Getting your air ducts cleaned is extremely important, especially in the Garden State.

We love New Jersey but let’s face the facts. Our state has thriving commercial, building and manufacturing industries. In addition to development, we are still the “Garden State” and have a diverse ecology from beaches, wetlands and mountains to Pine Barrens and oak forests.

As residents of this state, we must deal with the resultant air quality issues. While the air quality in New Jersey has improved greatly over the past 40 years, there are still many pollutants in the air (man-made as well as natural ones, such as pine and oak pollen) that cause respiratory problems such as asthma and allergies.

No matter how careful you are, these particulates find their way into your home through the windows, doors and on your clothing and pets. These particles are naturally drawn into your ventilation system and result in buildup in sensitive mechanical parts and can result in premature failure of costly HVAC equipment. Air duct cleaning can remove these pollutants from your New Jersey home’s air ducts and save on operating costs and help maintain a healthy indoor environment.

Many businesses offer air duct cleaning as a secondary service. It is important to hire a company that specializes in duct cleaning and has invested in the proper equipment and trained personnel to do the job.

The difference between a 16,000 cfm vacuum truck (equivalent to a 300 mph wind) versus a portable vacuum with 2,500 to 5,000 cfms (equivalent to a 15-100mph wind) is like comparing a summer breeze to a tornado. Contractors using inadequate vacuums and inadequate cleaning procedures can cause more problems than they solve.

According to the EPA, these substandard jobs can release more dust, dirt and other contaminants into the air than simply leaving the ducts alone. In order to complete the job correctly and according to NADCA (National Air Duct Cleaning Association) standards, the contractor must place the system under negative pressure.

This procedure is almost impossible to achieve with most portable vacuums. Some contractors attempt to deceive potential customers by stating they have a power vacuum truck, when in reality, they have mounted a portable system in the rear of a van. The fact is that an actual power vacuum truck is a $100,000 investment, and most companies simply don’t have the capital to invest in such equipment. By purchasing a $3,000 vacuum and adding “duct cleaning” to a company’s list of services does not make them a duct cleaner.

As briefly mentioned above, NADCA has become the industry standard used by all engineers for commercial and residential duct cleaners. Certified technicians must meet both NADCA and OSHA standards and pass a comprehensive exam and continue their education each year to maintain their certification.

Advanced Furnace & Air Duct Cleaning is the largest NADCA certified duct cleaner in New Jersey. The company has been in the business of duct cleaning for more than 48 years. Employees are properly licensed, registered and insured for the state of New Jersey.

As of June 12, 2012, this service provider was highly rated on Angie’s List. Ratings are subject to change based on consumer feedback, so check AngiesList.com for the most up-to-date reviews. The views expressed by this author do not necessarily reflect those of Angie’s List.