Air Duct Cleaning Scams

 

 Buyer Beware 

 We have all seen the ad ~ $85.00 for whole house air duct cleaning. 

 I saw one today in the value pack for $45.00 for the whole house air duct clean. If that doesn’t put up red flags then something is wrong. How can a company do 4 hours worth of work for $45.00 that means they are making less than ten dollars an hour? 

Do you really think a company can stay in business with that kind of dollar amount? So what’s the scoop, how can they work that way? Here is the answer, they can’t. That truck they show in their add runs about $65,000.00 and the insurance, fuel and maintenance. Don’t be fooled it’s all a scam. 

 They get to your home the price has all kinds of hidden charges, the $45.00 turns into $500.00. 

Read the small print, ask questions about price, what does it include, are there more charges when they come into your home? 

Air duct cleaning with a negative air machine takes about 4 hours in a standard home with one system. Prices should not change a lot with a company that knows their business. 

Companies that come into your home to give a price do so, so that they can up sell extra products or hard sell you into spending more then you need. 

Get the facts. 

Look for a company’s reviews on Dex, BBB, Google or on their own web site. If a company is doing well they will brag about it. What is their guarantee? Do they have the proper insurance? Will they repair damages? 

EcoClean is committed to providing pricing that is easy to understand. We do not have hidden charges or a heavy up sell when we get to your home. Our customers review us on every job in writing. We provide 15 years of experience in air duct cleaning and 100% quality guarantee. 

www.ecocleanairductcleaning.com

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Cleaning a chimney

 

Nothing says home like the crackling warmth of an inviting fire in the fireplace. The scents of the smoke and view of the flames add to the welcoming and homey feel of any room. But using your fireplace responsibly, learning how to clean a chimney and making certain that it is in proper shape and good condition before beginning a season of fires making is a vital part of responsible home maintenance. 

While cleaning a chimney can be done easily by hiring a professional, if you use your chimney on a regular basis, a scheduled cleaning done twice a month is recommended. Since a professional chimney cleaning done this often can prove to be expensive, homeowners may want to learn how to clean a chimney themselves to ensure the safety of their fireplace structure in a more cost effective way. 

However cleaning a chimney, while not difficult, can prove to be one of the messiest home maintenance projects an owner can face. Creosote, the smoke residue caked to the inside of a chimney, will need to be scraped away in order to ensure a safe chimney operation. 

Creosote is a greasy residue which will require special tools and, sometimes, cleaning agents specially formulated for chimney and fireplace cleaning. Other issues of chimney cleaning involve animals nesting. Birds and other animals have been known to make homes in chimneys making a thorough inspection and, if needed, removal of nesting materials from the area necessary. 

The tools you will need include: 

• Chimney brush (check size depending on your size chimney opening)
• Ladder
• Rope
• Heavy duty flashlight
• Tarp
• Duct or heavy tape
• Vacuum 

Below is a guideline to show you how to clean a chimney and fireplace: 

• Inspect the inside using the flashlight. Remove any loose nesting materials and vacuum any ash located inside fireplace.
• Lay vacuum hose inside empty fireplace and seal opening with tarp and tape. Turn on vacuum.
• Stand firmly next to chimney on roof. Insert brush into chimney in a firm up and down motion cleaning sides as the brush moves. If necessary, attach rope to brush for extra reach.
• Repeat twice then inspect again using heavy duty flashlight.
• Remove seal from fireplace inside the house and clean away any loose creosote and ash. 

If you are not satisfied with this initial cleaning, these steps may be repeated as needed until all loose ash and creosote is removed from the chimney. Follow all recommended directions, tools and cleaning methods specific to your type of chimney. Learning how to clean a chimney on your own is a cost effective way to keep your fireplace assembly in safe and proper condition. 

If you have any other questions please feel free to call us. Or to have us come clean your chimney and save yourself the mess and hassle. ww.ecocleanchimneyservice.com 720-299-7782

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Can water drainage hurt my chimney?

 

We had a customer purchase a home that had the chimney pull away from the house. There was a 2” gap between the brick wall and the chimney. Water draining towards the chimney soaks in the ground and undermines the foundation of the chimney. Chimneys are not attached to the house foundation and stand on their own; any movement in the ground from water or bad soil will cause the chimney to move.Keeping water draining away from the home and chimney is good maintenance. There should be a slope in the dirt that you can see away from the foundation all around your house. Water settling around the foundation can cause expensive damage repairs.When a chimney moves from the home it will cause cracks inside the firebox and up the flue. These cracks allow fire and smoke to enter areas in the walls that will catch on fire.Cracks in the hearth and outside brick surface will appear. Chimneys are sealed units that keep the smoke and fire away from combustible materials inside and outside the home.A loose chimney can fall over causing major damage or it will continue to sink unless the problem has been addressed. This is not something you want to put off, it could cost you a lot of money.Putting new support for the foundation and removing the water drainage problem can solve the problem.Once the chimney is supported back to the house then the areas affected need to be grouted back in and sealed from combustible materials. The outside needs to be tuck pointed to the house brick. Repair work needs to be done by a professional and not attempted yourself.www.ecocleanchimneyservice.com

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Why does my new home smell?

 

We had a customer call about a new home that is just 4 years old. When she and her family were in the home they would become sick and get headaches. The family had to leave for few days and while they were gone they felt fine. When they came home they started feeling sick again. This happened on two different occasions. They would leave home feel better. 

After many attempts the home owner got the home builder to admit that there was a cat in the furnace and had been there for weeks before they found the smell. You have to ask yourself how long did they run the furnace during construction and what bacteria is in the duct work ? The contractor said they cleaned it out, but what does that mean?  Did they go thru the duct work or just remove the poor little cat. 

This is an extreme case but cleaning the duct work did the job for this home owner and the headaches went away. 

New construction can have more debris in it then a 50 year old home. The ducting is a convenient area to get rid of trash, dust, drywall, etc…  you get the idea. Once in the ducting the bacteria, mold and mildew grow on the debris. Once you have added A/C to the system then you are adding more moisture to the ducting, or if you have a humidifier, you are putting even more moisture in the system year round. 

Cleaning out the duct work removes all the debris and the bacteria from the duct work. The smells leave without using chemicals. Adding chemicals to a duct system does not help remove the smell and can add to the headaches because of the toxins left behind. Removing all the debris from a system is safe for your family and can greatly increase your health. 

www.ecocleanhomeservices.com

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Residential Furnace Maintenance

 

Why should you clean your furnace? 

A furnace is the heart of your system. The furnace draws air with the blower and pushes it across the heat exchanger for heating and into the ducting, if you have A/C the air is cooled. When the furnace components’ get dirty it takes more power and effort to complete this task. Making your system less efficient. 

 A clean furnace will burn the fuel more efficiently when the burners are cleaned and remove the carbon build up. Just like maintaining your car, oil changes, tire pressure; washing the dirt off a furnace a components’ that get dirty. The heat exchanger is an area that carbon builds up and if not cleaned the carbon over heats and will allow the heat exchanger to crack. 

The burners mix the air and gas when they are dirty the ratio gets changed and the fuel is not burning clean – increasing your heat bills. 

The blower is a big fan that moves the air into trunk lines and from there the air travels to each room. The blower gets dirty and each of the fins carries dirt and can clog up if not cleaned. 

A clean furnace will operate more efficiently and last longer. Having the furnace checked each year is a small investment compared to replacing the furnace. 

Plus, your furnace will produce stronger air flow when it is cleaned and will operate better during each cycle.  

 www.EcoCleanAirDuctCleaning.com

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Indoor Environment Education

  Indoor Environment Education

    When homes and buildings are sealed, contaminates such as bacteria, mold & viruses can build up. The environment cannot breathe. In addition, chemicals and fumes from paints, cleaners, glues, carpets, furniture, pesticides, smoke, odors and airborne participles are a continuous danger to human health and life.    EcoClean Pure Air Solutions can test the air in your home. We also have the technology to actively remove all the bacteria in the home.

Did you know? 

*According to the World Health Organization, 40% of all buildings are a serious health hazard due to their polluted air.
*The EPA studies indicate that indoor levels of air pollution may be 2 to 5 times higher than outdoor levels.
 *Indoor pollutant levels can reach 100 times that of outdoor levels when we effectively seal or homes even tighter from elements during the winter months.
 *High levels of indoor air pollutants may be of particular concern because most people spend up to 90% of their time indoors.
 *Dangers like MRSA, and other bacteria and viruses are very much a part of our indoor health concerns. They can be found in the air, and on all the surfaces. The traditional process of cleaning with chemicals has added to the overall problem. These chemicals are being absorbed through the skin.

Our SOLUTION   –   

1St  get your air ducts cleaned!

Then use the FRESH AIR TECHNOLOGY PURIFIER   –    with NASA technology, remove & control pollutants.  Not a filter  —  works multiple rooms simultaneously  — controls particulates  -  odors – microbials – mold – bacteria and viruses on surfaces. 

The Fresh Air duplicates “mother nature’s” outdoor process – indoors!

  • The purifiers are always working- sending out safe and natural ions, and germ-killing, odor-reducing, oxygen-rich “scrubbers” to make your home safer and healthier.
  • If you don’t have an air purifier, you and your family’s lungs are the air purifier!

Contact EcoCleanHomeServices.com 720-299-7782

www.ecocleanarductcleaning.com

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Chimney Maintenance

Yearly maintenance of your chimney looks for creosote buildup and inspects the condition of the exterior brick and interior fire brick. Allowing your fireplace to build up creosote will cause the flue to build up heat in the creosote and can cause a fire in the flue. Cracks in the brick will allow moisture to get in and cause the mortar to decay and loosen up the bricks. This will cause your fire place chimney to become weak.

 

Heat damage in fire box

Chimney repair can be costly and this can be avoided by yearly maintenance. Maintenance will allow the chimney flue to back draft properly and keep the smoke out of your home.

The 2004 Residential Fire Loss Estimates released by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission in July 2007 states that on average there are 25,700 fireplace, chimney,
or chimney connector residential fires annually resulting in 30 deaths with over $137 million dollars in property loss. Do not become a part of these statistics.
 Taking care of your chimney in a building or home will add value to your property. Chimney’s can be lined with an insert or refaced with cement for brick and mortar.

www.ecocleanchimneyservice.com

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Indoor Air Quality and Air Duct Cleaning

Did you know, according to the EPA the indoor air quality is the #1 environmental health concern?

The indoor air we breathe is up to 70% more polluted than the outdoor air. Indoor air quality is so important because we spend up to 90% of our time indoors.

The average home collects about 40 pounds of dust, dander, hair, pollen, and bacteria a year, including what is in your air duct system.

And 9 out of 10 ventilation system failures are caused by that dust and dirt build up.

So remember, just because you can’t see it or smell it does not mean it is not dangerous to you and your families health!

The first step is to get your air ducts cleaned by a quality air duct cleaner like EcoClean, then get an air purifier to keep the air in your home cleaner!

www.EcoCleanAirDuctCleaning.com

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Understanding Indoor Air Pollutants

Understanding Indoor Air Pollutants ~ A host of different biological, gas, and particulate pollutants can affect the indoor air quality. The types of contaminants and the amounts of pollutants that are suspended in the air determine air quality.

Biological Air Pollutants ~ Biological pollutants are or were living organisms. While all of us are exposed to biological pollutants in one form or another, the effects on our health depend upon the type and amount of biological pollution and the individual person. Two conditions are essential to support biological growth – nutrients and moisture. Keeping an area clean and dry is the best method to prevent biological air pollutants.

Common biological air pollutants: • Pet Hair & Pet Dander • Mold • Dust Mites • Pollen • Insect parts

Chemical & Gas Air Pollutants ~ Chemical and gas pollutants are the most hazardous of all air pollutants as they are often odorless, tasteless and invisible. Ensuring proper exhaust, using building products with low levels of volatile organic compounds, and prohibiting smoking indoors are the best methods for preventing chemical and gas air pollutants.

Common chemical & gas pollutants: • Carbon Monoxide • Radon • Smoke • Building Materials with volatile organic compounds

Particulate Air Pollutants ~ Particulate air pollutants are particulates that have the ability to become air born when disrupted. The size of particles is directly linked to their potential for causing health problems. Particles that are 10 micrometers in diameter or smaller are of greatest concern because they can pass through the throat and nose and enter the lungs. Some people are extremely sensitive to these pollutants. Good house keeping and construction containment practices are the best methods for lowering particulate air pollutants.

Common particulate air pollutants: • Drywall • Fiberglass • Concrete • Carpet fibers • Sawdust Cleaning your air ducts and a quality air purifier are great ways to reduce or eliminate the pollutants in your home or office.

Cleaning your air ducts and a quality air purifier are great ways to reduce or eliminate the pollutants in your home or office.  www.EcoCleanAirDuctCleaning.com

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10 Steps to insure good air quality

10 Steps to Ensure Good Indoor Air Quality

  1. Vent bathrooms, kitchens, toilets and laundry rooms directly outdoors.  Use energy efficient and quiet fans.
  2. Avoid locating furnaces, air conditioners and ductwork in garages or other spaces where they can inadvertently draw contaminants into the house.
  3. Properly vent fireplaces, wood stoves, and other hearth products; use tight doors and outdoor air intakes when possible.
  4. Vent cloths dryers and central vacuum cleaners directly outdoors.
  5. Store toxic or volatile compounds such as paints, solvents, cleaners, and pesticides out of the occupiable space.
  6. Minimize or avoid unvented combustion sources such as candles, cigarettes, indoor barbecues, decorative combustion appliances or vent free heaters.
  7. Provide operable windows to accommodate unusual sources or high-polluting events, such as the use of home cleaning products, hobby activities, etc.
  8. Use sealed-combustion, power-vented or condensing water heaters and furnaces.  When natural-draft applications must be used, they should be tested for proper venting and should be located outside the occupied space when possible.
  9. Put a good particle filter or air cleaner in your air handling system to keep dirt out of the air and off your ductwork and heating and cooling components.
  10. Distribute a minimum level of outdoor air throughout the home using whole-house mechanical ventilation.

Source: ASHRAE Standard 62.2 Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality on Low-Rise Residential Buildings, and 2001 ASHRAE Handbook, Fundamentals, Chapter 26, Ventilation and Infiltration. Ductworks.

www.EcoCleanAirDuctCleaning.com

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