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 that we have. The technician team we have assembled, trained and certified by NADCA, also know the "Source Removal" procedures that we use on every single job. It would be very rare for any of our competitors to spend as much time on a job as our technicians do. 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 is expected. All of our technicians know that they have their 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 Safety King doing the work.
If you choose one of our lower-priced competitors (as long as you don't choose a $39.95 or $79.95 "Whole House Special," which is little more than a truck making noise in your driveway), you will probably have a reasonably clean air duct system, and it will have cost you less money. But if you want it REALLY clean, you'd better hire us.
Try this. Call a few heating and cooling contractors and ask them who does the best job cleaning ductwork in this area. They'll probably tell you it is us.
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.
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 come to your home and perform a system inspection and give you a quotation. To narrow down your pool of potential contractors, use the following pre-qualifications:
Make sure the company is a member in good standing of the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA).
See if the company has been in business long enough to have adequate experience.
Inquire whether the company is in good standing with your local Better Business Bureau.
Get proof that the company is properly licensed and adequately insured.
Verify that the company is certified by NADCA to perform HVAC system cleaning.
Make sure that the company is going to clean and visually inspect all of the air ducts and related system components.
Avoid advertisements for "$99 whole house specials" and other sales gimmicks.
Ask if the company has the right equipment to effectively perform cleaning, and if the company has done work in homes similar to yours.
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 2 to 3 hours for cleaning using Safety King's state-of-the-art source removal techniques.
How can we determine if the HVAC system cleaning was effective?
Seeing is believing...the best way to determine if the HVAC system cleaning was effective is to perform a visual inspection of the system before and after cleaning. If any dust or debris can be seen during the visual inspection, the system should not be considered clean. While you can perform your own visual inspection using a flashlight and mirror, a professional cleaning contractor should be able to allow you better access to system components and perhaps the use of specialized inspection tools. See our DuctCam System. In addition, following this post-cleaning check list can help to ensure a top quality job.
A thorough visual inspection is the best way to verify the cleanliness of your heating and cooling system. All portions of the system should be visibly clean – i.e., such that you cannot see any debris with the naked eye. Have the contractor show you the following areas in your system after the cleaning work to verify that the job was performed satisfactorily:
General
Did the contractor clean the entire heating and cooling system, including ductwork and all components?
YES
NO
Heating
Is the heat exchanger surface visibly clean?
YES
NO
Cooling
Are both sides of the cooling coil visibly clean?
YES
NO
Components
If you point a flashlight into the cooling coil, does light shine through the other side? (It should if the coil is clean.)
YES
NO
Are the coil fins straight and evenly spaced (as opposed to being bent over and smashed together)?
YES
NO
Is the coil drain pan completely clean and draining properly?
YES
NO
Access Doors and Covers
Are newly installed access doors attached with more than just duct tape (i.e., screws, rivets, mastic, etc.)?
YES
NO
With the system running, are all access doors or covers tight (no air leaks)?
YES
NO
Plenums
Is the return air plenum free of visible dust or debris?
YES
NO
Do filters fit properly and are they the desired efficiency?
YES
NO
Is the supply air plenum (directly downstream of the air handling unit) free of moisture stains and contaminants?
YES
NO
Blower
Are the fan blades clean and free of oil and debris?
YES
NO
Is the fan compartment free of visible dust or debris?
YES
NO
Metal Ducts
Are interior ductwork surfaces free of visible debris? (Select several sites at random in both the return and supply sides of the system.)
YES
NO
Fiberglass Duct Surfaces
Is the fiberglass material in good condition (i.e., free of tears and abrasions; well adhered to underlying materials)?
YES
NO
Air Vents
Have your air vents been firmly re-attached to the walls, floors, and/or ceilings?
Is the system operating free of any new or unusual noises?
If you answered "No" to any of the above questions, this may indicate a problem with the job. Speak to your contractor regarding these issues and ask him to make corrections to his work such that you can answer all questions "Yes".
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.
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 Safety King doing the work.
