When you think of Stanley Steemer the first thing that comes to mind is not indoor air quality. But the Delray Beach-based Stanley Steemer of South Florida boasts one of the nation’s largest and most respected Indoor Air Quality Divisions, among Stanley Steemer franchises. The company has invested $250,000 in state-of-the-art trucks and equipment while providing a high level service to its institutional, commercial and residential clients.
Says Tom Scalera, President of Stanley Steemer of South Florida, “It’s true that our equipment is the finest in the industry and it makes a big difference in the quality of service we can deliver. But more importantly the public needs to understand that all air duct cleaning companies are not the same. Stanley Steemer of South Florida is a NADCA certified company. We adhere closely to NADCA’s rigorous air duct cleaning standards which have been endorsed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Consumers should insist on NADCA certified companies.”
Tom recalls, “While we started out just cleaning the air ducts in homes and commercial buildings, I eventually realized that it wasn’t enough. Besides cleaning the duct system, we realized that the HVAC cabinet, coils and blower motors also had to be cleaned. Sick buildings have more to do with the ventilation system. Those places are major breeding grounds for mold and bacteria because of their moisture content and contact with potential contaminants. We highly recommend cleaning those areas along with the ductwork to ensure a complete and healthy cleaning of the system.”
With Tom’s 25-year career in the business, his company became one of the selected franchises to offer Indoor Air Quality services. Initially he saw it as a way to help people but soon realized that in the process he was improving the lives of some of his customers. He cites the example of a family with a four-year old child who had severe allergy and asthma problems. After Stanley Steemer cleaned the home’s air ducts and ventilation systems the child showed dramatic improvements and was able to reduce asthma treatments. In a similar vein Tom mentions an Ear, Nose and Throat physician who saw improvements in three of six family members who had allergy symptoms. COPD patients have reported a decided difference in breathing.“I’ve seen it demonstrated time after time that cleaning the entire ventilation system is vital,” Tom remarks. “It’s not surprising when you realize that according to the EPA, indoor air pollution is two to ten times higher inside than outside the home. People with respiratory problems are naturally going to be more affected. I can’t tell you how many letters I receive from customers who report changes in their lives resulting from having their home’s ventilation system cleaned.” he adds. The EPA lists a number of symptoms and conditions related to indoor air quality, including: watery eyes, frequent colds, lack of energy, sore throats, chronic fatigue, digestive problems, headaches, asthma, allergies, pneumonia, Tuberculosis and more.
Tom also performs commercial air quality cleaning for hospitals, nursing homes, and daycare centers. He reports that often hospitals and nursing homes have contracts in place with air conditioning companies and assume that this thorough level of HVAC and air duct cleaning is being done. But it turns out not to be the case.Beyond cleaning the duct work, which is typically the only service performed by other companies, Tom outlines the ADDITONAL steps Stanley Steemer highly recommends to clean the blower and coils:
• Technicians remove, clean and re-install the air handler motor and clean the motor housing. Priority is given to cleaning the coils, which usually have the highest amount of contamination of any of the components. Contamination is removed with a non-acid, foaming coil cleaner, which works through each fin removing any debris or contamination. The coil is rinsed thoroughly with water and vacuumed at the same time. (Coils that can be cleaned “In-Place” are the only type of coils Stanley Steemer will clean.)
• The drain pan is cleaned and sanitized, as well as clearing and cleaning the drain line to prevent a possible backup and flood.
• Finally technicians complete a 19 point checklist from the EPA that is left with the customer upon completion of the job.
Stanley Steemer also provides another specialized service called Electrostatic Home and Office Sanitizing. “It is so unique and state-of-the-art that I don’t know of any competitor who offers it,” says Tom. The high speed process sanitizes, disinfects, eliminates odor and reduces allergens. A hospital grade, non-toxic disinfectant that’s been approved by the EPA is used. The substance is proven effective in eliminating the spread of health threatening pathogens such as mold and mildew, indoor air pollution, bacteria and viruses, MRSA, Legionella, Norovirus, E coli, H1N1 (swine flu), Salmonella enterica and HIV. The same process is used to clean and decontaminate cruise ships, NFL and major college athletic facilities, schools, daycares, restaurants, medical facilities and residential homes.Since he began offering indoor air quality cleaning as part of his business, Tom has encountered a surprising level of gratification connected to the work. “I get more satisfaction from this segment of my business than anything else I do. When our indoor air cleaning services compel customers to write letters about dramatic improvements in their health, it’s a very profound feeling to know we made that happen. I love the feeling that I’m actually having a positive impact and improving so many people’s lives.”
