through your heating and cooling system five to seven times each day.

Begin by making sure that you regularly change furnace filter. While these filters do not eliminate airborne contaminants they can help reduce pollutants from entering your furnace and circulating through the house. Most experts recommend replacing your filter every two months.

Another important step to take to improve the quality of the air in your home, and one that many overlook is having your heating and cooling system thoroughly cleaned. As polluted air is re-circulated through your heating and cooling system dust, dirt, and contaminants are deposited throughout the system overtime. These subtle particles are then picked up by the airstream and are then pushed back out into the living areas of the house to be breathed in by family members. In a large number of homes the heating and cooling system has never been cleaned. Even in newer homes or homes undergoing renovation contaminants such as sawdust and drywall dust left over from construction process are deposited in your ducts.

So how clean is the heating and cooling system in your home? Here is a quick way to check. Remove a vent cover and use a mirror and flashlight to look inside. Or use a small digital camera to take a picture of the inside of your duct. If your ducts are dirty it is time to have your air ducts cleaned.

Choose a NADCA Certified Company

All NADCA members must meet a strict set of requirements:

• Comply with NADCA’s International cleaning standards
• Comply with NADCA’s code of ethics.
• Comply with NADCA’s general liability insurance requirements
• Maintain at least one certified Air System Cleaning Specialist (ASCS) on staff at all times

The Air Systems Cleaning Specialists Certification verifies that they have successfully completed rigorous testing on heating and cooling system components and cleaning techniques.

Giving your homes heating and cooling system a little attention will keep it and the air in your home cleaner and healthier for you and your family.

WASHINGTON, DC –  Local contractors Donald Kaufman, Paul Frisk, Edward Frisk, and Jason Erb of Ductworks, Inc has successfully completed the examination process to be named a Certified Ventilation System Inspector (CVI). The certification, which is administered by NADCA – The HVAC Inspection, Maintenance and Restoration Association, is recognized worldwide as the hallmark of the HVAC industry’s most qualified and reliable inspection professionals.

“While achieving the CVI certification takes commitment on the part of an HVAC professional, the certification itself is a commitment to consumers of reliable, best-in-class service,” explained NADCA Executive Director John Schulte. “NADCA membership and the CVI certification mean that a professional is dedicated to providing state-of-the-art service to their customers.”

The CVI designation recognizes the knowledge and understanding of various HVAC components and systems and the proper methodology for conducting a comprehensive inspection that meets the intent of NADCA’s Standard for Assessment, Cleaning & Restoration of HVAC Systems (ACR).

Donald Kaufman, Paul Frisk, Edward Frisk, and Jason Erb are now four of roughly 250 CVI-certified professionals in the world.

HVAC system cleaning is the process by which heating, air conditioning, and ventilation systems are cleaned to remove excessive accumulations of dust, debris, and biological contaminants.  With heightened public awareness of the dangers of indoor air pollution and the need for home energy efficiency, the demand for professional HVAC system cleaning has increased dramatically.  The NADCA Certification Program helps to ensure that members of the association possess the required knowledge and expertise to perform these services in a competent and professional manner.

NADCA recommends that homeowners and building managers have their HVAC systems inspected annually and cleaned as needed. For more information regarding the benefits of professionally performed HVAC inspection and maintenance, contact Donald Kaufman, Paul Frisk, Edward Frisk, and Jason Erb at Ductworks, Inc.

About Ductworks, Your Air Duct Cleaning Expert
Ductworks, Inc. “Your Air Duct Cleaning Expert” is a Denver-based company founded in 1990 to improve indoor air quality for homes and businesses. Their patented system of scraping and vacuuming is the most effective process for air duct cleaning. They have more technicians certified by the NADCA than any company in Colorado and provide customers with before and after photos to insure top quality performance.

About NADCA:
NADCA – The HVAC Inspection, Maintenance and Restoration Association was formed in 1989 as the National Air Duct Cleaners Association, and has since expanded its mission to become a trusted advocate for consumers and the industry on environmental and health issues surrounding heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.  NADCA was the first organization to develop industry-standard best practices and its standard for “Assessment, Cleaning & Restoration of HVAC Systems” is in use in more than 30 countries worldwide as a best practice and/or basis for national law. NADCA has more than 1,000 corporate members and more than 1,500 individuals certified as Air System Cleaning Specialists, Ventilation Inspectors or Ventilation System Mold Remediators. For more information or to find a NADCA-certified contractor near you, visit www.Nadca.com.

Prevent a Dust Out

When central air conditioners are installed, numerous modifications are made to the furnace cabinet and supply trunk line.  Trunk lines are the main intake and distribution lines of an HVAC system.  Because of the volume of air that is circulated through trunk lines, they are often the dirtiest points of a ventilation system.  Modifications to the trunk lines disrupt and loosen debris on the walls of the trunk lines.  If the air duct are not cleaned prior to installation there is a high probability of drawing debris into your newly installed HVAC components or blowing the loosened dust and debris within your home.

Prevent Fouled Air Conditioning Coils

Home central air conditioning systems draw air from the return air vents; and blow the air through evaporative coils located above the furnace to chill the air.  To a large degree, the energy efficiency of an air conditioner is dependent on the cleanliness of the evaporative coil. When evaporative coils become fouled, they cause a number of problems:

• Decrease heat transfer: Evaporative coils are made of tiny fins designed to absorb the heat from the air, when dirt or debris enters the coil fins, it acts as an insulator preventing efficient heat transfer.

• Decrease airflow: Debris can build within the coil face preventing air to freely flow through the coil.  Fouled air conditioning coils negatively affect your HVAC system during the heating season as well.

• Clogged drain pans: As evaporative air conditioner coils absorb heat from the air, they condensate moisture which flows from the air conditioning system through a drain pan.  Moisture and debris clogs the drain of the air conditioner.

• Coil Freeze: Loosened debris within the air ducts causes air filters to load prematurely, and fouls evaporative air conditioner coils. Coils typically freeze and fail due to low air flow.

Plan and Prepare

When planning your air conditioner installation, budget air duct cleaning in your installation cost.  Coordinate the air duct cleaning to be performed before the installation of the air conditioner.  Clean air ducts will provide numerous long term benefits.

Source Removal

Source removal is the recommended air duct cleaning method.  Source Removal, is the mechanical cleaning of system components to remove dirt and debris.  Dust and other particle debris tend to stick or statically cling to the interior of air ducts.  Source removal requires two key elements:

Mechanical agitation:

which loosens the debris from the walls of the air ducts and HVAC components.

Extraction:

which safely removes the debris from the HVAC system to levels that are acceptable to industry standard.

Air Duct Cleaning Methods

Steam Air Duct Cleaning:

Steam Air Duct Cleaning methods utilize a wand that delivers a high temperature & high pressure steam to agitate the debris from the walls of the air ducts as the air ducts are drawn into negative pressure by a vacuum.

Steam cleaning and other methods involving moisture should not be used on any kind of duct work.  Modern HVAC components are highly dependent on electronic components to make them efficient; the introduction of moisture will damage system components.

Truck Mounted Vacuum Cleaning:

Truck mounted vacuum methods utilize a vacuum that is powered through the PTO shaft of an operating vehicle.  Truck mounted vacuum cleaning technology is based on the volume of air being drawn.  The truck mounted vacuum draws a volume of air typically ranging between 10,000 to 15,000 cubic feet of air per minute.  A vacuum hose is attached from the truck to the trunk lines of the ventilation system.  As the ventilation system is drawn into a vacuum, either rotary brushes or air lines are inserted into air vent registers to agitate debris to the collection point.

While once a widely used air duct cleaning method, industry professionals are veering away from a truck mounted and gas powered vacuums because of the high probability of cross contamination.  Truck mounted vacuums draw vehicle exhaust and debris into the ambient air while in operation.

Point of Contact Air Duct Cleaning:

Point of contact methods are currently the safest and most effective air duct cleaning method.  A point of contact air duct cleaning method utilizes a portable HEPA filtered vacuum and an agitation device to simultaneously to clean the air ducts.  Portable HEPA vacuum cleaning technology is based on the velocity of air being drawn.  High velocity of vacuum allows for greater lift of the debris, and the HEPA filter prevents the potential of cross contamination.

Though point of contact air duct cleaning methods are currently the safest and most effective means of cleaning air ducts, new and innovative air duct cleaning technologies are always in development.

Air sealing the building envelope is one of the most critical features of an energy efficient home.  As new homes grow increasingly tighter to achieve ever higher levels of energy efficiency, the potential for indoor air pollution also increases.

Modern Construction

During construction, there are hundreds of penetrations through a typical home’s exterior. These gaps and holes are often incurred during framing, and from penetrations for wiring, plumbing, and ducts.  Air leakage accounts for 25–40% of the energy used for heating and cooling in a typical home.  To make a home energy efficient, these gaps and holes are closed and insulated to prevent the loss of conditioned air.

Indoor Air Quality Concern

Good indoor air quality is achieved by reducing or eliminating sources of indoor air contamination and providing sufficient fresh air through the heating and ventilation system.  While older homes were not energy efficient, they typically did not have problems with indoor air quality because they allowed for fresh air to freely circulate within the home.

As new homes grow increasingly tighter to achieve ever higher levels of energy efficiency, potential indoor air pollution also increases since many conventional building materials emit volatile organic compounds like formaldehyde.  While energy efficiency is important, gains in energy efficiency, especially in new homes, should not come at the expense of deterioration of indoor air quality and corresponding adverse health impacts.

Source Elimination and Control

The best way to address indoor air pollution is through aggressive source elimination and control.  Pollution should be prevented or reduced at the source whenever feasible.

• Building materials:  If you are having the home constructed or remodeling your home select materials that do not emit volatile organic compounds.
• HVAC System: Make sure your HVAC system distributes the minimum level of outdoor air throughout the home using whole-house mechanical ventilation.
• Sealing Air Ducts:  Sealing ducts can help improve indoor air quality by reducing the risk of pollutants entering ducts and circulating through your home as well as preventing the loss of conditioned air.
• Air Duct Cleaning: Ventilation systems distribute the air you breathe. Have the air ducts and HVAC system professionally cleaned to remove construction debris and pollutants.
• Monitor use of household cleaning supplies:  Some household chemicals can be extremely dangerous.  Choose environmentally safe cleaning supplies, and make sure that the area is well ventilated.
• Check exhaust systems:  Make sure exhaust fans are clean and unobstructed. Exhaust systems are responsible for removing moisture, odors, fumes, and carbon monoxide.

Many Companies within the HVAC Inspection, Maintenance and Restoration Industry have seen a dirty HVAC system, but what about on filled with 5,000 pounds of sand and black powder?  Recently Ductworks Inc. of Arvada, Colo., a long-time NADCA member, participated in the Do-It-Yourself  cable network program “Disaster House.”

The show damages a house to then show viewers how to prevent the damages, how to clean them up, and then what to know before filing an insurance claim. In the particular episode, a six foot sand-foot tall, 5,000 pound sand castle was blown up to simulate an extreme case of dirty air ducts and Ductworks was called in to clean the mess up.  They got the system back up to pristine conditions after a full day of hard work.  Although most homes do not see 5000 pounds of dust and debris, it goes to show that even the dirtiest residential air ducts can be cleaned.

SOURCE: NADCA DucTales January / February 2010

HVAC Systems Make Perfect Pigeon Coups

Unfortunately, rooftop heating and cooling units are a perfect place for pigeons to nest.  To seek shelter from the elements, pigeons typically enter air handler units through the fresh air intakes and build their nests within the HVAC unit.  A single pair of pigeons can generate up to 18 new pigeons per year.  Once a nest is established, pigeons are extremely territorial.

Indoor Air Quality

An HVAC system distributes the air throughout a facility.  The bacteria, fungi and parasites that live and grow in pigeon droppings can carry and transmit any of 60 known diseases.  Exposure to pigeon feces and other organic matter such as feathers carcasses and nesting material from the HVAC system may pose a considerable health threat to people who come in contact with them or inhale the airborne particles from them.  Every precaution should be taken to ensure that building occupants and maintenance personnel are protected from pigeon feces.

Damage to HVAC Systems

As pigeons live in the air handler units they peck through filter material allowing unfiltered air and pigeon contaminants to freely enter the ventilation system.  There are numerous damaging effects to an HVAC system.

• Filter banks: Pigeons peck though filter banks allowing for unfiltered air and pigeon contaminants to be drawn into HVAC components and supply air ducts.
• Fan Blower: Pigeon debris builds within the fan blades decreasing airflow.
• Air conditioner coils: Pigeon debris compacts within air conditioner coils and clogs the drain pan.
• Insulation: Pigeons peck at insulation to create nesting material allowing for raw fiberglass fibers to enter the airstream.

How Do You Correct Pigeon Problems?

Hire a professional wildlife service or animal control contractor to relocate existing pigeons, and install devices to prevent future intrusions.  Have the pigeon debris removed by a professional air duct cleaning contractor.  Be sure to have the air duct cleaning contractor inspect the supply air ducts downstream of the HVAC unit.

Pressurization

Air flow is created by pressure differentials.  Air flow always flows from higher relative pressure to lower relative pressure.  If more air is supplied to a room than exhausted, the excess air leaks out of the space and the room is said to be under Positive Pressure.  If less air is supplied than exhausted, air is pulled into the space and the room is said to be under Negative Pressure.

Positive Pressure

If a home or building has too much positive air pressure, it will allow for conditioned air to escape the home causing costly energy concerns.

Negative Pressure

Negatively pressurized homes allow for unconditioned and unfiltered air to be drawn within the home or building.  Debris will enter through cracks and crevices, opened doors, windows, etc…

What’s the Ideal Air Pressurization?

It is ideal to achieve neutral to slightly positive air pressurization.  Though there is a slight loss of conditioned air, a slightly positive pressured home will provide comfort and prevent outdoor contaminants from entering the home or building.

ASHRAE Standard 62.1 “Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality” requires proper ventilation and a slightly positive pressurization of buildings. Maintaining a small positive air pressure, relative to the outdoors, limits the entrance of outdoor moisture and is a very common strategy to prevent mold and mildew formation in a building.

How Can You Monitor or Control Air Pressurization?

Air pressure can be monitored through an energy auditor.  An energy auditor will use of a blower door & smoke test to determine the location of air leaks.  After the test is performed steps can be made to improve air pressurization.