Al Gallucci of the Poconos / Allentown

Another Duct Cleaning Scam Exposed, Score one for the honest Duct Cleaners

Our industry like most has its percentage of scammers looking for a quick buck. Unfortunately people are often lured by a too good to be true price only to end up paying more for less. In this piece by WDTM channel 2 news a duct cleaning scammer is caught red handed doing just that. Please copy and paste the links below to learn more and avoid being scammed.

part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNu6u8KiA-o
part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pT4WKwfBu18&NR=1

Nothing makes an honest company angrier then something like this. Un-fortunately many people will take a negative view of the entire industry because of the dishonest practices of a few individuals. The fact is if it is too good to be true it probably is. When someone calls me and asks for a ball park price on air duct cleaning I tell them $500 - $600 is average for a residential home. I am sure I could have said $250 many times then when I arrived at the customer's home made up some reason why their house is different than all the others on the block. Instead, I would rather focus on what we do for the customer and why our service is worth the extra cost. I mention the fact that all employees are bonded, uniformed and insured. It cost money to do a criminal back-round check on every employee but you would be amazed or maybe scared to death at what has come back on some of the applicants I have interviewed. Not the type of person I would want in my home or yours. I am an owner operator and oversee every job. We take before and after pictures and whenever possible I find a way to let the customer look into the system before and after and see what they are paying for. And of course we always give a written in stone estimate before starting any work.
Do you have any scammers in your industry, if so please share how do you deal with the negative vibe they put on the industry as a whole and fight the good fight.
Al Gallucci
Ductz Indoor Air Professionals
570-4221-2930

I am often asked "Do I really need to get my ducts cleaned, my home is brand new". The answer is a resounding yes. I have tried in vain to get builders to clean their air ducts before buyers move in. Even before the market crashed the attitude was always if they can't see it why bother. I have heard stories of customers who turned on the heating system for the first time in a brand new home and a cloud of dust filled the house. They call the builder and he told them that is normal just let it run for a few weeks and as you vacuum and dust it will go away. Well allot of it does go away; it leaves the air and goes right into your lungs. Technicians who have worked with me have also done work for builders. They said it was routine to let the dust fall into the duct when cutting the register openings. Sheet rock dust is the worst. Its gets into the air conditioning coil which is usually wet from condensation and sticks. It reduces the efficiency of the coil and creates a perfect mixture for mold. In an article on www.bobvila.com Jeffrey C May author of "My House is Killing Me" states "I would say in 95 percent of the new construction that I look at, the entire duct system is completely filthy before people ever move in,"

Now before I throw all builders under the buss I must say there are some very responsible Professionals out there. I have heard of some who own a temp furnace that they use for finish work when house is being constructed in cooler climates and don't put the real one in until the last nail is hammered. I also know of a few HVAC contractors who wrap all the vents with cheese cloth to prevent construction dust from enering the system and leave that there until the home is complete.

So how do you know if your ducts need to be cleaned? You don't, but you can find out very easy. Just call Ductz Indoor Air Professionals for a free inspection. A technician will create a 10" x 10" inspection opening and show you what's inside. If they are clean the opening will be permanently and professionally sealed. If they are dirty the technician will tell you the options available to you. Then you will have the peace of mind and health that comes with knowing your family is breathing the best possible air they can.

Al Gallucci

Ductz Indoor Air Professionals serving The Greater Pocono Area in PA

Growing up in Bensonhurst Brooklyn in the days of Mayor Koch and the Italian American Organization I dont think the thought of marching in New York's St Patricks Day Parade ever crossed my mind. Fast forward 30 years and here I am, the school chaperone accompanying my son's Jazz band (from PA) to march in the parade. Not being raised in NY my son nor any of his classmates realize what an honor it is to be invited. The first parade was held in 1766, ten years before the Declaration of Independance was signed. School colors are purple and white so we should clash nicely with the green. I am going to try to grab some pics from the inside of the parade looking out to post later in the week

Air Duct Cleaning by DUCTZ of the Greater Pocono Area reminds you that February is Dryer Vent Safety Awareness Month!!!

It's February! And like me, I'm sure the first thing you think of in February is your clothes dryer vent. J

That's right it's Dryer Vent Safety Awareness Month. What you might not know is that according to the latest studies done by the US Fire Administration, each year clothes dryers are responsible for over 12,000 fires.

It's bad enough these fires cause $88 million in damages to property annually. However, the real tragedy is that dryer fires are to blame for an estimated 300 injuries and 15 deaths each year. The majority of these incidents occur during the coldest months of the year.

The number one cause of dryer fires is an excessive build up of lint. So, how can you possibly know when your dryer is becoming dangerous? Signs you may need dryer vent cleaning include:

· Loads of laundry taking longer than normal to dry
· Clothes not being fully dry after a normal cycle
· Clothes being hotter than usual after a drying cycle
· Condensation on the vent pipe

Some simple maintenance can greatly reduce the likelihood of you suffering the devastation of a dryer fire. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) provides the following recommendations to help maintain a safe dryer vent.

· Once a year have the lint cleaned out of the vent pipe
· Do not operate the dryer without a lint filter
· Clean the lint filter before or after each use
· Rigid or flexible metal vent pipe should be used (no vinyl)
· Avoid overloading the dryer
· Make sure the exhaust vent pipe is open and has no obstructions when the dryer is operating
· Never leave a dryer running when you leave home or go to bed

DUCTZ is trained and qualified to maintain your dryer vent. Hotels, nursing homes, apartment complexes, pet hospitals and countless home owners have trusted DUCTZ to clean their dryer vents.

If you notice any of the warning signs listed above or if you have not had your dryer vent cleaned in the past year, please call DUCTZ of (YOUR DBA) at (YOUR PHONE NUMBER) to schedule a professional dryer vent cleaning service today. It's an inexpensive way to keep you and your loved ones safe.

Happy Dryer Vent Safety Awareness Month from DUCTZ of the Greater Pocono Area

570 - 421 - 2930 Call for an appt today

www.ductz,com

Attention consumers and business owners:

Are you a consumer looking for a contractor that's certified by the National Air Duct Cleaners Association to clean your air ducts and furnace the right way, the first time? Are you a business owner looking for a licensed and certified contractor to refer work to that will professionally compliment the services you already offer?

As a business owner, you know you can't trust referring your customers to just anyone. As a customer, you know you can't trust those low cost "whole house specials." From DUCTZ, you can expect the highest quality workmanship, guaranteed, and customer care that is second to none!

DUCTZ has built trust and long term relationships with hundreds of the most respected contractors all over the Poconos, Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton. As a business owner, you can count on DUCTZ Indoor Air Professionals to uphold the image that you have worked hard to create.

Are you a property owner or manager looking to improve the facilities you maintain? Property owners and managers have DUCTZ clean the air ducts, HVAC systems and dryer vents for a host of reasons: cleaner air inside the building, prolonging the life of the HVAC system, reduced allergy symptoms, increased quality of air, decreased utility bills (because the system is more efficient when its clean), and a simple fact that most houses have never had their air ducts cleaned.

DUCTZ also partners with many types of companies to employ different aspects of cleaning HVAC systems, air ducts and dryer vents.

Fire restoration companies and mold remediation contractors use DUCTZ to clean the HVAC units and air ducts. We restore these units to better-than-before condition, which saves the property owners and insurance companies from having to completely replace the units and ductwork. This saves thousands of dollars.

We partner with HVAC contractors to help keep the furnaces and air ducts clean. Clean units run more efficiently and are a key component to achieving indoor air quality.

Both residential and commercial builders use DUCTZ services to perform post-construction cleanup on the HVAC system and air ducts. Remodelers use us for the same reason. Construction debris, sheetrock dust and saw dust all enter the HVAC system and air ducts. We come in when the construction or remodeling is finished to make sure the systems are clean.

Real Estate agents and home inspectors recommend DUCTZ to make sure the HVAC system and air ducts are cleaned before new owners move in. This gives them peace of mind when purchasing and moving into a new home. The services that DUCTZ offers also helps smokers and pet owners sell their homes easier when odor may have been an obstacle.

DUCTZ is here to help consumers and business owners fulfill their needs. Please visit our website at www.ductz.com or call us at 570-421-2930 or 1-877-DUCTZ-USA to schedule your air duct cleaning and indoor air quality improvement service today!