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FAQ'S: Duct Cleaning Equipment
Q. What kind of duct cleaning equipment does J. F. Sobieski, Inc. use?
A. We use Abatement Technologies' duct cleaning products, which have set the industry standard for more than a decade. These products are used by more than 2,500 companies throughout all 50 US states, Canada, and in more than 35 countries worldwide. It is estimated that these firms have cleaned the duct systems in more than 1.5 million homes and commercial buildings. The performance, quality, and reliability of these products are crucial to the quality of our work.
Q. Do you clean all kinds of duct systems?
A. Unfortunately, no. Our powerful air sweep will do damage to ductboard and flex duct. Some duct systems have a combination of a metal trunk with flex duct connected running to the grilles. Our air sweep could damage the inner liner and expose the duct to fibergalss intrusion. Also, there are some duct systmes that employ fiberglass ductboard. Again, our air sweep would break apart the fibergalss and spread it throughout the home. Flex duct and ductboard systems are the cheaper constructed systems and find themselves in need of repair or replacement even before the equipment it was installed with is replaced. These systems also are more inviting to microbial pests than the long-lasting comoplete metal duct systems. If you have a ductboard or flex duct system and would like it replaced, Sobieski Services will give you a free estimate on an all-metal central duct system with a lifetime guarantee. Our all-metal duct systems also employ dampers, so that the system can be balanced for a more even air distribution and temperature throughout the home.
Q. Are there industry standards or methods that all duct cleaning equipment manufacturers use when making airflow claims for their products?
A. Unfortunately, there are no meaningful standards, and published claims and methods used are all over the map. Some manufacturers use the "free air" rating for the blower, or test airflow with the filters removed, methods which obviously indicate a much higher airflow than the equipment is capable of producing under normal operating conditions. A few companies have even begun to publish test results based on air velocity testing, which can be even more misleading. For example, the airflow of a machine that is rated at 3000 fpm (feet per minute) with an 8" diameter outlet is only producing about 1,000cfm. All of Abatement's performance claims are based on independent testing under "real life" conditions, with all filters in place.
Q. Why are a strong vacuum and compressed air needed?
A. A high-powered compressor is essential for quality source removal duct cleaning. The nozzle is propelled throughout the entire duct system and used to continuously blast the ductwork with high-pressure blasts of air to dislodge debris and push it into the powerful air stream created by the power vacuum. With a sufficiently powerful vacuum, the debris will be pulled out of ductwork and into the vacuum's filtration system. This "push-pull" technique is the state-of-the-art method.
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