Mark Mueller
Air duct before cleaning, left, and after cleaning.
New building trends force a different way of cleaning
Carpet cleaning used to be about 80 percent of the business for Mark Mueller, owner of Cardinal Carpet and Air Duct in Wildwood.
“Carpets used to hold dust, pollen and pollutants in place and you could vacuum them up,” he said. “Then, about 20 years ago, hard surfaces became popular. Now, the dust and dirt and allergens are suspended in the air and people complain their home is dusty and they have allergies.”
“The EPA did a study that showed indoor air quality can be up to 10 times more polluted than outdoor,” he said.
Mueller, who has been in the home cleaning business since 1975, said cleaning HVAC ducts can be the solution.
He said even new homes can have construction dust and debris in the duct-work.
“Contractors and carpenters have every tool known to man except a dustpan,” he laughed. “They see those little square openings in the plywood and the dust and stuff just magically disappears.”
Older homes pose their own challenges.
“All the pet dander, skin cells, all those things from the previous occupants are trapped in the system,” Mueller said.
All those factors can lead to blockages in the ductwork.
“You’re heating or cooling air that you’re then trying to push past obstructions that have been there for 20 years,” Mueller said. “You hear people say, ‘This room never gets warm’ and it’s because there’s something in the vent inhibiting the air flow. It can cost you thousands of dollars.
“You get those out, your system doesn’t have to run as hard and as long, so you’re saving money and hours on your furnace.”
The firm offers free, in-home evaluations. Call 314-501-5231 or visit cardinalcarpetcleaner.com.