25
Aug
2010
Duct cleaning ads found to deceive consumers
Duct cleaning services, frequently advertised by direct mail, are often tools to deceive consumers, a yearlong investigation by the Better Business Bureau found.
The services frequently are advertised well below $100 — an unrealistic price for the type of work that is supposed to be done. The ads often suggest how dirty ducts can make you sick and that the service being offered will resolve the situation.
“It is our opinion that thorough and effective cleaning can take several hours to complete at a cost of $300-$500,” Barry Goggin, president of the BBB serving northeast California, said in a statement.
The group shopped with six different companies and reviewed more than two dozen complaints lodged by consumers against the companies.The BBB investigation concluded that in 26 instances the cleaning was no more than superficial. In 32 cases, the companies aggressively tried to sell a host of costly upgrades and equipments including chemical sanitizing, extended warranties, filters and Ultra Violet lights.
Sales people targeted risks to health, from asthma to headaches, and frequently cited mold as problem.
The BBB also noted a tool used by one company that the group then purchased online was the “10 Minute Mold Test.” Described as the size of a large pen, the test actually was one intended to quickly determine if food processing equipment was properly cleaned.
“In our opinion, there is no practical way that this tester can be used on the spot to legitimately determine specifically whether or not mold exists,” said Goggin. “This ‘mold test’ can yield a positive or false-positive result regardless of the existence of mold. It will also test positive for mold spores that are virtually everywhere. To determine whether or not mold exists, and to determine if the mold or mold spores pose a health hazard, you need a laboratory to test it.”
After a “positive” test, the BBB took a swab of the duct and sent it to a laboratory that determined no mold existed. The BBB said the supposed tests were used to scare homeowners into paying for additional services.
See full article from WalletPop: http://srph.it/9m0VHg
25
Mar
2010
29
Sep
2009
Healthy Air, Save Money
(NAPS)-Clearing the air in you home could help you family breathe better and save you some cash. That’s the advice from experts who say that the accumulation of everyday dust and dirt– a long with pet dander, smoke residue and other contaminants– in a home’s ductwork can cause a number of health problems and boost your utility bills.
People with asthma or allergies, and young children and older adults may be especially susceptible to indoor air contaminants.
The National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) says that air-handler units should be inspected once a year and cleaned as needed. When hiring an HVAC inspection, maintenance and restoration contractor, the EPA recommends on the use of service providers that comply with NADCA air duct cleaning standards. For more information call 202-737-2926 or visit www.nadca.com.
Cleaning your air ducts in your home could help keep your family healthy.
20
Jul
2009
Make your air conditioning system more efficient
Friday, July 17, 2009
Glenn Haege: The Handyman
We are getting to that point in the summer where we are starting to close up the house and run the air conditioner more often. But just because we have air conditioning doesn’t mean that the inside of our home will be comfortable. Some rooms may feel too hot, others too cold. And the air still can feel humid even though you are running your air conditioner night and day.
To improve your indoor comfort, you first need to understand what air conditioners can do. Air conditioners are designed to cool and dehumidify the air in your home. In order to do that, your air conditioner needs to run frequently so it can have time to take the humidity out of the air. Unfortunately, many people’s air conditioners are oversized and actually cool the air too quickly, thereby hindering its ability to truly “condition your air. If you are planning to replace your old air conditioner, make sure your contractor does a heat gain study and replaces it with a properly sized and Energy Star-rated air conditioner that will make you more comfortable and save you money.
Another area of maintenance you should consider is getting your air ducts cleaned to get rid of any debris, dirt and other pollutants that can restrict your cooling system’s air flow and contribute to your allergies. Some reputable duct cleaners include Dalton Environmental, (800) 675-2298; Dusty Ducts, (313) 381-7801; and Safety King (800) AIR-DUCT. Michael J. Palazzolo of Safety King also said that homeowners should consider getting their air conditioner’s evaporator and condenser coils and blower fan cleaned to help the system work more efficiently.
“Dirty and clogged coils will reduce the cooling capacity of an air conditioner and reduce air flow,” Mike said. “A recent study by Pacific Gas & Electric showed that cleaning the coil can increase energy efficiency by up to 30 percent.” Mike said it costs around $150 for Safety King to clean the coils and blower fan, but the added energy savings quickly makes up for the cost of cleaning. He also recommends changing your furnace filter regularly to help filter the air, but doesn’t recommend a MERV rating much higher than 8 because the higher-numbered filters can restrict air flow, which can lead to the evaporator coils icing up.
Controlling your indoor humidity is another way to keep your home comfortable in the summer. While your air conditioner should lower the humidity level in your home below 50 percent, it may not be doing that effectively. You can check your humidity level by buying a portable digital hygrometer at your local home center or hardware store. If you have too much humidity, you might be able to alleviate the problem with a portable dehumidifier that is Energy Star-rated. Brands include DeLonghi, (866) 528-8323, www.delonghi.com; Whirlpool, www.whirlpool.com; Frigidaire, (800) 374-4432, www.frigidaire.com; or Kenmore, (888) 536-6673, www.kenmore.com. You might also want to consider installing a whole-house dehumidification system from manufacturers Aprilaire, (888) 257-8801, www.aprilaire.com, or General Aire, (866) 476-5101, www.generalaire.com.
You could also look at a new thermostat control system from Honeywell, (800) 328-5111, www.forwardthinking.honeywell.com called the Prestige Comfort System that allows you to control both the temperature and the humidity level when combined with the company’s True Dry whole house dehumidification system.
But remember, even the most efficient air conditioner is designed to lower the inside temperature 15 degrees cooler than the outside temperature. Also, when you leave your home for 8 hours or longer, dial up the temperature by 4 to 6 degrees. DO NOT TURN OFF THE AIR CONDITIONER. So make sure your home is well insulated, your air conditioning system is in good working order, your humidity is under control, and then pick a temperature you can live with, and let the air conditioner do its job.
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