CJ White has two very good reasons to keep his home’s air duct system free of dust and dander – 3-year-old Olivia and 6-month-old Landon.
“Nothing is more important than the health of my children, and I know how important indoor air quality is to their well-being,” said White, the children’s father.
White and his wife, Natalie, understand why they need to keep their air ducts clean, because the family owns the Stanley Steemer franchise on State Road 54 in Lutz.
“We want people to know that harmful mold growth can be prevented with regular inspections and cleaning of their air ducts,” said White. “To prevent mold from growing, the best action is to be proactive – to have your air ducts inspected before dust accumulates to a level that can support mold growth.”
White explains that mold needs two things to grow — moisture and food.
“In Florida, we have plenty of moisture because of our humidity. And, because so many homes have hard surfaces like tile and wood flooring, there is also plenty of dust in the air,” said White. “Dust and other organic materials are gourmet food sources for mold. When allowed to accumulate in your air ducts, you can be creating a breeding ground for mold growth,” said White.
The National Air Duct Cleaning Association (NADCA) identifies the following symptoms of mold growth: runny and stuffy noses, itchy throat and ears, hives, swollen and itchy eyes, coughing and wheezing, and difficulty breathing. Unfortunately, some people are more sensitive than others, especially young children.
“If your air ducts have mold spores, every time someone turns on their air conditioner, these spores are spread throughout your home and recirculated multiple times a day,” said White.
NADCA, which Stanley Steemer is a Certified Firm of, recommends that homes be inspected every two years by one of its certified technicians. If excessive dust is found, it recommends a powerful vacuum removal of this debris to prevent mold from growing.
“This is why our company does not charge to do air duct home inspections —we want families to be proactive, and not wait to have their ducts inspected before it is too late, and the mold cannot be safely removed,” said White.
Stanley Steemer’s air duct inspectors are NADCA certified, which means they work for a licensed contractor, have extensive field experience and industry-specific knowledge of approved procedures to safely clean air ducts.
Heading up the company’s air duct division is Earl Thompson, who has worked for the White family for 17 years. Thompson and his team typically conduct two air duct cleanings and up to seven inspections daily in Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.
“Earl is very experienced, and regularly trains his cleaning technicians on the proper use of our vacuum truck and other equipment, so that all dislodged debris is properly removed from the home,” said White.
White’s company has invested in a powerful Caddy Vac vacuum truck for its air duct cleaning division.
“Our truck is huge — the size of a fire truck — and has an airflow of 12,500 cubic feet per minute,” said White, who adds that his company’s investment in air duct removal is over $150,000. “There’s no comparison between the effectiveness of our powerful vacuum truck, compared to much smaller, Rotobrush systems used by other air duct companies. These units only provide around 400 cubic feet per minute of suction.”
Before sending its air duct cleaning truck out, White’s technicians inspect a home to determine the necessity and scope of a cleaning.
“About half the homes we inspect do not warrant a cleaning, and there is no charge for the inspection,” said White. “In homes where air ducts need to be cleaned, we give homeowners a written estimate of the cost to clean their air ducts, and schedule the truck for another day.”
Most homes today use fiberglass duct board, which is an absorbent material. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the use of chemical usage in cleaning air ducts, and states there is currently no biocides, sanitizers or disinfectants that are legally allowed to be sprayed on this form of ductwork.
“If a company advertises that they can remove mold by “fogging” or “sanitizing,” they would be in violation of federal law by doing so and, depending on what they’re spraying, it can be potentially harmful to the inhabitants of the home.”
People often wait until it’s too late to clean their duct system, White said. If an inspector finds active mold growth on fiberglass ductwork NADCA recommends the removal and replacement of that ductwork.
“Mold cannot be safely cleaned from duct board and replacement can be very costly, often costing between $8,000 and $10,000. This is why being proactive and maintaining clean ductwork is so important. ” White said.
Cleaning your air ducts may not seem as important as having your carpet cleaned, but it is, according to White.
“It’s what you breathe – the air that you’re A/C system is pumping into your home all day long, The EPA estimates the average person spends upwards of 90% of their day indoors,” said White. “For the sake of your family’s health, please give us a call for our free home air duct inspection.”
To schedule your free home inspection, call (813) 996-2436.
Published July 24, 2019
