Randy of CalAir knows his business well. Our house was two years old and the builder’s rep said we needed air duct cleanng. I was not sure so I got a second opinion from Randy.

He could knowledeably discuss the situation on the phone and offer a better price. When he came out and confirmed that builder debris caused the need for cleaning, he did a very professional job. Now, the air moves better through our house. We will contact him again when needed.

Date work performed: 10/25/2011

I’m glad I called California Air Duct Cleaning! My dryer was taking forever to dry my clothes (and it was a new dryer less than 1 yr old).

I heard that dryer vents that have too much lint build up can cause this problem, and could also cause a fire. With that in mind, I called and spoke with “Randy” in the late morning and by that afternoon, he came out, cleaned my dryer entire dryer vent and solved my problem!

He was so accomodating to work around MY schedule and fit me into HIS schedule, even though he had a busy day! I really liked how he provided excellent information on the vent cleaning process & tools before he even came out. I checked out his business thoroughly (like I do before I have any company perform work for me). His BBB rating is outstanding and the customer reviews of his business were excellent.

When he came out and performed the work, he lived up to my every expectation and did an excellent job — job done right and professionally the first time! I’m so glad I chose to use him to service my vent.

I will be using him for any future services needed and you will not go wrong to use him as well. I learned so much from him about how important it is to keep your dryer vent clean to minimize the risk for fire. I am happy to say that I am one of the lucky ones that did not have my house burn down due to a clogged dryer vent – and I thank Randy for that!

Chris Mantel
Antelope, Ca
Date Work Performed 05/04/2011

April 2011 – California Air did a great job for me! They were on the job on time, stayed on task, and kept me informed about their process, and work. There was no high pressure selling of additional work, and I was very satisfied with the results! Good job, Cal Air!

Bruce – Roseville CA
(removed)@yahoo.com

Wow! What a difference it has made since Randy cleaned by dryer ducts. He said I was lucky to have not had a fire because they were so clogged.

I have bought 2 dryers, thinking that my dryer wasn’t drying properly. This was not the case. My ducts were so clogged that there wasn’t any way for air or moisture to escape. My clothes were taking hours to dry. Now with the ducts clear, Drying clothes is so easy and quick.

The cost is reasonable too. I would highly recommend Randy for any dryer duct job. Thanks for everything.

Linda Stall
Elk Grove
1-27-2011

Was here on time, took the time to do a thorough job, very conscientious worker, showed us how the cleaning system worked and cleaned up after the job was completed. We were surprised to find out how much equipment it takes to clean the ducts in a house.

He put in a full 8 hours to accomplish what had to be done to clean our ducts right. Our ducts were very dirty and are now very clean. It gives you a good feeling to know it has been cleaned right. This was the best price for the quality of work.

Thanks Randy!!

Verlyn
Auburn
11/12/2010

10/06/10
Randy did a great job with the duct cleaning in my house. He explained everything as and then he did and I really feel the difference.Thanks for the tips and suggestions.
I would definitely recommend him .

Calif Air did a great job thoroughly cleaning our air ducts and A/C unit. Randy did great work, and explained everything he did as he went. Our AC worked more efficiently after the work was completed. I would recommend Randy and Calif Air without reservation!

Kim Fredrickson
8/26/10
(email and phone available on request)

After being in the duct cleaning industry for years, and also a member of the Better Business Bureau, we have a stellar reputation.The BBB told us that we’ve had over 1000 visitors go to their website from ours this past year to verify our good standing. Thank you!

After getting numerous complaints from people all over the city, they launched a year-long investigation, and just about two weeks ago, they put out the press release you see below.

Then our local KCRA local news anchor Edie Lambert had a report from Tom Newhane, showing how bad the deception is.  According to the woman in the story, “the technician used a pen-sized testing device that instantly detected a so-called deadly, toxic mold.”!

This is a photo, and they PEELED OFF THE LABEL OF THE FAKE MOLD TESTER! – Can you believe that?

If you want a fair quote for honest work in the Sacramento or Roseville area of Northern California, please fill this out.

Year-Long BBB Investigation Yields Troubling Findings in the Air

Conditioning Duct Cleaning Industry
July 20, 2010—West Sacramento—The Better Business Bureau released today, troubling findings from a series of investigative shoppings in a segment of the furnace and air
conditioning duct cleaning industry.

The BBB focused on companies using direct mail to advertise duct cleaning services in the price range of $45-$80. “It is our opinion that thorough and effective cleaning can take several hours to complete at a cost of $300-$500,” said Barry Goggin, president of the BBB serving northeast California. “We wanted to find out what the companies actually did for the $45-$80 they were advertising.”

The BBB’s findings were based on seven shoppings covering six different companies, and from the evaluation of 29 consumer complaints against the same companies the BBB
shopped.

Conclusions:

• - 26 instances: In the opinion of the BBB, the cleaning done was superficial at best.
• 32 instances: In the opinion of the BBB, the companies engaged in aggressive tactics to sell additional services and expensive equipment.

Additional services included a chemical sanitization program, cleaning of the furnace itself, 2 and 6 year extended warranties, mold eradication, Ultra Violet lights, and new filters.

In the course of pitching additional services, salespeople:

• 19 instances: Devalued the basic service as not being worth the effort or price going forward unless other services were purchased at an extra cost.
• 28 instances: Referred to health risks (asthma, allergies, migraines, sinuses, children’s health) due to the condition of the ducts that the salespeople alleged needed to be addressed with extra services.
• 21 instances: Specifically referred to the presence of mold.

One company, Maximum Aircare, used what the salesperson represented as a special “10 minute mold test” to prove the existence of mold in the duct work. The test equipment used was the size of a large ball-point pen with a label placed on it that read “10 Minute Mold Test.”  “We peeled back the label and under it the words ‘3M Clean-Trace Surface Protein Plus’ were printed on it,” said Goggin. “When we contacted 3M, we were told the tester was designed for testing food processing equipment to be sure it had been cleaned properly.”

According to 3M, the device is intended to register the existence of proteins. The BBB purchased a few of these “10 Minute Mold Tests” off the internet from “InspectUSA” and “IMS Laboratory.” They looked essentially the same as the 3M device being used as a mold tester by Maximum Aircare.

The instructions from InspectUSA state: “This kit is intended as an initial screening tool to test a visible stain for the presence of a wide array of molds. This test does not distinguish between toxic and non-toxic species, nor is this test intended for use in the detection of hidden molds [emphasis added]. Additional sampling and laboratory analysis may be required to confirm results.”

The instructions from IMS Laboratory state, “Because this test looks for the presence of specific proteins and carbohydrates, it is subject to false negative and positive results.

Certain substances such as food, blood and untreated wood may yield a false-positive result [emphasis added].” If the tester yields a positive result, IMS Laboratory then directs the user to mail them the mold tester so they can test it in their lab.

“In our opinion, there is no practical way that this tester can be used on the spot to legitimately determine specifically whether or not mold exists,” said Goggin. “This ‘mold test’ can yield a positive or false-positive result regardless of the existence of mold. It will also test positive for mold spores that are virtually everywhere. To determine whether or not mold exists, and to determine if the mold or mold spores pose a health hazard, you need a laboratory to test it.”

The “mold testers” were used as “proof” to support scare tactics in order to sell additional products and services to eradicate the mold and clean the system. The BBB hired an expert to check one of the duct cleaning jobs done by Maximum Aircare immediately after they finished their work.

The expert concluded that the ducts were as dirty as before the cleaning service was done. A swab was taken at the same spot where Maximum Aircare had stated they had found mold, and the BBB’s swab was submitted to a laboratory that confirmed mold spores, but no actual mold. No extra mold eradication service was actually needed, although the salesman said it was imperative for the health of the homeowners and their young baby.

A pen-like ‘mold tester’ was also used in 6 other instances by a company named Air Max III. Air Max III used a ‘positive mold tester reading’ as ‘proof’ of harmful mold to help sell additional services. According to the lab that tested the BBB sample, before you can know if conditions are harmful to your health, you must know what kind of mold or mold spores there are, how concentrated they are, and the length and kind of exposure you’ve had to them.

When looking for a professional to clean out air ducts, BBB recommends that consumers:

• Check the Company Out With BBB.

Before setting up a visit, check the company out with your Better Business Bureau. Ideally, the business will be Accredited by BBB or at least have a good rating. Pay close attention to the name of the business you’re researching because unscrupulous outfits often choose a name that is similar to an existing business that has a solid reputation. To check out a business’s Reliability Report or locate a BBB Accredited business here

• Look for the Fine Print

Ads and contracts may contain fine print which the business might think will absolve them from honoring their advertised price. Always ask plenty of questions and get to the bottom line of what it’s going to cost you, before you sign on the dotted line.

• Get a Second Opinion.

If the duct cleaner discovers that you have a mold problem, get a second opinion. Mold remediation can be expensive so you’ll want an expert to confirm dangerous mold or mold spores exist and advise you on how to take care of the problem.

• File a Complaint with BBB

If you believe you’ve been misled by a business, file a complaint with your BBB online. Even if BBB isn’t able to resolve the issue for you, the complaint can serve as a warning to other consumers about the business.

###
Note to media:
For more information contact Katie Robison at 916-443-6668 or katier (at) necal.bbb.org.  We have mold testers and local consumers willing to be interviewed. Barry, our president, is available from 10am-5pm today or later in the week.

Our whole house runs 1 degree cooler and we can feel the clean. Thank you for fixing the dryer vent clamp. I would gladly recommend again!

Alana in Natomas

I had recently purchased a clothes dryer and it took 2-3 cycles to dry a load of laundry.

My husband and I thought it was a malfunctioned dryer, when in fact, we had plugged up air ducts that didn’t allow our dryer to effectively dry our clothes.

Randy came out and removed the blockage and solved our problem. All this time we blamed the dryer when in fact it was the clogged duct. My advice, before purchasing a new dryer, have your duct cleaned first.

This maintenance will ensure a properly working system. Also, having your air duct cleaned every 1-2 years is advised to prevent lint fires and is part of important maintenance.

Randy is professional, quick, and fair. We are happy with his service. Like he said, Done Right the First Time! thanks, Diana

Diana Starr
Roseville, CA