Knowledge about the potential benefits and possible problems of air duct cleaning is limited. Since conditions in every home are different, it is impossible to generalize about whether or not air duct cleaning in your home would be beneficial.

If no one in your household suffers from allergies or unexplained symptoms or illnesses and if, after a visual inspection of the inside of the ducts, you see no indication that your air ducts are contaminated with large deposits of dust or mold (no musty odor or visible mold growth), having your air ducts cleaned is probably unnecessary. It is normal for the return registers to get dusty as dust-laden air is pulled through the grate. This does not indicate that your air ducts are contaminated with heavy deposits of dust or debris; the registers can be easily vacuumed or removed and cleaned.

On the other hand, if family members are experiencing unusual or unexplained symptoms or illnesses that you think might be related to your home environment, you should discuss the situation with your doctor. EPA has published Indoor Air Quality: An Introduction for Health Professionals that can be obtained free of charge by contacting IAQ INFO at the number listed in this guide. You may obtain another free EPA booklet from IAQ INFO entitled The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality for guidance on identifying possible indoor air quality problems and ways to prevent or fix them.

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. While the debate about the value of periodic duct cleaning continues, no evidence suggests that such cleaning would be detrimental, provided that it is done properly.

On the other hand, if a service provider fails to follow proper duct cleaning procedures, duct cleaning can cause indoor air problems. For example, an inadequate vacuum collection system can release more dust, dirt, and other contaminants than if you had left the ducts alone. A careless or inadequately trained service provider can damage your ducts or heating and cooling system, possibly increasing your heating and air conditioning costs or forcing you to undertake difficult and costly repairs or replacements.

You should consider having the air ducts in your home cleaned if:

There is substantial 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. For about $50, some microbiology laboratories can tell you whether a sample sent to them on a clear strip of sticky household tape is mold or simply a substance that resembles it.
  
• 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.

Ducts are infested with vermin, e.g. (rodents or insects); or

Ducts are clogged with excessive amounts of dust and debris and/or particles are actually released into the home from your supply registers.

Other Important Considerations…

Source: US Gov EPA

HomePro Restoration
5715 Industry Ln Frederick Md 21704

Mold Removal Montgomery County Md

by Paul F. P. Pogue

Linda Wetzel of Shaker Heights, Ohio, says she was skeptical about air duct cleaning until a friend told her it had improved her allergies. “I figured common sense said, if there’s dust on the table, there has to be dust in the vents,” Wetzel says.

After hiring a highly rated cleaner she found on Angie’s List, Wetzel was very pleased with the results. She says she noticed an immediate improvement in air quality – everyone in the house suffered fewer allergies afterward – and the entire HVAC system worked more efficiently.

“We used our air conditioner less in the summer because it had so much more airflow,” she says. “And we used the heater less during an incredibly cold winter.”

Despite such anecdotal experiences, there’s no scientific evidence that regular air duct cleaning improves air quality, according to a 1997 brochure published by the Environmental Protection Agency. Laureen Burton, senior scientist in the EPA Indoor Environments Division, says that while the document is more than a decade old, the science hasn’t changed and the agency stands by its recommendations.

“Checking and changing filters, keeping systems maintained, having regular inspections, and ensuring moisture doesn’t get in are more important,” she says.

However, both EPA and the National Air Duct Cleaners Association – which represents more than 1,000 cleaning companies nationwide – agree that there’s some value in the work.

Buck Sheppard, NADCA president and duct cleaner in Portland, Ore., says the association consulted on the EPA pamphlet and agrees with all but one of its findings. “Where we differ is on how often it should be done,” he says.

The EPA does not recommend that air ducts be cleaned routinely, but only as needed – such as when mold, pests or excessive debris clutter the system. According to a recent online poll, 13 percent of Angie’s List members have their ducts cleaned routinely, but 60 percent do so only if serious problems develop.

NADCA experts argue the need for cleaning depends on a variety of factors, including pets, smoking, recent renovations, local weather conditions and overall home cleanliness. Sheppard recommends cleaning them every three to five years. He says a good contractor will offer to do an inspection beforehand for a nominal charge, if any, to see if a cleaning is necessary.

NADCA executive director John Schulte says the organization’s standards dictate that a cleaning doesn’t just sweep the ducts, but addresses every component air passes over, including coils and the central system. The task involves at least a couple of workers, several hours and costly equipment, which is why it generally costs $400 or more, according to EPA and NADCA.

A thorough cleaning can yield long-term energy savings. Bob Baker and Ross Montgomery, who study air quality and energy efficiency for the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, say their research shows dirty coils and blowers in commercial buildings can cut efficiency by as much as 40 percent.

NADCA expects to complete its first residential energy efficiency study within the year. Sheppard calls duct cleaning an essential part of home maintenance, akin to mopping and vacuuming. “Because it’s out of sight, people don’t think about cleaning the system that delivers the air they breathe,” he says.

EPA and NADCA agree that if you do hire someone to clean your air ducts, make sure they know what they’re doing – a poor job is worse than no cleaning at all, as it can kick up particles or even break portions of the HVAC system. EPA recommends all duct cleaners follow NADCA standards.

Customers can look up NADCA members at nadca.com. Member companies must keep at least one technician on staff who has passed a NADCA test.

Tom Bergendahl of Wakefield, Mass., wishes he’d hired a reputable service to clean his air ducts instead of a local company that has since gone out of business. “Duct cleaning is a fragile operation, and if you don’t do it right, you can damage the system,” he says. “They completely wrecked the motor.”

The company eventually paid to repair the damage, but Bergendahl still doesn’t feel the work improved air quality or energy efficiency. “Why did I even bother?” he asks.

Despite Bergendahl’s experience, Sheppard says NADCA’s certification standards, developed in 1992, have improved the situation. “A lot of [service companies] weren’t going about it the correct way,” he says.

Other organizations have also established guidelines. The EPA’s brochure available online provides a post-cleaning checklist, and in 2007, the Air Conditioning Contractors of America published criteria for HVAC service providers.

While none of the groups claim health benefits from clean ducts, many Angie’s List members report an improvement. “I haven’t woken up stuffy or congested since,” says Margaret Hopkins of Glen Ellyn, Ill. “After the cleaning, my home smelled better and there was less dust on my furniture.”

Experts say research on the health benefits of residential duct cleaning is still in its infancy. Glenn Fellman, the Indoor Air Quality Association’s executive director, says that despite the lack of scientific data, he’s seen and heard much common-sense evidence of improved air quality.

“This is the heart and circulatory system of your house,” Fellman says. “If any of it is gunked up with dust or mold, the core system isn’t going to function correctly.”

Ultimately, the decision to clean air ducts comes down to a homeowner’s own judgment. “Get a screwdriver, open up the register and look in there yourself,” Schulte says. “Most can make up their mind at that point.”

Maryland Air Duct Cleaning by HomePro Restoration

Call 301 631-5500  now to schedule a dryer duct inspection.
Call Toll Free 1 866 898-6653

Your family spends roughly one third of your life inside your home, which makes breathing clean, healthy air very important. The age of your home doesn’t really make a difference when it comes to performing this maintenance. If your home is new, this maintenance still needs to be performed. In fact, if you have just moved into a new house, it is the best time to have the air system fully cleaned. During the construction process there are many dust-generating tasks, and these dust particles – from sawdust to drywall gypsum – have most likely settled in you duct system. These are some of the most common eye and nose irritants and should be removed before you move into your new home.

If you have just bought a new home, it would be wise to consider having your heating and air conditioning air ducting cleaned to remove any dust particles (that could be harmful) that have settled in the ductwork over the years.  Having air ducts cleaned in older homes may also remove odors and cooking particles built up from many years of use. Before occupying an existing house, you should at least change all air filters and clean all the air supply registers and return air grills. If you’re deciding whether or not to have your hvac (heating, ventilation, air conditioning or HVAC)  duct system cleaned, consider the following:

1) Indoor air quality. Everyone has a concern about the quality of air we breathe. Many allergies, respiratory and breathing problems are related to particles and mites in the air. Regular changing of air filters in your home air system is a good maintenance practice and an important step to keep the air in your home healthy. Just as important is having the HVAC system serviced and cleaned periodically. Babies, young children and the elderly are the most susceptible to having respiratory problems caused by poor air quality.

2) How do I know if a home hvac system needs cleaning? Every home heating and air conditioning system with forced air requires the air filters be changed regularly. Make it a practice to change air filters at least four times a year. If dirt is visible, you may need to change filters more frequently. Free airflow also lets the unit to run more efficiently.

3) When should duct cleaning be done? Every home environment is different, and the outside air quality also contributes to when duct cleaning should be performed. As a rule of thumb, I would suggest a cleaning every two to three years. Include your dryer vent and possibly exhaust fans in this cleaning. Consult a professional duct cleaning contractor for recommendations of services.

4) Can a homeowner clean their own air ducts? Some hvac system maintenance can be done by homeowners. If you are familiar with your forced air heating and cooling system, changing air filters is relatively easy. There are different grades of air filters available. Lean towards higher priced filters, because they can collect finer dust particles. Also, if you are really handy, you may want to clean the air supply registers and returns. Just remove the register, clean the grill and use a vacuum cleaner to clean inside the wall box. Repeat the same procedure for the return vents.

5) What other benefits are there to air duct cleaning? Your home will be cleaner and require less dusting. Duct cleaning also helps remove odors from your household. The overall air quality will be healthier for you and your family.

Maryland Air Duct Cleaning by HomePro Restoration in Frederick Md.

Call 301 631-5550 now to schedule a dryer duct inspection.

* Preliminary Design Phases
* Controlling Pollutants and Sources
* Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC)
* Moisture Control
* Construction
* Commissioning
* Renovation and Repair
* Operations and Maintenance

The main purposes of a Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) system are to help maintain good indoor air quality through adequate ventilation with filtration and provide thermal comfort. HVAC systems are among the largest energy consumers in schools. The choice and design of the HVAC system can also affect many other high performance goals, including water consumption (water cooled air conditioning equipment) and acoustic.

Air duct cleaning may not seem like a vital part of owning a home or an apartment in Germantown, but when it comes to the air duct, if it is not cleaned regularly and properly, there can be costly and grave effects as a result. More and more, we are learning about air pollution and its negative aspects. One of the ways in which the indoor air of a Germantown home can be improved in quality would be to have the air ducts cleaned. This eliminates or reduces the dust and other pollutants within the heating and cooling units of a home. Many homeowners in Germantown understand that this process is important in terms of the upkeep and the quality of the indoor home environment. Furnace cleaning is a major part of the duct cleaning process.

There are a number of different components that make up the heating and cooling system of the home. When a person in Germantown comes in to provide air duct cleaning services, they need to make sure that they clean all the pieces of the system. If they do not do so when they are performing the air duct cleaning process, then there will still be some dirty and dusty areas within the system. Any potentially positive aspects that the air duct cleaning service in Germantown may have been able to provide would likely be canceled out and negated due to the messy areas that remain.

HomePro Restoration
5715 Industry Ln Frederick Md 21704

Mold Removal Montgomery County Md

“Ducts are clogged with excessive amounts of dust and debris and/or particles are actually released into the home from your 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.

Some research suggests that cleaning heating and cooling system components (e.g., cooling coils, fans and heat exchangers) may improve the efficiency of your system, resulting in a longer operating life, as well as some energy and maintenance cost savings. However, little evidence exists that cleaning only the ducts will improve the efficiency of the system.

You may consider having your air ducts cleaned simply because it seems logical that air ducts will get dirty over time and should be occasionally cleaned. Provided that the cleaning is done properly, no evidence suggests that such cleaning would be detrimental. EPA does not recommend that the air ducts be cleaned routinely, but only as needed. If a service provider or advertiser asserts that EPA recommends routine duct cleaning or makes claims about its health benefits, you should write EPA. EPA does, however, recommend that if you have a fuel burning furnace, stove or fireplace, they be inspected for proper functioning and serviced before each heating season to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning.”

Air Duct Cleaning Company
If you do decide to have your home air ducts cleaned, take the same consumer precautions you normally would in assessing the service provider’s competence and reliability.

An air duct cleaning in Maryland, HomePro Restoration provides a video camera to allow you to see inside your home or office heating and air conditioning air ducts for before and after visual inspection.

HomePro Restoration
5715 Industry Ln Frederick Md 21704

Mold Removal Montgomery County Md

Prices advertised on air duct cleaning, it it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Maryland Air Duct Cleaning http://www.homeprorestoration.com

Air duct cleaning companies are not created equal.

How come you guys are so expensive? I’m looking at a coupon right now and this company’s offering to do the same work for less than half of Airwiz’ price!”

Dear Friends,

I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve heard these words on the phone!

Well-meaning homeowners, about to be suckered by the oldest con in the world! An advertisement with a price that’s too good to be true, offered by a predatory business owner looking for an easy mark!

Strong words? You bet they are, and for good reason. There’s not a week that goes by that I don’t receive a phone call from someone who has been taken by these kinds of promotions. Not for pocket change, but for hundreds and hundreds of dollars.

I’ve prepared this report, to inform you about how this shameful practice works and hope it will make you a savvier consumer. Feel free to call me anytime with questions or comments.

Bait & Switch – “Oh the Tangled Web”

Bait advertising is an alluring but fraudulent offer to sell a service which the advertiser has no intention of providing. The primary aim of a bait advertisement is to obtain leads as to persons interested in the service offered. The “Bait” is a low price that they have no intention of honoring.

While the salesman was performing an “Inspection” the helper was getting the equipment set-up, making it very difficult for you to ask them to stop.

The estimate below was given to me by one or our customers. This is a carpet cleaner offering a “Whole House Duct Clean” for $89.00. Look at the total – $1,009.75!

When the customer said no, the tech called the “Boss” at his office. He said what a nice lady she was and asked if they couldn’t, “Find some way to give her a discount?”

The “Boss” and salesman argued for a few minutes and, unbelievably, offered to do the entire job for just $450. When she insisted they get out of her house, the now very un-friendly man demanded a $60.00 estimating fee before he would leave.

This is exactly how the system works. Every step is planned and rehearsed, and then the customer is expected to feel like they received a great deal with the “Discount” offered by the salesman.

HomePro Restoration
5715 Industry Ln Frederick Md 21704

Mold Removal Montgomery County Md

You may be familiar with air ducts that are constructed of sheet metal. However, many modern residential air duct systems are constructed of fiber glass duct board or sheet metal ducts that are lined on the inside with fiber glass duct liner. Since the early 1970′s, a significant increase in the use of flexible duct, which generally is internally lined with plastic or some other type of material, has occurred. The use of insulated duct material has increased due to improved temperature control, energy conservation, and reduced condensation. Internal insulation provides better acoustical (noise) control. Flexible duct is very low cost. These products are engineered specifically for use in ducts or as ducts themselves, and are tested in accordance with standards established by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Many insulated duct systems have operated for years without supporting significant mold growth. Keeping them reasonably clean and dry is generally adequate.

However, there is substantial debate about whether porous insulation materials (e.g., fiber glass) are more prone to microbial contamination than bare sheet metal ducts. If enough dirt and moisture are permitted to enter the duct system, there may be no significant difference in the rate or extent of microbial growth in internally lined or bare sheet metal ducts. However, treatment of mold contamination on bare sheet metal is much easier.

Cleaning and treatment with an EPA-registered biocide are possible. Once fiberglass duct liner is contaminated with mold, cleaning is not sufficient to prevent re-growth and there are no EPA-registered biocides for the treatment of porous duct materials. EPA, NADCA, and NAIMA all recommend the replacement of wet or moldy fiber glass duct material.

In the meantime…

Experts do agree that moisture should not be present in ducts and if moisture and dirt are present, the potential exists for biological contaminants to grow and be distributed throughout the home. Controlling moisture is the most effective way to prevent biological growth in all types of air ducts.

Correct any water leaks or standing water.

Remove standing water under cooling coils of air handling units by making sure that drain pans slope toward the drain.

If humidifiers are used, they must be properly maintained.

Air handling units should be constructed so that maintenance personnel have easy, direct access to heat exchange components and drain pans for proper cleaning and maintenance.

Fiber glass, or any other insulation material that is wet or visibly moldy (or if an unacceptable odor is present) should be removed and replaced by a qualified heating and cooling system contractor.

Citation: United States Environmental Protection Agency

Why wonder what’s inside your home air conditioning air ducts?
Want to see before you decide?
Montgomery County Maryland air duct cleaning service HomePro Restoration employs a state of the art video camera allowing you to see what is or isn’t inside your heating and air conditioning air ducts.

HomePro Restoration
5715 Industry Ln Frederick Md 21704

Mold Removal Montgomery County Md

According to the EPA, indoor air is found to be up to 70 times more polluted than outdoor air. Air duct cleaning by Interior Maintenance Company removes airborne contaminates such as bacteria, fungus, mold spores, pet dander & pollen which may help to alleviate allergy & asthma symptoms.

Extended Equipment Life

9 out of 10 system failures are caused by dirt and dust according to the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service. One of the functions of the fan, located inside of your air handler, is to keep the heat exchanger cool. Accumulated dirt and debris can reduce the CFM (cubic feet of air per minute) as much as 50%! This is the most common cause of cracks in heat exchangers. By having your system cleaned by IMC, you may prevent pre-mature breakdown & aging of your heating and cooling system.

Reduce Dusting

Source removal by Air Duct Cleaning can help to reduce household dust by removing the dust where it travels most – through your air duct system.

Energy Savings

According to the EPA, a build up of only .042 inches of dirt on a heating coil can result in a decrease of efficiency of 21%. A clean air conveyance system provided by IMC may help to increase efficiency and therefore may help to reduce heating and cooling costs

HomePro Restoration
5715 Industry Ln Frederick Md 21704

Mold Removal Montgomery County Md

The cost of a residential or commercial air duct cleaning in Maryland can depend on several things, but some of the major factors include: the size of the home to be serviced, the number of units that need to be cleaned, how regularly the units are used and how much dirt is built up in the ducts.

Your heat had been running constantly, all the way through a rough, long winter. Now your central air conditioning has been running non stop through the dog days of summer. You can t remember when the last time you had your air ducts cleaned was, but you know it s been quite a while. You know that it needs to be done, but you don t know how to find the right person to do it and you really haven t the foggiest idea of how much it should cost you. Your heating ducts and air conditioning ducts are usually one and the same, in the industry these are known as HVAC or heating, ventilating and air conditioning.

The cost of a Maryland air duct cleaning can depend on several things, but some of the major factors include: the size of the home to be serviced, the number of units that need to be cleaned, how regularly the units are used and how much dirt is built up in the ducts.

One thing is for sure though, you don t want a fly by night contractor performing your work, and you want it done by qualified professionals. So called $99 specials or shady contractors employing “bait and switch tactics“, where they quote you a “too low to be believed” price over the phone and attempt to upsell you to a much higher fee once you’ve invited them to your home or place of business.

A good, complete cleaning, done by a reputable company should probably cost you somewhere between $400 on the low end and $1400 on the high end, mostly depending on the factors mentioned above.

Here are some things that need to be considered when getting an estimate:

If a company’s price quote seems too low, then there is probably a good reason that it seems too low. Maybe the company isn’t licensed, maybe they aren’t insured, or maybe they aren’t using all of the proper and necessary air duct cleaning equipment to do the job the right way.

Make sure that when you are getting estimates that your air duct cleaning will be done by licensed, bonded and insured professionals who are going to be doing all of the work that is customary with a complete air duct cleaning. Make sure that the estimate includes the cleaning of all registers, cleaning of the coils and the fan and the inside of the duct work in its entirety.

The National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warn that consumers should be cautious towards cleaning services who guarantee the positive health benefits of a duct cleaning, because as of yet there is no real proof that a person will become healthier simply by having their air ducts cleaned. The NADCA also warns against cleaning services that offer very low initial costs and promises that your entire job will be completed in less than an hour.

To get a complete and effective cleaning, all of the parts of your air duct system must be tended to with the appropriate equipment this probably won t be the most expensive maintenance procedure that you ll ever have performed on your home, but if an estimate is drastically lower than the low end number mentioned above, there could very well be some kind of catch that could end up costing you a lot more money in the long run.

Saving money is always appealing, getting a great deal on a product or a service is a great feeling, but in the case of someone performing an air duct cleaning on your home, the risk of getting shoddy work for a low price simply isn’t worth it. The heating and air conditioning system of your home is very important, when you have work that needs to be done on your system it should only be performed by qualified, licensed and insured professionals to ensure that the work is done properly the first time. Your duct work is in use almost all year long, even if the lowest estimate that you receive is near the high end of the spectrum, it will be well worth it if you are sure that the work is being done by people who know what they are doing and that your system will run problem free until it s time for another cleaning.

HomePro Restoration
5715 Industry Ln Frederick Md 21704

Mold Removal Montgomery County Md

Call 301 871-2250 now to schedule a dryer duct inspection.
Call Toll Free 1 866 4AIRWIZ ( 1 866 424-7949 )
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