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100 Five Star Air Duct Cleaning Reviews

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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

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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.

NADCA on Dateline NBC

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BUSTED! Duct Cleaning Scammers Exposed

We’ve all seen the coupons and advertisements promoting “whole neighborhood air duct cleaning for $49.95,” and heard the horror stories from consumers who got taken by these companies. Now the national media is taking notice.

NADCA worked with Dateline NBC over the past six months to expose a scam operation and the company’s unethical business practices. Tune in to NBC this Sunday, January 30 at 7 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) for a special two-hour Dateline as reporter Chris Hansen exposes these frauds and helps educate the general public about the HVAC cleaning industry. (Please note that the segment on air duct cleaning will be at the end of the second hour.)

NADCA president Buck Sheppard served as the industry expert and will be featured in this report. This Dateline episode will show “hidden camera” scenes uncovering instances of brazen scam artists preying on uninformed consumers.

It is NADCA’s hope that after this episode airs, consumers will be better informed about how to spot these scams.

Learn About Proper Air Duct Cleaning Methods

What Causes Furnace Short Cycling?

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Short Cycling

As the temperature of you your home changes, the thermostat operates the furnace and air conditioning system to bring the home to a desired room temperature, this is known as a furnace cycle.  When your furnace operates “on then off ” for only very short periods of time, it is known as short cycling.  Short cycling will not only decreases energy efficiency, but can potentially be a sign of a serious problem within the heating and cooling system.

Restriction of Air Flow:

Air Filters

Most times a furnace will short cycle due to a lack of airflow.  One of the most common causes for reduced air flow is a dirty furnace filter.  Replace the furnace filter with a new furnace filter and get into the habit of changing the furnace filter every two months that the furnace is operation.  If the short cycling of your furnace has occurred after recently changing your  furnace filter it may be a result of using a filter that is too restrictive to airflow, make sure to use filters that are recommended by your specific model and brand of furnace.

If the air filters are getting an excessive amount of debris build up consider having the air ducts cleaned to lesson the volume of debris impacting the HVAC system.

Blocked Air Vent Registers

Sometimes home decor can negatively impact the functionality of the HVAC system.  Another cause for airflow restriction may be blocked air vent registers, inspect the air vent registers for items that may be blocking airflow.

Air Conditioning Coils

Located above the furnace is a set of evaporative air conditioner coils which is responsible for absorbing the heat from the air.  If the air conditioner coils have debris blocking airflow, it can cause the furnace to short cycle in both the cooling and heating season.

Thermostat Problems

Thermostat location

Thermostat location can often times cause short cycling.  To ensure proper operation, a thermostat should be mounted on an inside wall in a frequently occupied area of the home.  Thermostats need to be away from drafts, the effects of windows and radiation from windows and outside walls.  Try temporarily shielding the thermostat with a piece of  cardboard or paper, if the short cycling stops a draft is causing the problem, contact an HVAC contractor to discuss moving the thermostat to another location.

Overheating

Short cycling of furnaces can also be caused by the furnace overheating.  Most modern furnaces often have safety devices which monitor temperatures.  Short cycling can occur when the heat exchanger overheats and the burner automatically shuts off to prevent damage.  In rare circumstance it can be a crack in the heat exchanger, which causes the short cycling.  If you feel that your furnace is short cycling due to overheating, turn off the furnace and contact an HVAC company for repair.

Hazards of Mold in Your Ductwork

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Mold contamination within air duct systems can pose detrimental health effects to building occupants if left uncorrected.  If mold exists within your air ducts make a plan to investigate the source of the problem, isolate the problem area, and remove the contaminants.

Understanding Mold

Molds are part of the natural environment. Molds are fungi that can be found anywhere – inside or outside – throughout the year. About 1,000 species of mold can be found in the United States, with more than 100,000 known species worldwide.

When excessive moisture or water accumulates indoors, mold growth often will occur, particularly if the moisture problem remains uncorrected. While it is impossible to eliminate all molds and mold spores, controlling moisture can control indoor mold growth.  Molds are usually not a problem unless mold spores land on a damp spot and begin growing. They digest whatever they land on in order to survive. There are molds that grow on wood, paper, carpet, foods and insulation, while other molds feed on the everyday dust and dirt.

Since mold requires water to grow, it is important to investigate the source of the moisture to prevent mold growth.

Hazards of Mold in Your Ductwork

Ventilation systems are designed to distribute a recirculate air within a home.  If mold growth is within the ventilation system, or near an air intake, mold spores can be spread throughout a home.

“Toxic mold syndrome” remains controversial and unproven, but experts agree that it’s best to limit exposure to molds.  The most likely adverse reaction to mold is a respiratory allergic reaction in mold-sensitive people. These reactions are similar to other respiratory allergies, causing sneezing, watery eyes, nasal discharge and congestion.

Cleaning Air Ducts

Consider having the air ducts in your home cleaned if there visible mold growth inside hard surface (e.g., sheet metal) ducts or on other components of your heating and cooling system.

There are several important points to understand concerning mold detection in heating and cooling systems:

  • Many sections of your heating and cooling system may not be accessible for a visible inspection, so ask the service provider to show you any mold they say exists.
  • You should be aware that although a substance may look like mold, a positive determination of whether it is mold or not can be made only by an expert and may require laboratory analysis for final confirmation.
  • If you have insulated air ducts and the insulation gets wet or moldy it cannot be effectively cleaned and should be removed and replaced.
  • If the conditions causing the mold growth in the first place are not corrected, mold growth will recur.

Dangers of Air Duct Cleaning Chemicals

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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.

How to Remove Pet Urine Odor from Air Ducts

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Pet urine within the air ducts is an extremely unpleasant odor.   Sometimes trouble shooting where the pet urine odor is coming from can be quite difficult.  Here are some great instructions on how to remove pet urine odor from air ducts.

Locating the Sources

Before you can correct a pet urine problem you have to identify all of the areas affected.  Sometimes it can be difficult to isolate or identify source of the pet urine odor.  One of the easiest methods of locating where pets have urinated is through the use of a UV black light.  First darken the room, and then shine the UV black light near vent register openings, pet urine stains will glow in the dark.

Cleaning the Surrounding Areas

As pets urinate into the vent registers, the urine is likely to collect around the carpet or hardwood floor near the air vent register opening.  If you do not clean the areas around the air vent register opening the scent of the urine will cause the pet to instinctively re-soil the area.

One of the best methods for removing the odor is to use baking soda and white vinegar.  Prior to using baking soda and white vinegar, be sure to check with your flooring manufacturer to see if it will affect your floors finish.  Never use ammonia or ammonia based cleaning products.  While ammonia is a good cleaning product, one of the components of pet urine is ammonia, and the odor of the ammonia can lead your pet to instinctively re-soil the area.

DO NOT spray cleaning chemicals into the air ducts, only specific chemicals may be used within air ducts.  Your ventilation system is designed to redistribute air and can potentially distribute the volatile cleaning fumes throughout the home.  If you have accidently poured chemicals within the air ducts, open the doors and windows and call a duct cleaning professional.

Duct Cleaning

After you have cleaned the surrounding area of the air vent registers, hire a professional air duct cleaning contractor.  Debris within the air ducts will harbor pet urine odor.  As the heating and air conditioner is in operation, pet urine odor can distribute throughout the entire home.  An duct cleaning contractor will be able to access the HVAC system and help you to restore the HVAC system to its proper condition.

How Humid Climates Affect Indoor Air Quality and Comfort

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Regional climate plays a large role in Indoor Air Quality and comfort.  Regional climate characteristics are determined by geographic location and long term weather conditions.  Two of the most important factors that affect an areas climate are temperature and precipitation.

What makes Humid Climates Uncomfortable?

Humid climates have a high amount of water vapor in the air.  When it’s hot, high humidity makes people feel hotter because it reduces the ability to evaporate moisture from the skin.  In humid climates, becoming comfortable means going into a conditioned space.

Potential for Mold Growth

While mold spores are in every region and every climate, mold growth is highly dependent on the amount of humidity.  Mold growth typically occurs when an environment reaches a relative humidity of 60 percent or greater in a 72 hour span.  If mold is found within your home or workplace remediate the problem immediately, mold spores can be distributed throughout the home or building through the HVAC system impacting indoor air quality.

Air Conditioning in Humid Climates

Air conditioning coils serve a very important role in regulating temperature and humidity in humid climates.  As air passes through the evaporative coil of the air conditioner, heat and moisture are removed from the air.  To a degree, the lower the humidity level, the more comfortable you will feel at a given temperature.

Air Duct Cleaning and HVAC Maintenance

Overtime foreign debris is drawn into the evaporative coils and fan blower of the air conditioning system, gradually decreasing air flow and energy efficiency.  Maintaining HVAC system, will keep your cooling and heating components operation at peak energy efficiency, and prevent potential indoor air quality problems.  Yearly air conditioner inspections and routine air duct cleaning with assure maximum efficiency.

Energy Saving Tips for your Heating and Cooling System

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We are all looking for ways to save money, one way to save money is to reduce energy consumption.  Did you know that in a typical home 45% of the energy cost go to Heating and cooling?  The US Department of energy estimates that 25 – 40% of the energy used for heating and cooling a typical home is wasted.

Whether your heating or cooling system uses natural gas, fuel oil or electricity it is a good idea to make it as efficient as possible.  Using less energy saves money and is better for the environment.

  • Install a programmable thermostat: these thermostats automatically turn down your system during periods when your typically away from home.
  • Change your air filter: Make sure to change your air filter regularly.  A clogged  filter will restrict air flow and cause your system to work harder and use more energy.  Most experts reccomend changing your air filter every two months.
  • Seal your air ducts: Sealing your ducts will also save you money in the long run.  You could be loosing nearly all your heating and cooling before it reaches your vents.
  • Clean your heating and cooling system: This is more than just duct cleaning, it involves cleaning all the components that the airstream touches in your heating and air conditioning system.  NADCA recommends cleaning the furnace, cooling coils, blower motor, and the ductwork.  Every part of the system is checked and cleaned, not just the ducts.

So how does cleaning your heating and cooling system save you money?

A dirty cooling coil reduces efficiency:  to cool your home air is blown across cold metal coils.  When the coils get clogged with dirt, airflow is restricted and air can no longer contact the metal.  This blocks airflow and limits the coils ability to properly cool the air.  Even in the winter months these dirty coils contine to reduce air flow through your furnace.  This means that the system losing efficiency all year long.

Duct Cleaning

Proper cleaning of an entire heating and cooling system takes technical skill and attention to detail, that is why it is important to rely on a company that is specifically trained and experienced in this type of cleaning.  NADCA members specialize in optimizing the efficiency and life of your system.

Remeber clean systems use less energy and clean systems last longer saving you money now and in the years to come.

Indoor Air Quality and Your Homes Heating and Cooling System

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What Does the EPA say about Indoor Air Quality?

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.