CONSUMER GUIDE BEFORE CHOOSING AN AIR DUCT CLEANER

Having a thorough cleaning of your entire duct system can ensure you breathe cleaner air, reduce the costs associated with heating and cooling your home, and help increase the life of your heating and cooling equipment.

If you haven't had experience with hiring a company to clean your ductwork, you may have no idea how to tell if someone has the knowledge and equipment necessary to properly clean your complete heating and cooling system. You may have doubts when they tell you "we can do it right-it's not a problem".

At No.1 cleaners we do something very unique for our industry. We believe it's our responsibility to explain to you how to get the most value for your money. we alert you about the scams people can get caught in and how to avoid them.

We all get them - those INCREDIBLY LOW coupon offers to clean your air ducts for $19.00 to $99.00 “whole house cleaning” with unlimited vents!!! Does this sound too good to be true? If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Many customers have called us while some of these "bait-and-switch" companies were still in their homes asking us if we would be able to offer a second opinion. These customers had succumbed to an enticing offer like, "Whole House Package-$19.00 to $99.00, Unlimited Vents up to a single furnace."

Several scenarios are repeated over and over. One that we often hear is that these whole house packages actually only pertains to vent or register cleaning with absolutely NO air duct cleaning involved. Some of those ads include only supply vents, what about the return vents? , main ducts? , air handler unit? - The coupon misleads you. When the tech is in the home though, he will offer, "But for a nominal additional charge of $1900.00, we can clean all the air ducts too."

Some of these companies claim to have found MOLD, which will then cost an additional $2400 to clean, and yet if you say "No", they will offer to do it for only $1500, or only $700 after you refuse once again. Does that sound like the kind of sales tactic a reputable company uses? Is that the kind of company you would like to do business with?

Some of these companies have been issued "Cease & Desist" orders by the State of Florida, some of these companies have had memberships revoked with the Better Business Bureau, some of these companies have frequently changed their names to stay one step ahead of whatever, and the Attorney General's office is currently conducting investigations.

So, what about that INCREDIBLY LOW coupon offers? Do not fall prey to their scams. We recommend that you research any company that you decide to invite into your home. Check credentials, see how long the company has been in business, check the company's history with the BBB, inquire whether the company uses employees or subcontractors, find out if the company carries the proper insurances in case a technician steps through your ceiling, and ask if the company warrantees their work.

You should also login to www.bbb.com and www.ripoffreport.com to check about any fraudulent company.

Air Systems Cleaning Specialists

NADCA , a non –profit trade organization, is the backbone of the air duct cleaning industry worldwide. They enforce a code of ethics, establish all of the standards for cleaning procedures for their members on these standards.

Every duct cleaner should be a certified member on NADCA. You can verity that a company is a NADCA member on the web: www.nadca.com

No.1 Carpet &Air Duct Cleaners Inc. is a certified member of the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA).

Here are the benefits to you of hiring No.1 Cleaners, a NADCA Certified Company:

1. No.1 Cleaners works in accordance with Nada's Code of Ethics. In essence, the Code of Ethics verifies that we maintain a high level of ethical behavior and professional performance.
   
2. No.1 Cleaners adheres to Nada's Standards. NADCA continuously develops and researches the HVAC hygiene industry, resulting in the production of industry-wide standards. Since we adhere to NADCA Standards, we are staying abreast of new equipment, technology, and the most cutting-edge cleaning procedures.
   
3. Each and every NADCA Certified company has at least one Air System Cleaning Specialist (ASCS) on staff. For an individual to earn the ASCS distinction, an exam must be passed. To remain an ASCS, the certified individual must earn 12 Continuing Education Credits (CEC's) over two years. Thus, the individual is constantly remaining up-to-date on developments within the HVAC hygiene industry.
   
4. Perhaps the most important reason that you should choose No.1 Cleaners to perform your HVAC cleaning is that we only apply source removal methods. NADCA Certified companies do not recommend "dust abatement" or "chemical encapsulation" as an HVAC cleaning method. Source removal is the most effective and thorough HVAC cleaning method. Source removal methods employ vacuum units, compressed air, mechanical and hand brushes and other tools to loosen dirt and debris and convey it to a containment device for proper disposal.

As a homeowner or business owner, rest assured that when you choose No.1 Cleaners as your HVAC Cleaning Professional, you are getting the best!

N.A.D.C.A. Code of Ethics

Each NADCA Certified company works in accordance with NADCA's Code of Ethics. In essence, the Code of Ethics verifies that each NADCA Certified company maintains a high level of ethical behavior and professional performance.

Preamble

This Code of Ethics signifies voluntary recognition by members of the National Air Duct Cleaners Association of the responsibilities and obligations of professional self-discipline above and beyond the requirements of the law.

The purpose of the code is to inform the public that NADCA members intend to maintain a high level of ethical behavior and professional performance. In return for the faith and trust that the public places in them, members accept the responsibility and the obligation to conduct their business practices in a way that will be beneficial to the public. This Code of Ethics gives our customers a basis for believing that members will do their best to perform their services with high standards of competence and integrity.

The code expresses the standards of professional conduct expected of member firms and their employees in their relationships with clients, colleagues, members of allied trades, and the general public. The code is mandatory in character and serves as a basis for disciplinary action when the conduct of a member firm falls below the required standards as stated in the code.

Code of Ethics

In recognition of their obligation to the public and the profession, NADCA members have agreed to comply with the following articles:

We will serve our customers with integrity and competence.

We will perform our work using Source Removal methods.

We will be honest and forthright in our advertising.

We will provide our clients with accurate inspections and evaluations of the cleanliness and physical condition of their HVAC systems, using this information to determine the type of cleaning and maintenance services required, if any.

We will provide only necessary and desired services to our clients, and will not use furnace/air duct cleaning as a means of selling unnecessary or unwanted products or services.

We will provide services only after completing the necessary bonding and licensing procedures.

We will utilize the services and products of those who possess specialized skills, tools, or trades not possessed by us when circumstances call for work to be done which we are unable to perform.

We will stay abreast of new developments in technology, tools of the trade, building codes, the Uniform Mechanical Code, and any other codes or information that directly affects our work.

We will require that all employees of our firm practice furnace/air duct cleaning in accordance with NADCA Guidelines and the Code of Ethics.

We will perform our services in accordance with the current published Standards of the association.

FAQ

What makes your service different than these cheap coupons/ads I see?

Almost all our competitors charge less than we do.

This is because almost none of them do what we do. The others do not have the equipment we have, the technician team we have assembled and trained and had certified by NADCA, and the "Source Removal" procedures that we use on every single job we do. It would be very rare for any of our competitors to spend as much time on a job as our technicians are expected to. We typically take between two and three hours to complete an air duct cleaning, even with no extras. Four to six hours on larger homes. All of our technicians know that they have unqualified support from management to take as much time as it takes to deliver an absolutely thorough and complete cleaning at every job. If our people fall short of that ideal, for any reason, we make it right with the customer. We accept nothing less than a complete and thorough job for every customer. Period.

Admittedly, a few local providers have one or two of the characteristics mentioned in the previous paragraph. But nobody has the whole package like we do.

We actually charge as little as we can and still do the job we do. If it turns out that you do hire us to do your home, if you're like most of our customers, you'll come back to us again and again as the years go by, because then you will have that first-hand confidence of getting a job well done when it is No.1 Cleaners doing the work.

What is the different between power vac equipment to portable one ?

Using a 38HP gas engine with a massive power of suction, up to 10,000 c.f.m. (cubic feet of air per minute)	Works like a shop vac machine using 110 volt electric power, with only 700-900 c.f.m.
Clean the entire system, we can fit through any size ductwork and every turn of the system (using one inch or less of air washing tools).	Most of the job is done around the opening and a few feet inside the duct, you can not take a 90 degree turn and can not clean the ductwork that are less than 5" in diamter. They use a vacuum hose that has a 3" diameter while most ductwork are about 4" in diamter or less.
Clean job, vacuum unit is outside the house and all the debris is pushed down the duct through the main trunk (not inside the house)	Can be a very messy job, using low power vacuum machine inside the house at time of cleaning is done, when only some of the debris is inside the machine, while the rest of it is left inside the duct system, and will be blown into the house when the unit is turned on.

REMEMBER...
IF OTHER COMPANIES DON'T SHOW YOU WHAT THEY USE - THERE IS A REASON WHY!!! ALWAYS DO YOU AIR DUCT CLEANING WITH PROFESSIONALS!!!

Will HVAC system cleaning reduce our home energy bills?
Research by the U.S. EPA has demonstrated that HVAC system cleaning may allow systems to run more efficiently by removing debris from sensitive mechanical components. Clean, efficient systems are less likely to break down, have a longer life span, and generally operate more effectively than dirty systems.

How should a residential HVAC system be cleaned?
The most effective way to clean air ducts and ventilation systems is to employ Source Removal methods of cleaning. This requires a contractor to place the system under negative pressure, through the use of a specialized, powerful vacuum. While the vacuum draws air through the system, devices are inserted into the ducts to dislodge any debris that might be stuck to interior surfaces. The debris can then travel down the ducts to the vacuum, which removes it from the system and the home.

How often should residential HVAC systems be cleaned?
Frequency of cleaning depends on several factors, not the least of which is the preference of the home owner. Some of the things that may lead a home owner to consider more frequent cleaning include:

• Smokers in the household
• Pets that shed high amounts of hair and dander
• Water contamination or damage to the home or HVAC system
• Residents with allergies or asthma who might benefit from a reduction in the amount of indoor air pollutants in the home's HVAC system.

What criteria should I use in selecting an HVAC system cleaner?
Interview as many local contractors as you can. Ask them to provide a written estimate for the total cost of the job, To narrow down your pool of potential contractors, use the following pre-qualifications:

How long should it take to clean a typical residential HVAC system?
There are a variety of factors that could affect the time needed to clean a residential HVAC system, including the type of home, accessibility of the ductwork, and the number of workers on the project. A typical three or four bedroom home will require 1.5 to 3 hours for cleaning using Power Vac state-of-the-art source removal techniques.

Are there any health benefits that come from HVAC system cleaning?
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems have been shown to act as a collection source for a variety of contaminants that have the potential to affect health, such as mold, fungi, bacteria, and very small particles of duct and debris. The removal of such contaminants from the HVAC system and home should be considered as one component in an overall plan to improve indoor air quality.

For Any questions Please Feel Free To Call Us

Ask For Marc: NADCA ASCS (Air Systems Cleaning Specialist )

NADCA VSMR (Ventilation System Mold Remediator)