With the Gulf of Naples and a snowy Vesuvius volcano as the backdrop, our very own Matt Mongiello recently presented at the ANAM Convention (AIISA-NADCA Annual Meeting). As president of NADCA- the HVAC Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Association, Matt was there on behalf of the organization to speak and meet with the AIISA members at their fifth annual convention.

AIISA is an association of HVAC air duct cleaning contractors located in Italy. NADCA and AIISA are strategic partners committed to promoting the importance of HVAC cleaning and maintenance worldwide. AIISA represents the largest segment of NADCA members and certification holders outside of North America.

As a part of his presentation, Matt spoke to the Italian members of the association about new upgrades to the Air System Cleaning Specialist certification, and the new ACR 2013 standard. The revised international ACR standard provides guidance to both contractors and end users for the assessment, cleaning, and restoration of HVAC systems.

With over 130 guests, the conference proved to be a perfect opportunity to cover the most recent news concerning NADCA, as well as presentations on properly managing field operations, and promoting the benefits of proper installation, hygiene, and engineering of HVAC systems.

Happy birthday to…Interior Maintenance Company! As this year marks our 40th year in business, it is time for us to reflect on how the company has evolved over the years, in addition to how we can continue to grow for another forty years.

Let’s take a look back at 1973, when Interior Maintenance was first founded. Originally, the business focused primarily on providing janitorial and floor cleaning services to small facilities in the Philadelphia region. Over the years, IMC has grown into a full-service and specialized building maintenance contractor. While keeping the resources and ability to maintain customers desiring quality custodial services, IMC diversified its operations to include air duct cleaning in 1991. Other services were added as opportunities presented themselves – such as kitchen exhaust cleaning in 1998, and high surface cleaning in 2000. This is a prime example of why we feel we have succeeded over the years—we have been able to rise to the challenges presented to us, as well as take advantage of new opportunities rendered along the way. Additionally, we have structured our business around supervision, ensuring that all details of a given project are controlled and met. No matter how old our company gets, consistent quality and high attention to our customers will always remain a priority.

How do we plan on celebrating another forty years of prosperity? Our current goals include increasing the janitorial maintenance division’s customer base, growing the kitchen exhaust system cleaning division even more, and seeking out additional specialty cleaning services needed by our customers.

As forty years have come and gone, we want to take this opportunity to thank our staff members and customers who have been with us through all of the ups and downs, as well as reflect on our history and longevity. We are also celebrating our future—keeping our business healthy and growing for the next forty years!

What are duct liners and what should you know about them? Duct liners are a type of fiberglass internal insulation lining in HVAC and air conveyance systems that tend to break down over time. Often, if the duct systems are not properly cleaned and maintained, the duct liners deteriorate, leaving the remaining fibers to distribute throughout the system and add to the accumulation of particulate debris. Eventually, these fibers are blown into an occupied space and are found as black specks on surfaces throughout a room. Why is this important to know? Fiberglass insulation can be an eye, nose and throat irritant, and may result in discomfort to the occupants of a room. If the insulation becomes wet due to condensation or water leakage, it may also result in microbiological growth within the ductwork.

Therefore, it is critical that duct liners are cleaned to NADCA standards and NAIMA (North American Insulation Manufacturers’ Association) recommended practices. In many cases, after cleaning, insulated ductwork can be treated with a paint product designed to coat and “lock-down” the deteriorated fibers. These coating products are specifically designed for HVAC duct systems and provide a new surface and extend the life of the insulation. Many of these coating products contain anti-microbial additives which help to inhibit future mold and microbial growth on the surface of the paint.

How can we help? IMC is capable of refurbishing an air handling unit by stripping out all of the internal insulation lining within an air handling unit. Once stripped, our technicians clean the unit, treat any rusted surfaces with a rust inhibitor coating product, and then treat all surfaces with an anti-microbial coating product. We will then replace the insulation with a closed cell insulation product. This closed cell insulation product will last longer, and will help to inhibit future mold growth and particulate deterioration.

Are you now more educated on duct liners? Let us know if you have any additional questions or problems we can help you with—we are the experts!

Is it necessary to clean residential and commercial ductwork systems? When should you institute a maintenance program? How do you clean and maintain these systems? As experts in HVAC and air duct cleaning, we can help you ensure your ductwork and ventilation systems are clean and do not become a measurable problem.

Reasons why duct work cleaning is necessary

Air distribution systems, whether residential or commercial, can become dirty and contaminated quickly, and it’s imperative that all sections of the system are cleaned. Why? Hundreds of thousands of buildings and dwellings throughout the world suffer from significant ventilation issues including particulate accumulation, insulation deterioration and mold growth. These issues cause measurable problems in air flow, system efficiency and indoor air quality. Low-efficiency filters, lack of a filter replacement program, improperly sized filters, and time can all negatively affect a HVAC system.

Additionally, the deterioration of insulation duct liners within the systems and ductwork can prove to be a major problem within duct systems. This deterioration occurs downstream of the filters and will add to the particulate accumulation on components within the system. Over time, the insulation fibers are distributed and blown into occupied spaces as a fine, sooty particulate every time the blower cycles on. Fibers from fiberglass insulation can become an eye, nose and throat irritant for some people.

Benefits of a clean HVAC duct system

Ultimately, a cleaning and maintenance program provides significant benefits, including improved indoor air quality, air flow, reduction in fire hazards, increased energy efficiency, and thermal comfort. Additionally, system efficiency greatly improves once condensation, dirt buildup, mold, and other contaminations are removed from the system.

Duct work cleaning tips

Air conveyance system cleaning is based on source removal, or the elimination of all visible debris and particulate from all components of a ventilation system. The National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) has issued a specific internationally-recognized cleaning standard that specifies requirements for proper cleaning. Procedures that are typically used in duct cleaning include contact vacuum cleaning, compressed air, agitation tools, brushes, air whips, robotics, and HEPA-filtered vacuums, which are all designed to remove and capture contaminants and particulate. Our company has the capability to perform visual inspections, as well as the training to perform the proper cleaning and maintenance.

In order to ensure optimal indoor air quality and efficient HVAC systems, it is imperative that you have a duct cleaning and maintenance program in place. Need more help? Our team can set up an assessment of your duct system!

Many restaurant and commercial kitchen owners may not realize how important it is to completely clean the entire exhaust system—this includes not just the hoods and filters, but also the fans and all associated ductwork. Kitchen exhaust systems are designed to pull in smoke exhaust and grease. If the grease accumulates, it can become the fuel for a major fire hazard. Therefore, it is necessary to have a regular cleaning program to ensure that the exhaust systems are properly maintained—filter and fire suppression system maintenance is NOT enough. The entire exhaust system needs to be cleaned.

As kitchen exhaust cleaners for 15 years and members of the International Kitchen Exhaust Cleaners Association (IKECA) since 2006, we are well-aware of the potential fire hazard in commercial and institutional kitchens. Not only do we employ Certified Exhaust Cleaning Specialists, but we also control and dispose of all wastewater and fully comply with the EPA’s Clean Water Act. We ensure that all visible grease, debris, and contaminants are removed from all accessible areas of the kitchen exhaust systems, in accordance with NFPA-96 and IKECA standards.

In order to guarantee that your kitchens are properly maintained, it is essential to fully understand the fire safety requirements related to the design, installation, operation, inspection, and maintenance of all kitchen systems. In a recent press release, we outlined some major key points all restaurant owners should know about kitchen exhaust cleaning. Here are some of the more important elements:

• Owner’s responsibility: This essentially comes down to keeping the system clean of grease and particulate buildup, and reduce the risk of a fire hazard. An incomplete cleaning performed by a low priced contractor (with most likely inadequate insurance coverage) will not protect the owner from the cost and litigation of a fire.
• Frequency of kitchen exhaust hood system cleanings: Depending on the type of systems used and volume of cooking, frequencies range from monthly and quarterly to semiannually and annually.
• Definition of clean: The industry standard is to clean to bare metal. Inspection elements and grease gauges can help aid in determining the cleanliness of the system.
• Access doors: The most effective and efficient way to clean kitchen exhaust systems is by accessing as much of the system as possible. In order to reach parts of the system including horizontal and vertical ductwork, openings must be installed to clean these areas.
• Proper documentation: Many KEC contractors provide reports showing pre and post cleaning photographs and other observations and recommendations important to your system. In-depth reports and certificates of completion will provide owners with documentation necessary for insurance representatives, fire marshals, and other authorities having jurisdiction.

Don’t let a grease fire take down your entire kitchen. Learn about the various standards and regulations and ensure that your kitchen exhaust hood systems are receiving the proper cleaning and maintenance.

According to OSHA, one of the most hazardous materials found in industry today is combustible dust. What is combustible dust? Particulate matter generated during production and manufacturing operations that accumulates on surfaces, such as rafters and conduit, that are difficult to reach during regular maintenance. It has many sources, including metal, wood, coal, plastic, sugar, paper, and textiles. What is the hazard? If this dust becomes airborne, not only can it damage sensitive equipment and infiltrate work in process, it can present a serious fire and explosion hazard. Its removal is vital to workplace safety.

If a build up of combustible dust is found, it is essential to utilize professional cleaning services, such as ours at IMC. We are certified in combustible dust remediation and operate according to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards. Please don’t get out the shop vacuum, use a broom, or blow compressed air to try and remove it—that will only stir the particulate into a combustible dust cloud and create an even larger hazard. IMC technicians, wearing the proper protective clothing and armed with HEPA-filtered explosion proof vacuum cleaners, high reach equipment, and anti-static, spark-proof tools, can safely remove all traces of combustible dust from your facility. We won’t leave until your facility is spotless and OSHA-safe, and we are happy to recommend a maintenance plan to keep your plant at a safe level of cleanliness.

Combustible dust is a very real hazard that can result in grave consequences. Don’t let this happen to you. If you take a look around and wonder if your facility is at risk, contact IMC today and we will arrange to provide you with an assessment.

In a previous post, we learned how a clean heating, ventilation, and cooling (HVAC) duct system can improve indoor air quality. In this post we’ll expose the impact a dirty HVAC system can have on energy costs.

When it comes to energy-efficiency in heating and cooling systems, air flow is everything — the better the air flow, the better the system performs. When systems become contaminated with dirty filters, clogged coils, fouled blowers and other components, air flow is reduced, system performance degrades, and energy costs go up. By how much? In 2008, the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA), working with researchers from the Universityof Coloradoat Boulder, aimed to find out.

Working with data available from previous research studies, scientists developed a computer model to quantify the energy savings that could be attained through cleaning HVAC duct systems. They experimented on a house contained within the University’s Larson Lab, then conducted two field trials to assess the accuracy of the model. Based on the initial research, replacing the filter and cleaning an even slightly dirty system according to NADCA guidelines provides, on average, an 11 percent energy savings. Significant? Yes! And common sense dictates that the dirtier the system, the greater the cost savings will be after it is cleaned. (Further studies are being conducted to verify that.)

As a NADCA member, IMC cleans all HVAC systems according to theACR Standard, which includes more than cleaning just the ductwork. We leave the coils, blower, and other air-side system components spotless and change all filters. If you see an efficient HVAC system and lower energy bills in your future, contact us today.

What is the quality of your air? If you are a building or facility manager, we can guarantee that this hot-button issue has come up at least once in a meeting or around the water cooler. And why not? Many employees may spend almost all of their day inside. Especially in the summer months, air conditioning is constantly running, forcing those to breathe in indoor air (which can be contaminated with chemicals, particulates, bacteria, and viruses if the systems are not properly cleaned). Due to the poor economy, many building managers have deferred maintenance programs, which are essential to the quality of your air. 

Here are some ways to get workplace back on track and improve your indoor air quality:

1. Set up a maintenance program, which includes scheduled filter changes and, most importantly, scheduled coil and air handling unit cleanings.
2. Inspect your HVAC systems on a regular basis. When performing visual inspections, as NADCA points out on its website, if you see dust or debris, then the system is not properly cleaned.
3. According to NADCA, duct cleaning isn’t always a finite solution. Once a system has been cleaned, determine that it is also operating properly. Make any replacements you deem necessary.
4. Practice good facility hygiene (think in terms of facility cleaning and dusting at regular intervals).
5. Open the windows! Make sure your indoor facilities have some fresh air to breathe in.

Overall, it is necessary to make indoor air quality a priority. Use these tips and see what services we can offer you.

It all began in 1973. Inspired by entrepreneurial spirit, one young couple, Charles and Maria Mongiello, decided to open a janitorial maintenance company and, as they say, the rest is history: Interior Maintenance has continued to blossom into the company it is today. Presently, we (Charles and Maria’s two sons, Matt and Chuck) run the family company. By keeping the company in family hands, we have guaranteed that we know all of the ins and outs of the company, our services, and our customers.

As young boys, we always found time to help our parents in the summers or during the year with any special projects or day-to-day operations. As we got older, we began to invest more time in the company, eventually taking the reins from our parents. Around that time, we decided to expand the services we offered our customers, thus expanding our customer base.

Although we originally started with janitorial maintenance services, we have certainly diversified into more specialty cleaning services. Currently, we offer air duct cleaning, high surface and combustible dust cleaning, kitchen exhaust cleaning, and a variety of additional commercial and residential indoor environmental cleaning services.

Being around the company all our lives and working together in the business has allowed us to grow along with the company and see fit that we provide for all of our customer demands. From the day-to-day operations to sales and marketing, we each focus on bringing the highest quality services to our customers, ensuring that they can continue to trust in the Mongiello family name.

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