INDOOR POLLUTION AIR RANKS AMONG THE TOP
ENVIRONMENTAL DANGERS
deaths worldwide were attributed to indoor pollution in the latest year
OF OUR LIVES ARE SPENT INDOORS
THE AVERAGE HOME COLLECTS
OF DUST YEARLY
YOU INHALE APPROXIMATELY
or more quarts of air per day
INDOOR AIR IS CIRCULATED UP TO
PER HOUR THROUGH YOUR HOME
INDOOR AIR IS UP TO
MORE POLLUTED THAN OUTDOOR AIR
air duct cleaning for your business
As a business, we know how incredibly important it is to keep your company running efficiently by maintaining a productive, safe, and healthful work environment including employee retention. One key factor to maintaining a clean environment is indoor air quality. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air is five to seven times more polluted than outdoor air. Poor indoor air quality can impact employee performance as well as increased absenteeism resulting in decreased productivity. The EPA ranks indoor air pollution (also known as sick building syndrome) among the top five environmental risks to public health. Contaminants found in your duct work is a large contributor to poor indoor air quality. To improve the indoor air quality in your workplace, start with hiring Advanced Air Duct Cleaning, a National Air Duct Cleaners Association certified company.
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DO YOU NEED AIR DUCT CLEANING?
Have your air ducts been cleaned in the last 3 to 5 years?
Are you dusting daily?
Do you or the employees complain about allergies, asthma, or just being sick whenever at work?
Do you smell a musty odor especially when your HVAC system is turned on?
Are you unable to get rid of a nicotine or other odor?
Have you moved into a new building or office?
Have you completed construction or renovations recently?
Do you see visible dirt or mold on your vent covers/surrounding areas?
Does your business have poor indoor air quality?
There are some key indicators that you can visibly see to tell you if you have poor indoor air quality within your business
1. Do your vent/register covers have dust build-up?
2. Is the ceiling or wall around the vent black?
3. Is there dust building up on your furniture or desk?
4. Are you dusting more frequently?
5. Have you not cleaned your air ducts in the last 3-5 years?
IF VENT REGISTER COVERS LOOK LIKE THE IMAGES BELOW, YOU NEED AN AIR DUCT CLEANING!
What to look out for!
air duct cleaning process
NADCA recommends cleaning the entire HVAC system, including the following components:
- air ducts
- air cleaner
- air filter
- air plenum
- coils
- Grills
- drain pan
- registers
- blower motor and assembly
- heat exchanger
The most effective way to clean air ducts is to employ source removal methods of cleaning. This requires a contractor to place the HVAC system under negative pressure by using a specialized, powerful vacuum. While the vacuum draws air through the system, air charged whips are inserted into the ducts to dislodge dirt and debris that have adhered to interior surfaces. The unstuck dirt and debris travels down the ducts into the vacuum, out of the system and the building while leaving no mess behind.
have questions about
air duct cleaning?
have questions about air duct cleaning?
Advanced Air Duct Cleaning has answers
NADCA is the leader in the industry and sets the standards for professional cleaning. Air Duct Cleaning can have many benefits including:
- Cleaner indoor air quality resulting in a healthier environment
- Lower operational and maintenance costs
- Energy savings due to improved heating/cooling equipment efficiency
- Greater work productivity due to fewer illnesses
- Improved government inspection ratings
- Cleaner offices, classrooms, facilities and other workplace environments
- A more professional image with improved environment
Air Duct Cleaning should be a part of your regular HVAC maintenance schedule to ensure the system is operating at maximum capacity. NADCA recommends air duct cleaning every three to five years; however, the need for air duct cleaning can vary based on setting. For example, food manufacturers, hair salons, dog groomers, and manufacturing facilities that create combustible hazards all require a more frequent cleaning due to the nature of the work. The healthcare industry may also need duct cleaning services on a more frequent basis to help ensure patient safety.
The amount of time is really based on the size, scope, and availability of the facility for job completion. Following a proper onsite estimate, we are able to provide man hours in order to complete the job. Things we evaluate during an estimate to determine length of time and price are:
- System size
- System accessibility
- Type of ductwork
- Level of contamination
- Number of crew members required
- Any special equipment needed
Use the following checklist as a guide when selecting an Air Duct Cleaning Professional:
- Check the longevity of the company
- Check their reviews online and from various sources
- Ask for a list of previous clients for jobs completed
- Get proof the company is properly licensed and adequately insured
- Verify that the company is certified by NADCA to perform the work
- Ask if the company will take before and after pictures to demonstrate the success of job completion
- Inquire into the type of equipment the company will use
- Provides a written contract
To become a member of NADCA, the air duct cleaning company must meet specific requirements including having Certified Air System Cleaning Specialists (ASCS) on staff.
An ASCS must pass the NADCA certification examination, demonstrating extensive knowledge in HVAC design and cleaning methodologies. Additionally, they are required to maintain their certification through annual continuing education.
All NADCA members are required to sign a code of ethics agreeing to protect you the consumer and follow standards set forth by NADCA.
Sick building syndrome and Building related illness are terms used to describe the negative health effects and illnesses directly related to the time spent in a building. Lawsuits directed at building owners have become more frequent as people realize that there is a relationship between poor indoor air quality and the illnesses it may cause. In the workplace and school, increasing health problems will result in decreasing productivity and attendance. Studies have shown that pollutant levels indoors are often 2-5 times higher than those found outdoors.
A Fresh Air System is mounted to the return duct of the HVAC system in order to allow outdoor air into the home or business. The primary benefit of a Fresh Air System is it allows outdoor air to be recirculated with indoor air; so, you are not constantly breathing indoor recirculated air.
Any build up of dirt, debris and other contaminants including outside elements such as; bugs, exhaust fumes, pollen, etc. will restrict air flow to the HVAC system. Air flow restriction may disrupt the balance of the indoor to outdoor air ratio utilized in a Fresh Air System required by American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRE).
- Indoor Air Contaminants Damage More than Respiratory Health: The range of indoor air pollutants includes VOCs, phthalates, PBDEs, mold, pollen, pet dander, radon, and more. Most of these qualify as fine or ultra-fine particulate matter that are easily inhaled and can pass into the bloodstream, and even cross the blood-brain barrier. Dry eyes, headaches, nasal congestion, fatigue, and even nausea are common symptoms. Serious concerns such as asthma, lung infections, or even lung cancer have been linked to exposure. Particles which enter the bloodstream have been associated with stroke and depression in adults, and children have shown increased systemic inflammation, immune dysfunction, and neural distress.
- Poor Quality Air Exacerbates Asthma: Since the early 1980s, the occurrence of asthma has been on the rise for everyone – all races, classes, and ages. Simply put, asthma is a silent epidemic that has a disastrous effect on quality of life. In 1999, about 20 million Americans suffered from asthma, or about 1 in 14. In 2011, the number had increased to around 25 million Americans, or 1 in 12.
- IAQ is a Top 5 Health Risk: The United States EPA ranks indoor air quality as a top five environmental risk to public health. EPA studies found indoor air pollutants were generally 2 to 5 times greater than outdoor pollution levels. In some cases, indoor air pollution was 100x greater. There are many reasons why this is the case, including poor ventilation, the burning of toxic candles, use of air fresheners, chemical laden household cleaners, and more.
- The Elderly Suffer Most- Many elderly spend the majority of their day inside, whether in their own homes or in care centers. Some estimates suggest the average time spent indoors is 19-20 hours a day. A Portuguese study found that elderly patients in elderly care centers faced exposure to high concentrations of fungus which could negatively affect their respiratory health.
Source: Dr. Edward Group
DID YOU KNOW?
Schools accommodate up to 4x more occupants (staff and students) than a regular office building with the same amount of conditioned space. What makes this alarming is that children often breathe more air relative to their body weight than adults. The EPA specifically identifies air quality in schools as a point of concern.
EPA states “Children may be more sensitive to pollution, and children with asthma are especially sensitive. Asthma is responsible for millions of missed school days each year. Parents’ and caregivers’ involvement helps daycare facilities become aware of asthma triggers and the need to reduce them.”
