Here is a great introduction video from one of our fellow franchisees - it really gives an excellent overview on what DUCTZ can do for you! Visit the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cg6lRLgNJGA&feature=related and call us at 623-466-8625 to schedule your client's free, indoor air quality assessment. Vince
Arizona DUCTZ Indoor Air Professionals Owner Stresses Importance of Indoor Air Quality When Spring Cleaning Glendale, AZ February 26, 2009 - 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 in the Arizona area. 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). Vince Divarco, owner of the local DUCTZ Indoor Air Professionals, advises residents of Arizona that spring is an excellent time to improve their indoor air quality.
According to Divarco, 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. Divarco 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, are licensed in Arizona to clean residential and commercial air duct systems, 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 Divarco. "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 Vince Divarco at 623-466-8625.
It's February! And like me, I'm sure the first thing you think of in February is your clothes dryer vent. (not...)
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 North Phoenix and Deer Valley at 623-466-8625 to schedule a professional dryer vent cleaning service today. It's an inexpensive way to keep your loved ones and clients safe.
Happy Dryer Vent Safety Awareness Month from DUCTZ of North Phoenix and Deer Valley!
Every fall around this time of year the temperature inversions start outdoors. Basically, the inversion is a layer of separating warm and cold air that traps particulate and keeps it close to the ground (this is what causes the noticible "brown haze" that you see driving into many Southwest cities such as Phoenix or Tucson). Here is a good article from the Tucson paper talking about the outdoor air quality http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/266628.php .
DUCTZ of North Phoenix and Deer Valley is licensed by the Registrar of Contractors to clean residential and commercial duct work in the State of Arizona. In addition, we are members in good standing with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and certified by NADCA (National Air Duct Cleaners Association).
PRESS RELEASE- WASHINGTON, DC October 10th, 2008 The HVAC Inspection, Maintenance and Restoration Association say that October is "Time to Vent" for homeowners and building managers. In other words, it's a good time of year to take the vent cover off of your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system and take a look inside to see how dirty the ductwork that brings the air to your lungs has gotten over the past year... Read the rest of the release here - good info for your home buying clients!
http://www.merchantcircle.com/blogs/DUCTZ.Indoor.Air.Professionals.623-466-8625
Local DUCTZ Owner recommends ventilation system inspection as part of improving indoor air quality
Glendale, AZ, Sept 12 2008 - According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), poor indoor air quality has a negative effect on students nationwide, and could be affecting students in the Phoenix area.
The EPA reports that poor indoor air quality increases student absenteeism, decreases student and staff concentration and student performance, and raises the risk of indoor-air-quality-related health conditions such as asthma and respiratory illnesses.
As the new school year commences, Vince Divarco, owner of DUCTZ Indoor Air Professionals of North Phoenix and Deer Valley urges parents, teachers, and administrators in the Phoenix area to provide an optimal learning and teaching environment by seeing that measures are taken to improve the indoor air quality of schools.
According to the EPA, maintaining properly functioning heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems is an integral part to providing students with good indoor air quality. Coinciding with suggestions by the EPA, DUCTZ recommends taking the following measures to help improve the functioning of a schools' HVAC system:
Call a professional who specializes in HVAC system restoration to inspect the school's HVAC system for any elements that could aid in the deterioration of indoor air quality.
See that HVAC filters are changed on regular basis to prevent contaminant sources from entering the building.
"Improving our schools' indoor air quality benefits everyone involved," said Divarco. "Phoenix area parents should insist that their children's school has its HVAC system inspected before the beginning of every school year. It is an easy step that can benefit our students in a large way."
To schedule service for a school, business, or residential HVAC system please call Vince Divarco at 623-466-8625 or visit www.ductz.com.
DUCTZ of North Phoenix and Deer Valley is licensed by the Registrar of Contractors to clean and restore residential and commercial duct work in the State of Arizona. In addition, we are members in good standing with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and NADCA (National Air Duct Cleaners Association).
We at DUCTZ of North Phoenix and Deer Valley would like to thank all First Responders on this Patriots Day 2008. We appreciate your dedication to our welfare and well being and we couldn't do this without you!
I was asked by a consumer yesterday why it is important to have their home services done by a NADCA certified Indoor Air Quality company. Here is the response I gave her (from the NADCA website):
NADCA Members have signed a Code of Ethics stating they will do everything possible to protect the consumer, and follow NADCA Standards for cleaning to the best of their ability. Air duct cleaning companies must meet stringent requirements to become a NADCA Member. Among those requirements, all NADCA Members must have certified Air System Cleaning Specialists (ASCS) on staff, who have taken and passed the NADCA Certification Examination. Passing the exam demonstrates extensive knowledge in HVAC design and cleaning methodologies. ASCS's are also required to further their industry education by attending seminars in order to maintain their NADCA certification status. (View our Code of Ethics here: http://www.nadca.com/consumerinformation/codeofethics.aspx )
DUCTZ of North Phoenix and Deer Valley is licensed by the Registrar of Contractors to clean residential and commercial duct work in the State of Arizona. In addition, we are members in good standing with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and NADCA (National Air Duct Cleaners Association).
Asthma Awareness Month Spawns Healthy Advice from Glendale Business Owner
Glendale, AZ, May 8th, 2008 - May is Asthma Awareness Month according the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Vince Divarco, owner of the Phoenix Valley-wide DUCTZ Indoor Air Professionals business, is taking this opportunity to educate Valley residents on the importance of clean indoor air in relation to this serious condition. The EPA states that asthma sent nearly 2 million Americans to the emergency room in the year 2000, and according to the American Lung Association (ALA), poor indoor air quality can aggravate allergies and asthma, and can be up to five times as harmful as outdoor air pollution. Additionally, the ALA cites heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems as a frequent source of the indoor air pollution that can aggravate asthma.
Divarco recognizes the severity of this lung disease and suggests ways to reduce your home's asthma triggers and improve the indoor air quality.
Do not smoke indoors. According to the EPA, secondhand smoke is particularly dangerous to those who suffer from asthma.
Keep your home dust-free. When dusting, the EPA suggests using a damp cloth and making sure all allergy and asthma sufferers have left the area.
Have your HVAC system inspected and, if necessary, cleaned. Mold can trigger asthma attacks for those who are sensitive to it, and if there is substantial mold growth inside the air ducts or other HVAC components, the EPA recommends having the system cleaned. In doing so, make sure to identify and eliminate the source of the mold growth so as to prevent reoccurrence.
Hire a professional. Not all HVAC 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 the National Air Duct Cleaners Association's rigid service standards.
"Asthma is a serious condition that deserves the national attention Asthma Awareness Month provides," said Divarco. "As indoor air professionals, my technicians and I are trained to help consumers improve the quality of their indoor air so that triggers of this disease and many others may be reduced or eliminated."
To schedule DUCTZ service contact Vince Divarco at 623-466-8625 or visit http://www.ductz.com/.
About DUCTZ:
DUCTZ was ranked by Entrepreneur Magazine as the number one duct-cleaning franchise, and 13th top new franchise for 2008. The expertise of DUCTZ reaches beyond simply cleaning air ducts to maximizing overall indoor air quality and providing for a healthier living environment. DUCTZ is headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan with franchise locations nationwide, and is a member of the National Air Duct Cleaner's Association. To improve the indoor air quality of your home or business and create a healthier living environment, please call 1-877-DUCTZ-USA (1-877-382-8987) or visit online at http://www.ductz.com/ .
I was asked a couple of days ago to provide some additional info for a customer that wanted to have her dryer vent preventive maintenance done - She wanted it done, her husband did not.) Here is the document from the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
CPSC Document # 5022 Updated June 2003 The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that in 1998, clothes dryers were associated with 15,600 fires, which resulted in 20 deaths and 370 injuries. Fires can occur when lint builds up in the dryer or in the exhaust duct. Lint can block the flow of air, cause excessive heat build-up, and result in a fire in some dryers.
To help prevent fires:
Clean the lint screen/filter before or after drying each load of clothes. If clothing is still damp at the end of a typical drying cycle or drying requires longer times than normal, this may be a sign that the lint screen or the exhaust duct is blocked.
Clean the dryer vent and exhaust duct periodically. Check the outside dryer vent while the dryer is operating to make sure exhaust air is escaping. If it is not, the vent or the exhaust duct may be blocked. To remove a blockage in the exhaust path, it may be necessary to disconnect the exhaust duct from the dryer. Remember to reconnect the ducting to the dryer and outside vent before using the dryer again.
Clean behind the dryer, where lint can build up. Have a qualified service person clean the interior of the dryer chassis periodically to minimize the amount of lint accumulation. Keep the area around the dryer clean and free of clutter.
Replace plastic or foil, accordion-type ducting material with rigid or corrugated semi-rigid metal duct. Most manufacturers specify the use of a rigid or corrugated semi-rigid metal duct, which provides maximum airflow. The flexible plastic or foil type duct can more easily trap lint and is more susceptible to kinks or crushing, which can greatly reduce the airflow.
Take special care when drying clothes that have been soiled with volatile chemicals such as gasoline, cooking oils, cleaning agents, or finishing oils and stains. If possible, wash the clothing more than once to minimize the amount of volatile chemicals on the clothes and, preferably, hang the clothes to dry. If using a dryer, use the lowest heat setting and a drying cycle that has a cool-down period at the end of the cycle. To prevent clothes from igniting after drying, do not leave the dried clothes in the dryer or piled in a laundry basket.
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Send the link for this page to a friend! Consumers can obtain this publication and additional publication information from the Publications sectionof CPSC's web site or by sending your publication request to info@cpsc.gov.
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