Air Duct Cleaning Bait and Switch Scams

This winter’s weather has been unusually harsh across most of the country – meaning that people are spending more time indoors. That leads many people to evaluate the indoor air quality of their homes and consider services such as air duct cleaning.

Despite the claims of many companies that perform duct cleaning, it has never been proven to have any substantial health benefits. But that doesn’t slow the flood of advertisements that show magnified pictures of dust mites, mold or dirty debris and promise pricing as low as $49.95.

Unfortunately, many air duct cleaning companies use these ads as bait to lure homeowners in, and then switch them to higher priced services that were not clearly explained. The Better Business Bureau states that these “bait and switch” air duct cleaning scams involve dozens of connected companies who have been systematically ripping off homeowners for more than a decade -- to the tune of millions of dollars.

According to NBC’s Dateline: “Over the years, hundreds of homeowners have logged complaints with the BBB, all sounding similar: Once inside a customer's home, technicians routinely mislead them into paying hundreds or thousands of dollars for additional work. Many were told they had dangerous mold. Others had their homes unnecessarily flooded with noxious chemicals. Some said they were afraid of the workmen. All said they were duped into paying hundreds more than the promised $49.99 advertised price.”

That led NBC’s Dateline to conduct an investigation using hidden cameras and senior citizen volunteers. You can check out the video here:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032600/vp/41303490#41303490

NBC’s Dateline found that “many of the businesses opened up shop only to disappear within a matter of months, but would then appear again under a different name. Sometimes, it was even hard to determine exactly who owned many of them. The paper trail left behind was limited and sometimes inaccurate. One business was registered using the name of the real owner's dead stepbrother. Another was registered in the name of an owner's bodyguard. Several to convicted felons, one a killer. But our reporting led us to one revealing fact: dozens of the rogue businesses all across the country were run by a rotating list of the same individuals who kept popping up over and over again.”

There are situations where air duct cleaning is necessary or beneficial, and there are many reputable companies that provide fair estimates and do quality work. If you are planning to have the air ducts in your home cleaned, here are some tips from the Environmental Protection Agency on selecting a contractor:

• Do not hire duct cleaners who make sweeping claims about the health benefits of duct cleaning – such claims are unsubstantiated. Do not hire duct cleaners who recommend duct cleaning as a routine part of your heating and cooling system maintenance. You should also be wary of duct cleaners who claim to be certified by the EPA. EPA neither establishes duct cleaning standards, nor certifies, endorses, or approves duct cleaning companies.
• Do not allow the use of chemical biocides or chemical treatments unless you fully understand the pros and the cons of the products being used.
  Check references to be sure other customers were satisfied and did not experience any problems with their heating and cooling systems after cleaning.
• Contact your county or city office of consumer affairs or local Better Business Bureau to determine if complaints have been lodged against any of the companies you are considering.
• Interview potential service providers to ensure that they are experienced in duct cleaning and have worked on systems like yours; they will use procedures to protect you, your pets, and your home from contamination; and they comply with the National Air Duct Cleaning Association's air duct cleaning standards.
• Ask the service provider whether they hold any relevant state licenses. The following states require air duct cleaners to hold special licenses: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Michigan and Texas. Other states may soon require them as well.
• If the service provider charges by the hour, request an estimate of the number of hours or days the job will take, and find out whether there will be interruptions in the work. Make sure the duct cleaner you choose will provide a written agreement outlining the total cost and scope of the job before work begins.
  
  Air Matters LLC has performed mold testing services in the Raleigh NC area since 2002. The owner, Renee D. Ward, has over 25 years of safety and environmental experience and holds both her Bachelors and Masters degrees in engineering. Renee is also a member of the American Industrial Hygiene Association and the Indoor Air Quality Association. You may contact Air Matters at (919) 961-2221 or info@AirMattersMoldTesting.com.

EPA Teams with Building Industry Experts on Comprehensive IAQ Guide

Too often, indoor air quality (IAQ) problems result from poor planning, improper design, or inadequate construction methods and materials. If design and construction teams work together to incorporate good IAQ strategies from the start, many of the common pitfalls can be avoided.

The Indoor Air Quality Guide: Best Practices for Design, Construction and Commissioning is a collaboration between the American Society of Refrigerating, Heating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), the American Institute of Architects, the Building Owners and Managers Association International, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors of North America, and the United States Green Building Council, which awards the internationally recognized LEED green building certification system.

The book outlines specific strategies for achieving eight critical IAQ objectives relative to moisture management, ventilation, filtration and cleaning, and source control.

A 198-page summary of the guide can be downloaded free of charge at www.ashrae.org/iaq. The full publication, including a CD, is also available through ASHRAE for $29.

Within the summary, Objective 2 - Control Moisture in Building Assemblies and Objective 4 - Control Moisture and Contaminants Related to Mechanical Systems offer strategies to limit water and moisture intrusion, which directly impact the growth of fungal (mold) species.

The summary guide states in Objective 2 that "Moisture in buildings is a major contributor to mold growth and the poor IAQ that can result. Wetting of building walls and rainwater leaks are major causes of water infiltration."

There is also significant attention in this section given to controlling indoor humidity levels. High humidity supports the growth of mold, dust mite populations, and other biological contaminants indoors that may cause allergies or other health problems for building occupants.

Low humidity levels can dry out mucous membranes. Either way, "humidity conditions also affect people's perceptions of the IAQ."

Objective 4 starts out explaining the important role of mechanical systems in providing good IAQ. It then states "However, since many mechanical systems carry water or become wet during operation, they can also amplify and distribute microbial contaminants." Detailed strategies are discussed for each component of the mechanical systems.

Considering IAQ from the initial design process through the building occupancy will ensure that everyone breathes a little easier.

Air Matters LLC has performed mold testing services in the Raleigh NC area since 2002. The owner, Renee D. Ward, has over 22 years of safety and environmental experience and holds both her Bachelors and Masters degrees in engineering. Renee is also a member of the American Industrial Hygiene Association and the American Indoor Air Quality Council. You may contact Air Matters at (919) 961-2221 or info@AirMattersMoldTesting.com.

Stricter Rules on Radon Tied to Lung Cancer

The World Health Organization (WHO) has significantly lowered their guidelines on how much radon is permissible in homes without leading to adverse health effects. Their new "Handbook on Indoor Radon" issued September 22 called for public health authorities and the construction industry to reduce exposures to radon, calling it a "major and growing public health threat in homes". Radon is widely considered to be a leading cause of lung cancer, second only to smoking.

What is Radon?
Radon is a gaseous radioactive element that people cannot see, smell or taste. It occurs naturally through the decay of uranium in the soil. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the average home indoor radon level is about 1.3 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) in the United States. The average outdoor level is about 0.4 pCi/L.

How Does Radon Get Into Your Home?
Radon is most common in homes with basements, where it seeps in from the soil and through the walls. However, many homes without basements also have radon problems. The amount of radon that escapes from the soil into the home can depend on the soil composition, soil moisture, and building construction. In some cases, radon enters the home through well water.

How Much Radon is Acceptable?
The EPA's recommended exposure level is 4 pCi/L, which has been their standard for 40 years. WHO's new standard is more restrictive, only allowing for 2.7 pCi/L. WHO strongly emphasizes the importance of radon testing by all home owners or buyers looking to purchase a home. WHO studies indicate that most radon induced lung cancers occur from exposure to low and medium doses of radon in residential structures.

Should You Be Concerned About Granite Countertops?
Some people attribute a rise in radon to the widespread use of granite in today's home. The EPA believes the principal source of radon in homes is from the soil in contact with basement floors and walls. While natural rocks such as granite may emit radiation and radon gas, the levels attributable to such sources are not typically high.

What Are the Health Effects of Radon?
Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers, according to EPA estimates. Overall, radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Radon is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year. About 2,900 of these deaths occur among people who have never smoked. Dr. Richard H. Carmona, the U.S. Surgeon General, issued a national health advisory on radon.

For additional information on radon in North Carolina, contact the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources NC Radon Program at http://www.ncradon.org/.

Air Matters has performed mold inspection and testing services in the Raleigh NC area since 2002. The owner, Renee Ward, has over 22 years of safety and environmental experience and holds both her Bachelor of Science and Masters degrees in engineering. Renee is also a member of the American Industrial Hygiene Association and the American Indoor Air Quality Council. Contact Air Matters at (919) 870-6748.