A year from now, what happened to Tom Fendon will be against the law.
The 68-year-old Port Charlotte resident says he responded to a mailed ad he received from Enviro Clean in Nokomis offering a $109.95 air duct-cleaning special.
But while there, Fendon says the Enviro Clean technician stated, "We had a serious mold problem." After some "visual inspection," Fendon says the tech offered to remedy the problem for $3,988.92. That quickly was reduced to $2,348.15 only if Fendon acted on the spot and agreed to pass out the company's business cards.
"I was quite worried," Fendon wrote, "so I decided to go forward." Besides fogging the home, three large vacuuming "air scrubbers," a "negative air machine" and a dehumidifier ran 24/7 for three days. Soon thereafter, Fendon didn't believe there had ever been a verified mold-related health problem in the first place and wanted his money back. He says the company offered only to re-do the job.
Mold. The visible kind is gross, ugly and maybe even smelly. Mold's also in the air. But it's very common and normally not harmful. Mold grows anywhere where there's moisture. With Florida's high humidity, we're living in a virtual petri dish where mold flourishes.
However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes few reports that even toxic molds found inside homes can cause serious health conditions, with allergies being the most common reaction. Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency confirms there are "no regulations or standards for airborne mold contaminants."
That means unless there's a major health concern, the mere existence of mold in the home is not justification to have it removed. But with little understanding of the subject and an unregulated industry, consumers currently have little protection.
That's all changing. Effective July 2010, mold assessors and remediators become regulated in Florida. Besides a license that requires testing and recertification, an assessor or inspector can't perform any remediation repairs, eliminating an obvious conflict of interest.
Enviro Clean's manager, Matthew McGinley, confirms it does both. "If there's visible mold and the customer requests it, we'll remove it," he said. The problem is most consumers equate mold with danger, without knowing if it really is. McGinley says airborne testing is only done at the customer's request. However, he says Fendon's file will be reopened for a full review. "This will be resolved," he emphasized.
Consumers concerned with a potential mold problem should hire a professionally trained and credentialed inspector to take airborne samples to be analyzed by a recognized laboratory. The CDC says consultants should, "establish criteria for interpreting the test results" and "tell you in advance what recommendations they will make based on the sampling results." If needed, hire a separate remediator and require the inspector to return and verify the work was done properly.
The American Indoor Air Quality Council operates independent, third-party accredited certification programs including residential mold inspectors (CIE) and remediators (CMR). You can do a ZIP code search for credentialed contractors at www.iaqcouncil.org, or call 800-942-0832.
Air duct cleaning -- "which requires at least a partial disassembly of the system" -- currently requires an air-conditioning contractor's license with Florida's Department of Business and Professional Regulation, according to DPBR's Alexis Antonacci. Always ask to see and verify that license.
According to Antonacci, neither Enviro Clean nor its corporate entity, Authorized Cleaning & Restoration, have the required license. "We encourage consumers to report unlicensed activity or suspected unlicensed activity by calling 866-532-1440 or visiting www.MyFloridaLicense.com."
A good place to start looking for air duct cleaners is with the National Air Duct Cleaners Association at www.nadca.com. Click "consumer information" and then "member search."
DUCTZ Indoor Air Professionals stresses importance of indoor air quality when spring cleaning
The long winter months with closed up homes and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems working over-time can result in an optimal breeding ground for contaminants. Come spring, many homeowners are eager to throw open the windows, scrub the floors and breathe fresh air, but what many fail to realize is that their indoor air may be preventing optimal cleanliness. In fact, indoor air quality is ranked among the top five environmental risks to public health, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). DUCTZ Indoor Air Professionals, which was featured on the Telly Award winning program Designing Spaces in January, advises homeowners that spring is an excellent time to improve their indoor air quality.
According to DUCTZ, the following are steps that can be taken to improve indoor air quality during spring cleaning:
1. Change the air filter. According to American Lung Association maintenance is key when it comes to air filters, though many homeowners disregard the importance of this type of maintenance. DUCTZ strongly recommends strictly adhering to the manufacturer's guidelines regarding the frequency of changing or cleaning the air filter. If you can't remember the last time the filter was changed...then it's time to replace it.
2. Have your entire HVAC system inspected and, if necessary, cleaned. Multiple components of your HVAC system, including the ductwork, can trap contaminants and contribute to poor indoor air quality if not kept in proper working order. According to the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA), if there is visible dust, dirt or debris within the ductwork, your HVAC system likely needs to be cleaned.
3. Hire a professional. Not all duct cleaning companies can or should be trusted. An HVAC system cleaning that is not done correctly can actually make a home's indoor air quality worse. DUCTZ Indoor Air Professionals, unlike many competitors, guarantees its work and adheres strictly to NADCA's rigid service standards.
"There's no better time than spring to have your HVAC system inspected and cleaned," said John Rotche, President of DUCTZ Indoor Air Professionals. "Clean indoor air provides for a cleaner home, and goes hand-in-hand with the spring cleaning initiatives that families already take annually."
To schedule DUCTZ service please visit www.ductz.com or call 508-435-1900 or 877.DUCTZ.USA.
DUCTZ Indoor Air Professionals stresses importance of indoor air quality when spring cleaning
Ann Arbor, Mich., March 25, 2008 -
The long winter months with closed up homes and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems working over-time can result in an optimal breeding ground for contaminants. Come spring, many homeowners are eager to throw open the windows, scrub the floors and breathe fresh air, but what many fail to realize is that their indoor air may be preventing optimal cleanliness. In fact, indoor air quality is ranked among the top five environmental risks to public health, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). DUCTZ Indoor Air Professionals, which was featured on the Telly Award winning program Designing Spaces in January, advises homeowners that spring is an excellent time to improve their indoor air quality.
According to DUCTZ, the following are steps that can be taken to improve indoor air quality during spring cleaning:
1. Change the air filter. According to American Lung Association maintenance is key when it comes to air filters, though many homeowners disregard the importance of this type of maintenance. DUCTZ strongly recommends strictly adhering to the manufacturer's guidelines regarding the frequency of changing or cleaning the air filter. If you can't remember the last time the filter was changed...then it's time to replace it.
2. Have your entire HVAC system inspected and, if necessary, cleaned. Multiple components of your HVAC system, including the ductwork, can trap contaminants and contribute to poor indoor air quality if not kept in proper working order. According to the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA), if there is visible dust, dirt or debris within the ductwork, your HVAC system likely needs to be cleaned.
3. Hire a professional. Not all duct cleaning companies can or should be trusted. An HVAC system cleaning that is not done correctly can actually make a home's indoor air quality worse. DUCTZ Indoor Air Professionals, unlike many competitors, guarantees its work and adheres strictly to NADCA's rigid service standards.
"There's no better time than spring to have your HVAC system inspected and cleaned," said John Rotche, President of DUCTZ Indoor Air Professionals. "Clean indoor air provides for a cleaner home, and goes hand-in-hand with the spring cleaning initiatives that families already take annually."
To schedule DUCTZ service please visit www.ductz.com or call 508-435-1900 or 877.DUCTZ.USA.
It's February! And like me, I'm sure the first thing you think of in February is your clothes dryer vent.
That's right it's Dryer Vent Safety Awareness Month. What you might not know is that according to the latest studies done by the US Fire Administration, each year clothes dryers are responsible for over 12,000 fires.
It's bad enough these fires cause $88 million in damages to property annually. However, the real tragedy is that dryer fires are to blame for an estimated 300 injuries and 15 deaths each year. The majority of these incidents occur during the coldest months of the year.
The number one cause of dryer fires is an excessive build up of lint. So, how can you possibly know when your dryer is becoming dangerous? Signs you may need dryer vent cleaning include:
· Loads of laundry taking longer than normal to dry · Clothes not being fully dry after a normal cycle · Clothes being hotter than usual after a drying cycle · Condensation on the vent pipe
Some simple maintenance can greatly reduce the likelihood of you suffering the devastation of a dryer fire. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) provides the following recommendations to help maintain a safe dryer vent.
· Once a year have the lint cleaned out of the vent pipe · Do not operate the dryer without a lint filter · Clean the lint filter before or after each use · Rigid or flexible metal vent pipe should be used (no vinyl) · Avoid overloading the dryer · Make sure the exhaust vent pipe is open and has no obstructions when the dryer is operating · Never leave a dryer running when you leave home or go to bed
DUCTZ is trained and qualified to maintain your dryer vent. Hotels, nursing homes, apartment complexes, pet hospitals and countless home owners have trusted DUCTZ to clean their dryer vents.
If you notice any of the warning signs listed above or if you have not had your dryer vent cleaned in the past year, please call DUCTZ of Metrowest at 508-435-1900 to schedule a professional dryer vent cleaning service today. It's an inexpensive way to keep you and your loved ones safe.
Happy Dryer Vent Safety Awareness Month from DUCTZ of Metrowest
I was recently looking at different information on the internet regarding asthma and the triggers that can cause an asthma attack. I found an interesting article and several resources on the Environmental Protection Agency's website.
As Americans we spend up to 90% of our time indoors. Therefore, indoor allergens and irritants can play a significant role in triggering asthma attacks. It is important to recognize potential asthma triggers in the indoor environment and reduce your exposure to those triggers.
You may not be affected by all of the triggers listed on their link. Your doctor can help you to determine which triggers affect your asthma and develop a specific plan to reduce your triggers. Two of the triggers that I noted were:
DUCTZ can help reduce your expose to certain triggers by removing cockroaches, bugs, pests, rodents, pet hair and pet dander from air ducts and heating and cooling systems.
***BUT PLEASE NOTE***, if you do not have your system cleaned properly, it's likely that your problems may be worse than they were before the improper cleaning.
Call DUCTZ and I will show you, in detail, how your air ducts and heating and cooling system is supposed to be cleaned. You will receive a personalized assessment of your air quality and an inspection of your air ducts and heating and cooling system. All of this at no charge.
And if you choose to have DUCTZ of Metrowest clean your system, I give you my guarantee that your air ducts and heating and cooling system will be cleaned the right way.
Sincerely,
Andy Piacentini from DUCTZ of Metrowest servicing Boston to Worcester Ma.
Thereareseveralfactorsthataffectcostandtimeestimates: type of ductwork, size of the system, system accessibility, the number of crew members, level of contamination, and even environmental factors. Properly cleaning an HVAC system in an average-sized home may cost upward of $1000 USD.
Beware of advertisements that have "whole house specials" for very low prices. Many of them only include the main ducts and charge extra for the air handler, blower, fans, coils, registers, and cutting access. Upon arrival many of these companies then up-charge to excessive amounts.
What you need to know about duct cleaning Air Duct Cleaning is a misnomer. In actuality, the entire HVAC system should be cleaned. Failure to clean all components of the system can result in re-contamination of the entire system, thus minimizing the benefits of cleaning. Just as you wouldn't only clean half of your living room floor, you would also not want to clean only part of your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. NADCA and DUCTZ of Metrowest recommends cleaning the entire HVAC system, including the following components: Air ducts, Coils, Drain pan, Registers, Grills, Air plenum, Blower motor and assembly, Heat exchanger, and Air Filter.
Call DUCTZ of Metrowest to answer any questions about Air Duct Cleaning 508-435-1900
As you may have heard or read this weekend, a mother in Lexington died as a result of a dryer fire.
State Fire Marshal Stephen Coan noted in a Globe article that dryer fires are not uncommon in Massachusetts. In 2006, there were 87 such fires, 72 of which occurred in homes. Altogether the fires caused $500,000 in damage, he said.
While many were caused by mechanical malfunctions, about 20 percent occurred because people failed to clean the dryer lint screen. In addition to cleaning the lint screen, Coan said, state officials recommend cleaning the vent pipe that channels hot air from the dryer outside at least twice a year.
Lint is extremely flammable, Coan said. Brown is the second person to die in recent years as the result of a dryer fire. Coan said yesterday's Lexington fire appeared to have started in the vent pipe and smoldered for hours before spreading to the wooden exterior of the house.
Indications that your dryer vent may be clogged or unsafe:
Excessive lint / dust accumulating in the dryer area.
You need to run the dryer more than one cycle to dry clothes.
In addition, vinyl dryer vent hoses should be replaced with metal or metal flex piping immediately as vinyl is highly flammable.
If you would like your dryer vent cleaned or vinyl hose replaced, give me a call.
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
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