FAQ

Toll Free: +(888) 465-4876

1. HVAC DUCT CLEANING

 

2. HOOD/ KITCHEN EXHAUST/ FAN CLEANING

 

3. MOLD REMEDIATION / TREATMENT / REMOVAL

 

What is Air Duct Cleaning?

Duct cleaning generally refers to the cleaning of various heating and cooling system components of forced air systems, including the supply and return air ducts and registers, grilles and diffusers, heat exchangers heating and cooling coils, condensate drain pans (drip pans), fan motor and fan housing, and the air handling unit housing.

Why is it important to clean my air ducts?

If not properly installed, maintained, and operated, components of forced air systems may become contaminated with particles of dust, pollen or other debris. When moisture is present, the potential for microbiological growth, mold, increases and spores from such growth may be released into the home’s living space. Some of these contaminants may cause allergic reactions or other symptoms in people if they are exposed to them.

When should I consider having my air ducts cleaned?

There are several “checks” one can undertake to determine whether air duct cleaning is needed: * Presence of mold growth inside sheet metal ducts or on other components of the heating and cooling system. Ducts are infested with vermin, e.g. (rodents or insects) * Ducts are clogged with excessive amounts of dust and debris and/or particles are actually released into the home from your supply registers.

Should I let my duct cleaner apply a chemical biocide to kill mold?

Chemical biocides, designed to kill microbiological contaminants, can be applied to the inside of the duct-work and to other system components in an attempt to treat mold. These practices have yet to be fully researched and you should be fully informed before deciding to permit the use of biocides or chemical treatments in your air ducts. Biocides should only be applied after the system has been properly cleaned of all visible dust or debris.

Can air duct cleaning be detrimental?

No evidence suggests that such cleaning would be detrimental, provided that it is done properly. One may consider having their air ducts cleaned simply because it seems logical that air ducts will get dirty over time, and should occasionally be cleaned.

What happens if I use a duct cleaner who is not qualified?

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.

What can I expect to pay for air duct cleaning service?

Many companies have begun marketing products and services for use in the home to improve the quality of the indoor air. Duct cleaning is one such service. The EPA says that these services typically — but not always — range in cost from 100 to 250 per heating and cooling system, depending on the services offered, the size of the system to be cleaned, system accessibility, climatic region, and level of contamination.

 

Should I have my hood cleaned?

Yes, Regular hood cleanings are required by the Fire Marshal, your insurance company and the Health Department. The majority of restaurant fires originate on the kitchen cooking appliances and flare into the kitchen exhaust system. Regular maintenance of a restaurant’s kitchen exhaust system is one of the primary defenses against fire hazards. By keeping these systems working at their best, they will evacuate the smoke and grease out of the building and produce a cleaner, cooler kitchen and better working environment for your staff.

How often should i have my hood cleaned?

Check with your local fire marshal or insurance agent. They may have a set standard. Otherwise it depends on the volume of cooking you do and the grease build up that accumulates from it. Hood cleaning intervals can range anywhere from every month to every year. We would be happy to assist you in determining this interval. Below is a table that you can use as a guideline.

1. Systems serving solid fuel cooking operations – MONTHLY

2. Systems serving high-volume cooking operations (such as 24-hour cooking, charbroiling, or wok cooking) – QUARTERLY

3. Systems serving moderate-volume cooking operations – SEMIANNUALLY

4. Systems serving low-volume cooking operations (such as churches, day camps, seasonal businesses, or senior centers) – ANNUALLY

How long does a hood cleaning take?

It depends on your kitchen. The larger the hoods or the more filters, the longer it takes. Most hood cleanings take between one hour and five hours. When you call to get a quote, we can give you a more accurate time frame.

Does my kitchen needs to be closed at time of service?

Yes, any equipment under your hood will need to be turned off and cooled down. Pilot lights will be blown out and re-lit upon our departure.

What time of day do you offer service?

We have daytime crews, evening and night time crews.

Do you guarantee your work performed?

We guarantee that our cleaning will pass all inspections. Neglected exhaust systems may require more than one cleaning and then regular maintenance to pass inspection.

What if I need to cancel or reschedule service?

Any cancellation notices received within 12 hours of the scheduled cleaning are subject to pay 30% of the proposed amount. Please call the office if it is more than 24 hours from your scheduled cleaning.

How do I request your service?

Your price is affected by the size of your hood, how many filters it has, How many fans it has, how long since you last cleaned it, how difficult it is to access your roof, how far away you are, and if your last company has or has not cleaned it to NFPA standards. Please give us a call and We would be happy to give you a quote over the phone and schedule necessary services.

How do I pay you?

Payment is required at time of service, or the next work day. We accept cash, checks and major credit cards.

What Is Mold?

Mold is a generic name for over 200,000 different kinds of fungus. Molds exhibit hundreds of different colors and textures. Molds reproduce by releasing spores, regenerative cells surrounded by a very tough coating that can survive most detergents, chemicals, and extreme temperatures.

What is “black mold” or “toxic mold”?

“Black Mold” is a term commonly used to describe a slimy, greenish-black substance which can result in serious health risk. This infamous mold is also known as Strachybotrys chartarum and more often as Strachybotrys atra. It has been closely linked to the death of babies from respiratory bleeding, and as a contributing factor to illnesses such as asthma and bronchitis. According to the CDC(Center of Disease Control), this mold is responsible for over “100 cases of lung disorders”.

How does mold get inside of buildings?

Mold grows when there are moisture problems resulting in building materials being constantly dampened by water. Poor air circulation or inadequate ventilation can also contribute to excess moisture. One of the best sources of food for mold is cellulose, which is the primary constituent of wood and paper products. Modern building materials such as gypsum wallboard, acoustic ceiling tiles, wallpaper, fiberboard, and particleboard are all likely to encourage mold growth if they become exposed to high humidity levels, condensation, or water.

Should I Do Mold Testing?

Many people opt out of doing attic mold testing because it’s kind of like throwing good money away. No matter what the tests come back saying, it still should be removed all the same, and if you can see it, you already know it’s there, you don’t need a laboratory to confirm it. In the large majority of homes, the air from your attic doesn’t exchange with the air in the house enough to show any types of health problems, and the attic mold is mostly a cosmetic issue, that can grow into a much larger widespread and structural issue if not treated immediately. In rare cases some homes are equipped with air handlers and HVAC units in their attics, and people living in these types of homes may be more likely to develop allergies from mold in their attics. In very rare cases, if the allergies don’t go away after treating all the mold in the home, and you seek the help of a medical professional, having a mold test done to know what kinds of mold you’re dealing with in your home can help.

Mold and Mildew in air ducts

Mold is able to grow on all parts of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.
If insulation is present, mold is likely to grow there. Otherwise, it’s probable that mold will grow in the cooling coil or condenser, and the drain pan. These are found in the air handler in central air systems.
Air entering the system under the dew point is cooled by the cooling coil so condensation in the air is removed. This results in condensation building up on the coil which exposes it to potential biological of living organisms including mold bacteria.
Under the coil is the drain pan and here any drops of condensation from the coil is collected. The water found in the drain pan can serve as the optimum conditions for mold to grow. This is especially true if the pan is flat, where the stagnant water increases the possibility of mold growth. An in-duct humidifier can add excess moisture to the ducts and, when joined with grime and dirt, mold can develop in the ducts.

What health effects are associated with mold?

The common reported symptoms are:

Itchy Throat
Water Eyes
Headaches
Memory Loss
Irritated skin
Excessive Coughing
Excess mucus
Bleeding in the lungs
Mold in the bloodstream
Possible mild strokes
Fatigue
These mold health symptoms can vary depending on the individual. When we spoke to mold inspectors when conducting tests thy found that everyone has different reactions to mold. The black mold health symptoms should be known, but also should be understood that there are very different levels of exposure.

Mold can be more severe for younger children and older adults
Immune compromised individuals could have more mold health problems
Length and Severity of Mold exposure is important
The more you inhale the mold the more affect it has long term
Mold Symptoms lessen as you receive fresh clean air
If you think you have allergies from an indoor mold problem but aren’t sure, try going outside and getting some fresh air. If you notice your allergy symptoms lessen in 15 to 30 minutes, it could be your home making you sick. It’s time to get the mold problem cleaned up immediately. If you’re unsure what is causing these symptoms, or where the mold is coming from, you can call a traned mold inspector who can assist you at locating it, usually in an attic, basement, crawlspace or near a leaky pipe.

Cleanup and Removal of Mold

The first step in addressing any mold growth problem in a building is identifying and correcting moisture source(s) . If moisture problems are not corrected, then any mold cleanup or removal that takes place will most likely be only a short-term solution; at some point the mold growth will recur. It is critical to control moisture at the beginning, during, and at the end of a mold growth removal project.

One of the most common misconceptions about mold is that it can be removed by spraying the surfaces with products such as disinfectants, biocides or cleaners. That will not take care of the problem because the allergenic and toxic properties of mold are not removed by using such products. Whether viable (living) or nonviable (dead), mold spores and other parts of the mold, when they get into the air, still present a health risk to exposed individuals.

While disinfectants and biocides may kill mold spores and take away their ability to reproduce, these products should not be used alone in addressing a mold growth problem. Either the mold must be completely removed from the affected material, or the mold-contaminated material must be completely removed from the building.

In determining which materials can be cleaned and what should be removed, the two important factors are how porous (absorbent) the material is and how extensive the mold growth is. Generally, non-porous materials (such as metals, glass and hard plastics) and semi-porous materials (wood, plaster and concrete) that are visibly moldy but structurally sound can usually be cleaned and reused. Moldy porous materials (carpeting, wallboard, ceiling tile, wallpaper, fabric, upholstered furniture, mattresses) should usually be discarded, since they absorb and hold moisture, may be internally moldy, and cannot be completely cleaned and thoroughly dried.

Air duct systems in buildings can also become contaminated with mold. Air duct systems can be constructed of bare sheet metal, sheet metal with exterior or interior fibrous glass insulation, or made of entirely out of fibrous glass (ductboard). If mold growth has occurred on fibrous glass or other porous surfaces, then effective cleaning will not be possible and the ductwork and/or insulation will need to be discarded. Mold growth on metal ductwork may be cleaned and disinfected following the instructions for non-porous materials. For additional details on addressing air duct cleaning see Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned?, a publication of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Why to choose our company?

1) We are state license, certified, bonded and fully insured contractor for mold remediation/removal/treatment services.
2) Our 20 years experience and thousands loyal and happy customers the best proof of the top service we provide
3) 100% Satisfaction Guarantee and up to 10 years warranty on remediation projects
4) 24/7 Emergency Service – Evenings & Weekends
5) Direct Insurance Billing

 

Still have questions? Call: +(888) 465-4876