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.

Should the Dust Mites in Your Mattress Scare You?

You have heard the radio commercials with the statistics. You have seen the ads with the pictures (which look pretty scary when magnified 5,000 times!). Oprah has done a special episode on it. Even the Wall Street Journal has published articles in the past saying that "the average mattress will double its weight in ten years due to an accumulation of dust mites and their feces."

The thought of crawling into bed with pounds and pounds of dust mites and their feces gives you nightmares, not a restful night's sleep. Next you calculate the age of your mattress, and now you are truly frightened. The next day, you immediately begin your quest for new bedding.

A great marketing ploy, but do these claims have any scientific basis? Here are what a few experts in the field of dust mites had to say to Cecil Adams, who writes a syndicated weekly newspaper column called "The Straight Dope":

"It's nonsense," said mite authority Larry Arlian, professor of biological sciences, microbiology, and immunology at Wright State University. "I don't know where that originated. They're not that prolific."

Thomas Platts-Mills, professor of medicine and dust-mite guru at the University of Virginia, agreed. "I've heard that kind of stuff," he said. "I don't believe it. I'm sure there's an added weight but I don't think anyone has ever actually measured it."

Emmett Glass is the Ohio State University research associate leading the "Dust Mite Management Study" He was the gentleman that Wall Street Journal reporter said was the source of the claim that a mattress will double its weight due to dust mites. Emmett writes:

"I never quoted that statistic. I told [the reporter] that Internet web sites have statistics that try to strike fear in the consumer, thus promoting their products. I gave her a few off the top of my head (two million mites in an average mattress, mattress doubling in weight, etc.) that I read over the years. She asked me if any of these statistics have any scientific merit and I told her that none of them are in the literature. To the layman that is NO! In fact I asked the Wall Street Journal writer to call an expert on mattresses at the internal sleep products association. She did and was told that the statistic on mattresses doubling in weight was far from the truth. The journalist choose to include it in the story anyway. She liked the statistic because it made her story more interesting."

According to the American College of Asthma, Allergy & Immunology, only 10% of the general population is allergic to dust mites. However, 90% of people with allergic asthma are likely sensitive to dust mites and should take additional precautions.

Margot Carmichael Lester at the Museum of Life and Science in Durham offers the following tips to reduce your exposure to dust mites:

•Keep relative humidity low (under 55 percent) because dryness kills germs.
•Use a HEPA filter-equipped vacuum to keep allergens from releasing back into the air. Change the bags at least once a month.
•Switch out air filters according to manufacturers recommendations.
•Vacuum mattresses, carpets, upholstered furniture and window treatments at a very high setting.
•Toss stuffed animals, throw pillows and small rugs into the dryer on high heat regularly.
•Cover bed pillows, mattresses and box springs with impervious covers to keep dust mites from coming through.
•Unclutter rooms with most use (bedrooms, family rooms), including extra pillows and bed covers, out-of-season clothing, throw rugs, stuffed animals – and anything that gets (and stays) dusty.

You can use the money you save by not having to buy a new mattress to take your family over to Durham for a visit to the museum!

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.

What is Triggering Your Fall Allergies?

Just like spring, fall is prime time for many people with allergies. Many people blame spending additional time indoors with mold and mildew irritants for their increase in allergy symptoms. What are some of the other common triggers to be on the lookout for?

Ragweed
The most common fall outdoor irritant is ragweed. Ragweed blooms in mid-August and continues into late October. It is common on roadsides, in vacant lots, or in other large grassy areas. In an average season, each ragweed plant can produce up to one billion grains of ragweed pollen. These grains can travel up to 400 miles in the air, due to their lightweight texture.

Dust Mites
Allergies to dust mites are common in the home. Dust mites are particularly prevalent in warm, moist areas with ready access to dead flakes of human skin, such as bedding, upholstered furniture, or plush carpeting. Studies show that close to 85% of U.S. homes have a bedroom with easily detectable levels of dust mite allergens.

Pet Dander
People often associate pet allergies with the hair, fur, or feathers of the animal. In fact, the dander (tiny pieces of dead skin that flake off from just beneath the hair, fur or feathers) is usually to blame. Pet dander is easily airborne and can spread to all areas of your home, even where pets are not allowed.

Cockroaches
Cockroach allergens comes from the feces, saliva, and bodies of the bugs. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, when one roach is seen in the basement or kitchen, it is safe to assume that at least 800 roaches are hidden under the kitchen sink, in closets, and the like. Studies show that almost 3/4 of urban homes have some level of cockroach infestation.


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.