by Buddy Rigotti

Here’s my thoughts on Contact Cleaning vs Negative Air Cleaning Pros and Cons

Contact Cleaning:

• Pros: You don’t have to block off the openings; you can do dryer vent cleaning with the DuctMaster and TruckMaster (although you’ll need to purchase some minor tools if you only have the TruckMaster)
• Cons: You have to take the machine around to every room/vent instead of just a cleaning tool; the big con is that you can’t truly fog the air system properly because there is no airflow to take the fog mist down the duct line. You can only usually get several feet down each duct line

Negative Air Cleaning (aka Push-Pull Cleaning)

• Pros: It’s easier to get a more thorough cleaning, especially with air powered tools because you don’t have to physically touch every square inch of the interior surface of the duct in order to clean it; you can do fogging the correct way; this was the original standard way to do duct cleaning until contact cleaning came around
• Cons: It take a bit more time because you have to block off the openings; you can’t do dryer vent cleaning with negative air equipment

Sub Heading Goes Here
by Wayne Tracy, Operations Manager

When looking at commercial projects you will find many different styles of air handlers.  They’ll be located on rooftops, in ceilings, closets, basements, virtually anywhere.

Regardless of where they are, you have to get access to them and clean any accessible areas in them.  These areas include the evaporator coil, blower, and all other accessible surfaces.

As I’ve discussed in earlier articles, a full service duct cleaning project includes cleaning of all system components from the point air enters the system (return ducting) to the point air exits a system (supply system).  To do less work would be a disservice to your customer. Debris left behind in un-cleaned components and areas of a system will soon migrate to areas you may have cleaned thoroughly.

While some commercial air handlers can be very large and complex, for the most part they all have the same components, just larger in size.  Don’t be intimidated by the size of the air handler – just approach it the same way you would a smaller unit – it will just take more time.  After all, the more hours a project takes, the more profitable it will be.

Another common setup you find in commercial properties is multiple air handlers.  We’ve been involved in projects with 70 or more air handlers on one roof top.  Again, it’s not a challenge, just more billable hours and profit potential.  If you think about it, what’s easier, driving to 60 or 70 houses or cleaning 70 systems all under one roof.

Cleaning evaporator coils on commercial air handlers can be as easy as a residential project if a building has multiple air handlers.  Larger walk-in style units will have large banks of coils – substantially larger and thicker than a simple package unit and will require some special handling.  However, it will usually require the purchase of a pressure washer for a few hundred dollars, or you can usually rent them as well.

Pressure washing a coil is not a major task; you simply back-flush the coils in the direction opposite air flow.  Be careful to wash in a direction that will not bend the coil fins. Cover and protect any areas of the air-handler that you do not want the overspray of water from the pressure washer to come in contact with.

Afterwards, thoroughly vacuum and wipe down the inside of the air handler surfaces and the blower wheel.  Typically you do not have a lot of access to the blower but be sure you clean any accessible part of it.

After cleaning the inside of the air handler, be sure you clean the outside of the cabinet as well. You don’t have to make it shiny and new looking, but get the built up grime on the cabinet cleaned up as best you can.  You want the building owner or manager to see that you are conscientious about your work by paying attention to all the details of your cleaning project.

Follow These Simple Steps
by Paul Clark, Service Manager

A few simple steps:

• First, test the dryer to make sure it is working properly before you do anything else.
• Then, unplug the power. If it is a gas dryer, you need to turn off the gas.
• Pull the dryer out away from the wall.
• Use a screwdriver to loosen the clamp on the back of the dryer and pull of the flex dryer vent duct.
• Next, reach in the back of the dryer and pull out any lint or debris.
• Then, reach into the duct going into the wall and pull out any lint or debris.
• Attach your  Vent Vac to the dryer duct and suck out lint and debris
• Then you should use your Vent Vac in combination with your Cobra or Drill Powered Cable and brush that helps remove any type of blockage in the duct.
• Also you should check both ends on the dryer duct to make sure there is no blockage left in the dryer duct line.
• Clean up any mess that you may have made during the cleaning.
• Then re-attach the flex dryer vent & re-tighten the clamp with your screwdriver.
• Plug in the power to the dryer; if it is a gas dryer turn the gas back on.
• Push the dryer back where you found it and double check to make sure all work you performed was done properly and your work area is clean.
• Finally, test the dryer to make sure it is working properly.

It is recommended that homeowners should have their dryer vents cleaned every year. It is the number one cause of home fires. The Consumer Products Safety Commission estimates that there are an estimated 15,500 fires annually, including 10 deaths and 310 injuries associated with clothes dryers.

This also produces over $84,000,000 in property damage every year. Cleaning the dryer vent will also help with the dryer’s performance and could save the customer money on their energy bills.

A simple list to follow
by Wayne Tracy, Operations Manager

I’ve been asked a few times over the past few weeks for a simple list of steps to follow for a typical full service commercial system cleaning job.  While every job has its own unique circumstances and conditions, the following list contains the basic steps for a full service project.

A full service job includes the following:

• Cleaning of grills and registers.
• Cleaning of the Air Handler/Furnace.
• Cleaning of all ducting including plenum boxes, trunk lines, supply and return ducting.
• Fogging Soot Set, Odor Kill, & Envirocon into the duct system.

Below are the steps for a full service cleaning

1. A polite greeting and introduction to your customer
2. Go over pricing and service options for the job if it has not been pre-sold
3. If previously sold review pricing and services sold with the customer
4. Have customer sign Service Order/Authorization to perform services
5. Complete your pre inspection report (Click on the link below for a sample pre and post inspection report)
6. Clean the air handler/furnace.  This cleaning should include cleaning of the blower section and the evaporator coil.  Don’t forget to wipe down the outside surface of the unit as well.  If any part of the heat exchanger surface is accessible that should also be vacuumed.
7. Clean the supply and return trunk lines and plenum boxes.  Some systems, especially on the west coast will not have trunk lines, but simply interconnected ducting.
8. Spread drop cloths throughout the house in areas you will be working.  A simple rule to follow would be a drop cloth wherever a stepladder will be set and any piece of furniture in direct vicinity of a grill or register.
9. Remove all grills and registers and thoroughly clean
10. Vacuum all supply register pans and return openings
11. If providing a negative air cleaning install the foam register plug after vacuuming the register pan
12. Clean each duct line individually using the sidewinder, forward/reverse air whisk, or the brushmaster for negative air cleaning.  Or the Ductmaster/Truckmaster brush & hose assembly for contact cleaning
13. After cleaning all duct lines apply the appropriate chemicals using the Air-Care fogger to each duct line
14. Patch any sheet metal access cuts you may have made for cleaning access
15. Install the cleaned grills and registers.  Be sure you remove all the foam register plugs you installed for negative air cleaning
16. Collect all drop cloths and thoroughly clean any areas you worked in.  My policy is that the home must always look as good or better when we leave then it did when we arrived
17. Complete the post cleaning inspection report and do a walk through of the home with your customer
18. Collect payment and thank your customer

The following link may be helpful as well.  It is a pre and post inspection report you may want to use in your own service department.

Networking is Key
by Paul Clark, Service Manager

Potential good partners and customers are:

1. Networking Groups- BNI, Chamber Of Commerce, Toastmasters, BBB
2. Mechanical Contractors
3. HVAC Companies
4. Restoration Companies- Water, Fire and Disaster Clean Up
5. Construction Companies
6. Property Inspectors
7. Property Management Companies
8. Commercial & Residential Brokers
9. Maintenance & Janitorial Companies
10. Carpet Cleaning Companies
11. Architects And Engineers
12. Industrial Hygienists, Mold & Air Quality Testing Companies
13. Building Maintenance Groups

These companies can help build your business quickly & are a great networking team to help you gain more business.

A list of potential customers that could use your services is anyone that has air ducts, but here are some examples:

1. Hospitals
2. Office Buildings
3. Restaurants
4. Banks
5. Casinos
6. Laundromats
7. Malls & Strip Malls
8. Manufacturing Facilities
9. Homes, Condos & Apartment Complexes
10. Car Dealerships

Those are just a few of the businesses that you should target.

How to contact these potential customers and referral partners:

• Join the BBB
• Join the Chamber Of Commerce
• Join Networking Groups like BNI
• Become Preferred Vendors Or Contractors
• Purchase Email Lists of Commercial Businesses
• Purchase Phone lists and Telemarketing
• Purchase Mailing Lists for Mailers or Post Cards
• Advertise on Radio, TV, Print or Billboards

These are just a few ways to reach out to potential customers and networking groups. Remember, hard work and becoming an active member of networking groups and organizations are some easy ways to get solid leads and build your business.

Always follow up with customers in a timely manner. I would also recommend that you follow up or return calls the same business day. I try to always under-promise and over-deliver and to treat people’s homes like my own.