Insure Your Furnace with an Extra Hot Surface Igniter

Silicon carbide igniters, commonly known as hot surface igniters, are an electrical component that is used in most new gas furnaces. Hot surface igniters are much like the filament of a light bulb, each time the furnace turns on, an electric charge is sent to the hot surface igniter reaching a searing temperature of roughly 2156OF-2426OF to ignite the gas burners of your furnace.

Life Expectancy of a Hot Surface Igniter

Under normal operating conditions, a hot surface igniter will last 3-5 years. During the heating season, the hot surface igniter can go through a tremendous amount of use. Furnaces cycle throughout a day to bring the home to the desired temperature set by your thermostat, hot surface igniters are energized through each furnace cycle. Most high efficient furnaces will cycle 3 times per hour whereas lower efficient furnaces can cycle as many as 6+ times per hour. In a year your hot surface igniter could be energized as over 20,000 times! Over time, through continued use, the filament of the hot surface igniter becomes brittle, and eventually breaks usually when you need it most.

Keep an Extra Hot Surface Igniter On Hand

Much better to have a hot surface igniter and not need one, than to need a hot surface igniter and not have one. There are numerous brands and models of furnaces, technology is changing every day. If you have an older furnace, it may take a while for a furnace contractor to locate a hot surface igniter specific to your furnace. Purchase an extra hot surface igniter for your specific brand and model of furnace to store at home it’s a great insurance policy for a time of need.

Maintain Your Furnace, Filter and Air Ducts

While there is a standard life expectancy of a hot surface igniter, routinely maintaining your furnace through an HVAC company, changing your furnace filters, and keeping your air ducts clean will extend the life of your hot surface igniter as well as other furnace components.

KBPI Christmas Wish | Stacy’s Grandmas House

It all started with a contest: The rules were pretty simple: Tell us what your asking for this holiday season, and why… for a chance to have your wish granted.

One listener… Stacy, asks for a gift of getting her Grandmas house carpets replaced. Willie B DJ of KBPI publicized her selfless request, and calls poured in from contractors of numerous trades transforming the request of carpet replacement to a full blown home makeover.

Ductworks met Brett, owner of CQL 2000 a General Contractor who donated his services. At the time of our arrival there were already over twenty trades at the home. We performed the walk through, to discuss the various projects that desperately needed to be completed. We began with a general meeting, discussing the various projects that would take place, and the high level of coordination it would take for numerous trades working within a confined space.

There was a catch… All of the work to be performed was a surprise to the Grandmother. The grandchildren told the Grandmother that they were going to have the carpets replaced as a Christmas gift, and asked that she stay in a hotel as the work was being performed. All of the work needed to be complete within 4 days!

Within minutes the meeting ended, and all of the contractors formed various bucket lines within the home to remove the homes contents to make space for the various projects that would be undertaken. Within an hour the garage door, furnace and air conditioner were replaced. Ductworks will provided the air duct cleaning at the end of the project once the dust settles.

Willie B of KBPI brought a community of good natured contractors to really show what this holiday is about.

If you could wish for anything you wanted on your wish list this holiday season what would it be?

State Shuts Down Several Air Duct Cleaning Companies For Scamming

Customers thought they were getting fresh air when they hired Seabreeze Air, Quality Air and Fresh Air.

“Well, it starts out as a classic bait and switch,” Suthers said.

Suthers says the companies advertised duct cleaning for $35 and then charged up to $1,000. He says customers weren’t the only ones they lied to.

“They told both the court and ourselves in a previous proceeding that they were going out of business, but in fact they simply changed their name and went back into business,” Suthers said.

“Unfortunately within our industry it’s not the exception, it’s the norm where you have folks that are taking advantage of folks,” Ductworks General Manager Eddie Frisk said.

Frisk has been in business 23 years and cleans more than 4,000 homes a year. This year he says the floods have meant more business and more unscrupulous companies than ever.

“I get the same coupons that everybody else gets. You can’t get your ventilation system cleaned for $35,” Frisk said.

Frisk says here’s what people need to know: duct cleaning costs more than $350, not $35. It takes five to eight hours, not two to three. And any reputable company should be certified through the National Air Duct Cleaning Association.

“It the age-old adage, if it’s too good to be true, it typically is,” Frisk said.

The attorney general and Better Business Bureau received more than 230 complaints about the companies that lead to the investigation. Suthers got a temporary restraining order to shut the companies down until they go to court in a couple weeks.

CBS. (2013, November 25). State Shuts Down Several Air Duct Cleaning Companies For Scamming. Retrieved from http://denver.cbslocal.com/2013/11/25/state-shuts-down-several-air-duct-cleaning-companies-for-scamming/

NADCA Energy Research Project

Fouled Coil: This photo shows the upstream side of a heavily fouled A-Coil, which is essentially matted over with dust and other contaminants.

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning a home or small commercial building is a big job that requires a lot of energy. In fact, this activity accounts for 30 percent of the energy used in an average home or small building. In addition, heating and cooling larger buildings is an even tougher job and accounts for up to half of the energy use in such buildings. On the whole, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems are by far the largest sources of energy use within a home or building. Ironically, heating and cooling systems tend to be poorly maintained. These systems, which are used every day of the year, get dirty and can become heavily contaminated with dirt, dust, animal dander, and more. Further, heating and cooling systems in new homes and buildings are often heavily fouled – even before occupants move in. Contaminated heating and cooling systems can be problematic for occupants. These systems contribute to poor indoor air quality in the form of increased airborne particulate and reduced thermal comfort. Fouled systems are also prone to failure. And from a cost perspective, these systems also use more energy than clean systems.

The Importance of Air Flow

Dirty Duct: Accumulations of dust and debris within HVAC ductwork can contribute airborne particulate within a home or commercial building, while also reducing air flow and increasing energy consumption and related costs.

When it comes to having a productive, energy-efficient heating and cooling system, air flow is everything. Increased air flow equates to better performance. But when systems become fouled, air flow is reduced. Dirty filters, clogged coils, fouled blowers and other components – all of these things impede air flow and lead to increased energy costs. The solution is to have the heating and air conditioning system professionally cleaned. You may be familiar with the term air duct cleaning, but this is actually a bit of a misnomer. Professional cleaning for a heating and air conditioning system entails cleaning not only the ductwork, but also the vents, registers, blower, coils, and other components – the surfaces that are exposed to the air flow within the system. Complete cleaning of the heating and air conditioning system is a highly specialized cleaning service that differs from the routine maintenance provided by the technician sent out to clean and adjust the furnace. Complete cleaning of the heating and air conditioning system is an important aspect of keeping the system operating at peak efficiency.

The NADCA Energy Savings Research Project

Clogged Air Duct: In extreme cases such as this, ductwork can become totally clogged, totally restricting air flow.

So how much does it cost to operate a fouled heating and cooling system? That is the question asked by the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA), a not-for-profit trade association representing companies around the world that inspect, clean and restore heating and air conditioning systems. In 2008 NADCA initiated a project with researchers from the University of Colorado at Boulder (CU) to conduct an in-depth study of this issue. The University has extensive research experience and is home to the Larson Building Systems Laboratory, one of the world’s most technologically advanced facilities for researching heating and cooling systems. The purpose of the NADCA research study was to correlate the substantial energy savings that can be attained through complete cleaning of fouled heating and cooling systems.

Research Overview

Dirty Fan: Blowers such as this can become heavily contaminated and require cleaning for maximum efficiency.

Researchers started this project by scouring the Internet and other sources to find literature produced through similar research. Using available literature, researchers developed a computer model designed to quantify the energy savings that could be attained through cleaning heating and cooling systems. From there the researchers conducted a laboratory analysis – they experimented on a house that is contained completely within the Larson Lab – as part of an effort to fine-tune and confirm the computer model. Finally, researchers conducted two field trials to assess the accuracy of the computer model. Through this process, researchers came to realize that there was no comprehensive data available to quantify the savings that can be achieved through cleaning of heavily-fouled systems – the types of systems regularly encountered by NADCA members. (For purposes of this research, “Heavily-fouled” systems are defined as systems where complete cleaning results in a pressure change of at least 30 percent. Pressure change is simply an easier way to measure air flow.) Because of the data limitations, the calculations in the computer model were based on data collected from lightly-fouled systems – systems that are not very dirty.

Key Findings

According to the results of the study, cleaning even lightly-fouled systems can produce substantial energy savings. These findings are based on complete cleaning of heating and air conditioning systems in accordance with NADCA’s ACR 2006 Standard, which includes cleaning ductwork, coils, blower, other air-side system components, and changing the filter. Based on the initial research, cleaning a lightly-fouled system provides, on average, an 11 percent savings off of the energy used for heating and air conditioning.

Next Steps

Cleaning heavily-fouled systems is expected to produce an even greater savings than cleaning systems that are essentially clean. Given the critical importance of air flow, this could be construed as common sense. However, in order to confirm this expectation, NADCA has initiated a broader research effort to quantify the energy savings that can be achieved by complete cleaning of heavily-fouled heating and cooling systems. This research involves collecting data on systems before and after cleaning, and using this data to calculate energy savings.

Summary

It takes a lot of energy to heat and cool a home or building and in fact, the systems used for this purpose account for the majority of energy use.  These systems – even in new buildings – tend to be dirty, and become more heavily fouled through everyday use. Fouled heating and cooling systems can also be problematic for occupants, contributing to poor indoor air quality, system failure and increased energy use. Researchers have proven that cleaning even lightly-fouled heating and cooling systems can result in energy savings of 11 percent. In addition to these savings, consumers who have their heating and cooling system cleaned can benefit from improved indoor air quality, reduced maintenance costs and extended life expectancy for the heating and cooling system. While not yet confirmed, cleaning heavily-fouled systems is expected to produce even greater energy savings.

Ductworks Helping Critically Ill Children Returning Home

Ductworks is contributing time and resources to help the non-profit organization There With Care. When critically ill children are returning home from the hospital and need a clean home environment, Ductworks will provide expert air duct cleaning services for the house. Eddy Frisk, General Manager of Ductworks stated, “Parents are already stressed with caring for their sick children. We take some of the burden off by making sure the air quality in their homes is improved before bringing their child home from the hospital. It’s a great way for us to give back to the community by providing the family with what we do best…being air duct cleaning experts.

There with Care began in 2005 serving families with critically ill children at two hospitals in Denver. They now serve families from 12 referring medical institutions, including The Children’s Hospital, Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children at P/SL and others. They help families cope with life threatening medical conditions, providing a range of practical services. For more information, go to www.therewithcare.org.

Ductworks, Inc. “Your Air Duct Cleaning Expert” is an Arvada-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. They also have more 5-star customer reviews than any other Colorado HVAC service company. For more information on Ductworks, go to www.ductworks.com.

National Jewish Health® Collaborates with Ductworks for National Asthma and Allergy Month to Help Families Detect Allergens at Home

Allergies & Asthma TestNational Jewish Health and Ductworks, Inc. are collaborating for the second year during National Asthma and Allergy Month, (May) to provide a comprehensive approach for people with allergies and asthma to help them learn if the environment in their homes is contributing to their illness. National Jewish has developed a diagnostic kit to assess the allergen levels in indoor environments.

National Jewish Health and Ductworks are working together on marketing and distribution of the Family Air Care® Indoor Allergens and Mold Test Kit. The kit, developed and serviced by National Jewish Health in Denver, determines levels of common indoor allergens and mold from dust samples taken inside a home, apartment or other building. The kit is now available through Ductworks for $299.

Once the diagnostic assessment of the home is complete, users can go to the Family Air Care® Website to learn how to lower allergen levels in their homes.

“The Family Air Care® kit is the only commercially available indoor-air testing kit that lets customers compare their results with samples from homes around the nation, and offers specific advice about how to interpret the results and what to do after receiving them,” said David Tinkelman, MD, Vice President of Health Initiatives at National Jewish Health.

To use the Family Air Care® Indoor Allergens and Mold Test Kit, consumers simply attach a small capture device to their vacuum-cleaner hose, briefly run the vacuum cleaner in their homes, then mail the collection device to National Jewish Health in a pre-paid envelope provided with the kit. Test results are reported in a secure e-mail. The kits can be ordered online at www.Ductworks.com.

“The Family Air Care® assessment benefits all households, but is especially important to the 70 percent of households where a person with allergies and/or asthma lives,” said Dr. Tinkelman. “The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommend that people with allergies and/or asthma reduce levels of allergens and irritants in their homes to improve their health.”

National Jewish Health is known worldwide for treatment of patients with respiratory, cardiac, immune and related disorders, and for groundbreaking medical research. Founded in 1899 as a nonprofit hospital, National Jewish remains the only facility in the world dedicated exclusively to these disorders. Since 1998, U.S. News & World Report has ranked National Jewish the #1 respiratory hospital in the nation.  Further information can be found by visiting www.nationaljewish.org.

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. For more information on Ductworks and the Family Air Care Kit, go to www.ductworks.com.

100 Five Star Air Duct Cleaning Reviews

100 FIVE STAR AIR DUCT CLEANING REVIEWS


Denver, CO.— Air Duct Cleaning Industry Leader, Ductworks, Inc., achieves “100 Five Star” Air Duct Cleaning Reviews from the Customer Lobby in less than 6 months.

Customer Lobby is where consumers share their ratings and reviews on the local companies they hire. Company ratings are based strictly on feedback from customers of Ductworks, Inc.  The Customer Lobby Five Star Grading Systems represents the level of service, level of recommendation, and total experience that Ductworks, Inc., has provided its customers.

“We are extremely proud of the reviews that we have received though Customer Lobby, the reviews are a testimony to our technician’s commitment to excellent customer service.” said Edward Frisk, Vice President of Ductworks, Inc.  “For over 20 years, Ductworks, Inc. has been dedicated to offering quality air duct cleaning and world-class customer service. Customer Lobby serves as a strong resource in helping consumers better understand our overall commitment to an unparalleled air duct service.”

To view Ductworks, Inc. reviews on Customer Lobby, visit Ductworks, Inc. Customer Lobby review page

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About Ductworks, Inc. – Your Air Duct Cleaning Expert

Ductworks, Inc. “Your Air Duct Cleaning Expert” is a Denver-based air duct cleaning 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. For more information, contact us at 303-425-0985 or ductworks.com

About Customer Lobby

Customer Lobby is the leading customer reviews solution provider focused on service businesses. Customer Lobby’s quality guarantees and dispute resolution services are unique and critical features for the 200 industries it serves. Customer Lobby’s solution enables businesses to get, manage and publish customer reviews. For more information, contact us at 866-718-9549 or www.customerlobby.com.

 

Facts About Bed Bugs and Air Duct Cleaning

What are Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs are small parasitic insects that feed exclusively on the blood of warm blooded animals.   Bed bugs have been known human parasites for thousands of years, and were once largely eradicated through the use of heavy pesticides in the 1940’s.

How do you get Bed Bugs?

Bed bugs are bought into home on infested furniture or in luggage and personal belongings after staying in infested lodgings. In apartment buildings, townhouses, hotels and other connected dwellings bed bugs can migrate from one infested unit into other via electrical wiring, plumbing and adjoining walls.

How do you know if you have Bed Bugs?

Bedbugs are elusive and usually nocturnal, which can make them hard to spot.  Much of the time, a bed bug infestation is only suspected when bites appear on a person.  Oftentimes, the bites are misidentified, thus allowing infestations to go unnoticed, which gives the bed bugs time to spread to other areas of the house.

How do you identify Bed Bugs?

Adult bed bugs are 1/4 to 3/8 inch (4-5mm) long, brown in color, with a flat, oval-shaped body; while young bed bugs (also called nymphs) are smaller and lighter in color.

Eggs are white in color and approx. 1 mm in length and glued to the surface they are laid on. Eggs are laid in the crevices and surfaces where the adult bed bug hides during non-feeding periods and hatch in 6 to 10 days depending on temperature.

Are Bed Bugs in your air ducts?

Highly doubtful…  While trace amount of bed bugs can be found within the air ducts of a home infested with bed bugs, ventilation systems are not a likely place to find bed bugs unless the air vent register is very close proximity to the bed mattress.

During non-feeding periods, bed bugs will hide in cracks and crevices in close proximity to the host (e.g., mattress seams, bed frame, headboard, box spring, behind wall hangings or baseboards, torn wall paper, bedroom furniture, etc.).  Since bed bugs are only about the width of a credit card, they can squeeze into really small hiding spots. If a crack will hold a credit card, it could hide a bed bug.

Chemical treatments for Bed Bugs

Hire a professional if you intend to chemically treat your home for bed bugs.  Use caution as to the chemicals that are used and where they are applied, always review the material safety data sheet.

Do not allow pesticides to be applied when the heating and cooling system is in operation.  Do not allow pesticides to be applied within the air ducts, very few chemicals are approved for the use within ventilation systems.

Dangers of Air Duct Cleaning Chemicals

Air duct cleaning service providers may tell you that they need to apply a chemical biocide to the inside of your ducts to kill bacteria (germs), and fungi (mold) and prevent future biological growth.   Careful consideration should be taken before allowing the application of chemicals within your air ducts.  Due to the varying ranges of temperature, humidity and air turbulence there are very few chemicals that are approved for the use within ventilation systems.

Chemical Off Gassing

Organic chemicals are widely used as ingredients in cleaning and sanitizing products.  Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids.   Even a nearly odorless material can cause significant problems when re-circulated through air ducts in a closed environment.  VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects.

NADCA’s Position Regarding the Use of Antimicrobials

The National Air Duct Cleaners Association’s new position regarding the use of antimicrobial chemicals is as follows: “At this point in time, until EPA clarifies their position, NADCA does not recommend the use of any sanitizer or disinfectant products in air ducts.” This position was adopted to generate awareness among NADCA members of the potential legal liabilities they face by selling and applying antimicrobial chemicals. This is strictly a matter of managing legal risks. NADCA’s position deals specifically with sanitizers and disinfectants, not with any other product claims. Also, this position covers only air ducts, not HVAC components such as coils

No EPA Registered Products for Fiberglass Air Ducts

There are no products that are currently registered by EPA as biocides for use on fiberglass duct board or fiberglass lined ducts so it is important to determine if sections of your system contain these materials before permitting the application of any biocide.

If  You Choose to Use Chemicals in your Air Duct Cleaning Project

  • Review the product sheet showing usage and application of the product.
  • Review the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) to understand if chemicals will cause any health or property concerns.
  • Review the Fact sheet on the product classification being applied.

If You Have a Problem Related to Chemicals Applied Within Your Air Ducts

  • Open doors and windows to ventilate the area with fresh air.
  • Operate the fan of the HVAC system
  • Exit the premises if negatively affected.
  • Contact and Industrial Hygienist to discuss the problem.  Be sure to have a copy of the MSDS.