M A Y / J U N E
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Cover Story: New Orleans Annual Conference Recap. Page 6. Also in this Issue: Standard 180. Page 14.
F E A T U R E S
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From the Toolkit: Media Relations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Standard 180. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Associate Member Spotlight: Vac Systems International. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Media Relations
The Aging Duct Cleaner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
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Member Spotlight: Steamatic of St. Louis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Associate Member Spotlight: Vac Systems International
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editor publisher
Erik Caplan Jodi Araujo, CEM
POSTMASTER: 15000 Commerce Parkway, Suite C, Mount Laurel, NJ, 08054; Phone: 855-GO-NADCA; Fax: 856-439-0525; E-mail: info@nadca.com; Web site: www.nadca.com DucTales Magazine is published six times annually. NADCA annual dues include a paid subscription to DucTales. Yearly subscriptions to DucTales are available for $50.
The Aging Duct Cleaner. Pg 18.
The National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) prints DucTales Magazine to provide its members and the HVAC system cleaning industry with a forum for the discussion of topics of interest. To that end, NADCA tries to include within DucTales a wide range of ideas and opinions. The ideas and opinions expressed by the authors who write articles for DucTales, however, are solely the views of the person expressing them, and do not necessarily represent the views, positions or policies of NADCA, its members, or its officers, directors or staff. NADCA is not responsible for claims made in advertisements. NADCA does not endorse any particular manufacturer or supplier of equipment, chemicals or related products, nor any particular model of equipment.
D E P A R T M E N T S
President’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Executive Director’s Message. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Committee Spotlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Congratulations to New Members. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Industry Calendar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Congratulations to New ASCS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
ECO BOX DucTales magazine text and cover pages are printed on SFICertified Anthem Gloss paper using soy ink.
The Sustainable Forestry Initiative® program promotes sustainable forest management. The Sustainable Forestry Initiative® program integrates the perpetual growing and harvesting of trees with the protection of wildlife, plants, soils, and water.
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The Sustainable Forestry Initiative® program promotes DucTales • May/June 2013 responsible forest management.
P R E S I D E N T ’ S
Training and Education
Made Easy! Custom training is now available to NADCA members! Instead of flying your entire staff somewhere to receive training, NADCA will bring the training to YOU!
Interested? Call NADCA Headquarters at (855) GO-NADCA to learn more.
M E S S A G E
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s I write this President’s message, the calendar reads April 15. I just sent two more checks to the federal and state governments. About the same time, I overheard some of my employees talking about how much money they were getting back. Some were getting almost twice what they had paid in (because of child credits) and were excited about the things they were going to buy. That’s when something my father said to me a long time ago popped into my head. He said, “There are basically three types of Bill Benito, ASCS people in our society, contributors, consumers and crooks.” NADCA President I knew I had contributed more than my fair share; some consume more than their fair share and some had even stolen someone else’s share. How does this relate to NADCA? In our industry we have many contributors from our membership. They are the volunteers serving on our committees, attending our meetings, getting certified, promoting the NADCA name and raising the bar for NADCA. We also have consumers of NADCA. Those that use NADCA as a resource, use our standard for specifications, use our training materials, use our certifications and use NADCA to market their companies.
As the wave starts to build again, I am excited to be part of it. I want to contribute to our industry, and I know because you are a member, you do, too.
Then we have the crooks! Those who claim to clean to a standard (not sure what standard); those who advertise $18 per vent then hand the customer a $1,400 invoice; and those who do shoddy work with poor equipment, doing more harm than good. These people cost NADCA members, and customers, the most money. Not only have they essentially stolen money from someone, they continually tarnish the industry’s reputation. When I first started HVAC system cleaning in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, many of my customers thought “duct cleaning” was hocus pocus voodoo. How could we charge so much for vacuuming out the ducts? Since they couldn’t see inside the ducts, and the equipment didn’t look high tech, we were just janitors and not professionals or tradesmen. We continue to fight to change the perception of our industry. I remember back in the early ‘60s when small transistor radios, toys and appliances started coming out of Japan. Everyone said they were junk. Japan only made junk, and there were even derogatory statements about Japan I will not repeat. There was a perception that all Japanese products were junk for many years. It was so bad that a small town called Usa, in Oita, Japan marked their products “Made in USA.” Japan wasn’t dissuaded and continued to produce and work on its reputation. Now, all these years later, some of the best cars, trucks, electronics and equipment are “Made in Japan.” How does this relate to our industry? We are an association of about 1,200 members. We are not trying to break into an existing market with junk radios. We are building article continues on page 34
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E X E C U T I V E M E S S A G E
D I R E C T O R ’ S
“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest” — Benjamin Franklin
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n light of the recent Boston Marathon bombings many of us on the East Coast, and likely all of the US, have found ourselves with a renewed sense of fear, of caution, of remembrance. Our country has suffered through some of the most tragic and senseless acts of violence and terror. From 9/11 in New York to the school shootings in Colorado and Connecticut, we all sit mesmerized and shocked by the sheer absurdity by which these acts occur. The media dissects and analyzes every piece of the story, speculation and accusations fly. Eventually they move on to the next story about a corrupt politician or some sex scandal (or sometimes a Jodi Araujo, CEM Executive Director corrupt politician embroiled in a sex scandal!), and we all find a way to move forward and get back to our daily routines. That hesitation, that second thought, that “what if” and intuition we often feel in our gut when something is amiss…all lays dormant…until it happens again.
“Tragedy is a tool for the living to gain wisdom, not a guide by which to live.” — Robert Kennedy With tragedy, crowds can be our enemy, our nemesis and our vulnerable place. Will we be a target? Wrong place at the wrong time, perhaps? But what about crowds where we prosper, where we meet and mingle and network? Crowds where business deals are made and relationships are forged? This is where a crowd, or a gathering of people, can be our friend, our companion. One never knows who they will meet, what kind of encounter is to be had, until it happens. Recently, Association Headquarters (AH) hosted a reception at its Washington, D.C., office. This was a “grand opening” of sorts, in that the party was in honor of the new staff and services available to AH client partners via this additional location. This gathering brought together volunteer leaders from varied and diverse groups including American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, Bryan Cave Strategies, the Council for Chemical Research, Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, the Society for Biomaterials, the Toy Industry Association, Inc. and Howe and Hutton, Ltd. (Attorneys at Law). This diverse group converged for an information exchange across all their varied industries and our very own board Treasurer, Mr. Richard Lantz, wooed the crowd with tales of duct cleaning and HVAC contracting. As the evening came to an end, my email inbox began to fill up with emails from my coworkers, my superiors and volunteer leaders from other organizations who attended the reception and had the pleasure of getting to know Richard Lantz. Richard serves as the Treasurer on the NADCA Board of Directors and is someone I’ve come to know and trust over this past year. He is a dichotomy of sorts. If you don’t know him, imagine a physical appearance that combines the likes of “the most interesting man in the world” with black cowboy boots, jeans and a nice shirt and sport coat. Combine that with a frank and forward (and colorful) commentary and the knowledge of 16 years as an air duct cleaning contractor, six additional as an industrial mechanical contractor (Naval shipboard HVAC contractor) plus five years as an asbestos contractor in Navy ships. Richard can befriend a man digging a ditch, a woman modeling high end fashion, a doctor working to cure cancer or an intellectual academic. He can relate to each of them on a certain level, make each of them feel important and respected, and this is where we find the greatest ministration. An opportunity never escapes this man! article continues on page 34
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2013–2014 NADCA OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS NADCA OFFICERS President Bill Benito, ASCS (’15) Connecticut Steam Cleaning Inc. P.O. Box 354 440 John Fitch Boulevard South Windsor, CT 06074 (860) 289-5100 FAX: (860) 528-5556 BillBenito@aol.com
Secretary Mike White, ASCS (’14) Clean Air Systems of LA, Inc. P.O. Box 6210 225 Mount Zion Road Shreveport, LA 71136 (318) 869-0344 FAX: (318) 869-0346 mike.white@cleanairsystemsiaq.com
1st Vice President Rick MacDonald, ASCS (’15) Armstrong Heating & Power Vac Inc. 720 East Industrial Park Drive, #9 Manchester, NH 03109 (603) 627-7016 FAX: (603) 627-7070 rmac@ahpv.com
Treasurer Richard Lantz, ASCS (’15) Air Duct Cleaners of Virginia Suite D 913 Business Park Dr. Chesapeake, VA 23320 (757) 366-5237 r.lantz@airductcleanersva.com
2nd Vice President Michael Vinick, ASCS (’14) Duct & Vent Cleaning of America Inc.
311 Page Boulevard Springfield, MA 01104 (413) 734-8368 FAX: (413) 733-1997 mvinick@ductandvent.com
NADCA DIRECTORS John Lee, ASCS (‘14) Penn Air Control, Inc. 5941 Lakeshore Drive Cypress, CA 90630 (714) 220-9091 johnlee@pennairgroup.com Dan Stradford, ASCS (‘15) Action Duct Cleaning 787 W. Woodbury Suite 2 Altadena, CA 91001 dstradford@aol.com Jimmy Meyer, ASCS (‘16) Meyer Machine & Equipment 351 Main Street Antioch, IL (847) 395-2970 jimbob@meyermachine.com
Carlos Gonzales-Boothby, ASCS (‘16) Indoor Environmental Consultants PO Box 191648 San Juan, Puerto Rico 00919-1648 (787) 568-8880 carlos@iec-pr.com Immediate Past President Matt Mongiello, ASCS Interior Maintenance Company 45 Scottdale Road Lansdowne, PA 19050 (610) 626-1300 matt@imc.cc
NADCA Headquarters 15000 Commerce Parkway, Suite C Mount Laurel, NJ 08054 Toll Free: 855-GO-NADCA Phone: 856-380-6810 Fax: 856-439-0525 www.nadca.com
NADCA STAFF Jodi Araujo, CEM Executive Director Kristy Cohen Assistant Executive Director
Elizabeth Cooke Membership & Certification Coordinator Clare MacNab, CMP, CEM Director of Meetings
F E A T U R E A big thank you to all of the exhibitors and sponsors that helped to make this event possible. We could not do it without your support!
NADCA’s Annual Conference Attendance Up 22 Percent Over 2012!
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ADCA’s 24th Annual Meeting and Exposition was held March 17-19 at the New Orleans Marriott, and by all accounts, it was a resounding success! More than 400 technicians, owners and suppliers came together for training, networking and a memorable St. Patrick’s Day celebration. ACR, The NADCA Standard for Assessment, Cleaning and Restoration of HVAC Systems was released during the CEC session led by ACR Standards Committee Chair, Bill Lundquist. Lundquist did a fantastic job of walking more than 350 attendees through the new Standard and explaining the updates and revisions to the 2013 edition. That session was followed by several well-attended educational programs, including Solutions to Moisture Inside HVAC Systems, Social Media and Business to Business Marketing. A brand new version of the NADCA Safety Manual was released at the meeting. More than 200 copies were sold on-site, and orders continue to come in to the office. If you did not purchase one at the conference, you may do so by downloading the order form at www.nadca.com. This manual is fully accessible for personalization and editing so you can make it your own by adding your company logo and pulling out the sections relevant to the specific job you are working.
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Abatement Technologies Aeroseal LLC American Caddy Vac Armacell LLC Carlisle HVAC Products Cen-Tec Systems Comfort Institute Controlled Release Technologies (Clean AC) Design Polymerics Doug Groen Consulting Duct Cleaners’ Supply Elavon Fiberlock Technologies Inc. Filtration Manufacturing, Inc. Fleetmatics Indoor Air Quality Association In-O-Vate Technologies, Inc. Lifa Air Ltd. Lloyds Systems Meyer Machine Nikro Industries, Inc. Safety King Scan Air Filter Corporation Scand Tech, USA Sunbelt Rentals UEMSI Vac System International Inc. Wm. W. Meyer & Sons, Inc. We ended the week with a fabulous St. Patrick’s Day Parade from the New Orleans Marriott to the party venue, Republic. Attendees gathered at the hotel with Hurricanes (New Orleans’ signature drink), beads and party favors as the marching band, stilt walkers and big heads got the party started with a march down the hotel escalators and out on to Canal Street. Police escorts helped our 300-plus crowd make the parade march a smooth one, culminating at Republic with food, drinks and fabulous live music by the Mo Jelly Band, featuring our very own Mike White on harmonica. A fun time was had by all. The winner of the iPad drawing was Oscar Rodriguez from American Technologies in San Diego! Please be sure to join us next year in San Antonio, where we will celebrate NADCA’s 25th Anniversary!
Save the Date March 3-6, 2014 San Antonio
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C O M M I T T E E
N E W S
Thank you to the ACR Standards Committee NADCA Wishes to Thank the Members of the ACR Standards Committee for Their
Time Contributions Commitment to Excellence Bill Lundquist, ASCS, CVC Bill Benito, ASCS, CVI Brad Kuhlmann, ASCS Richard Lantz, ASCS Greg Long, ASCS Rick MacDonald, ASCS
Chairman
The ACR 2013 web page has received more than 2,000 visits and more than 1,200 downloads of the Standard in English, Spanish and French! For a limited time, hard copies of the Standard are available for purchase at a cost of just $2.00/copy plus shipping and handling. Visit www.nadca.com and order yours today before the costs increase!
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F E A T U R E
Get Amazing Postcard Marketing Results for Your HVAC Business
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By Joy Gendusa
here is a lot to consider when it comes to marketing, and postcard marketing is no exception. There is a certain amount of strategic planning, skill and coordination that goes into the perfect direct mail campaign. Unfortunately, you can’t just snap your fingers and produce an effective design and targeted mailing list. Well, I guess you could try. If that doesn’t work, there are a few tricks of the trade that can help you build a winning campaign right from the get-go, without the trial and error setbacks many of us in the industry, myself included, experienced on the road to direct mail marketing knowhow.
statement: “A larger postcard gets more attention.” Since a large postcard is, in fact, easier to see, more people will notice it and read it, which increases your chances of turning them from a raw prospect to a lead.
Let’s leave aside for the moment the various nuances that go into creating a fully-optimized postcard marketing campaign. Rather, let’s focus on the Big Three. Once you know the Big Three, you can produce excellent results with your postcards, even if you don’t employ the more nuanced strategies that wring every last cent out of your marketing investment.
1. What kind of marketing volume do other businesses in your industry produce?
If you get the Big Three right, your HVAC business will see increased leads, sales and revenue. Then, you can fine-tune your approach later. The Big Three are: Size, Design and List.
SIZE “What size postcard do I need?” “Can I get away with a smaller card?” “Is there any benefit to a larger card?” The size of your postcard directly impacts the response to your mailing. While there are many variables to consider when comparing direct mail campaigns, you would hardpressed to find someone who disagreed with the following
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Most direct mail postcard companies will provide you with options when it comes to the size of your card. If your company doesn’t give you options, get a new provider. Usually, your options will look like this (though the specific terminology varies): Small (4x6), Medium (5x8) and Large (6x11). The size you need can be decided by answering these questions:
a. None at all/I’m the only one (You can lean towards a smaller card) b. Light to Moderate Amount (Lean toward a larger card) c. Moderate to Heavy Amount (You need a large card) 2. Do your direct competitors also mail postcards? a. No (You can lean towards a smaller card) b. Yes (You need a large card) 3. How much do you have to say about your offer? a. Not that much/Easy to grasp (Smaller card is fine) b. A little background info (Medium should do the trick) c. A lot/Details are important (Go big or go home) DucTales • May/June 2013
4. What type of customers are you targeting? a. Businesses/Corporations(Go big)
Believe it or not, most people are too busy and won’t think to take action if you don’t specifically direct them.
b. Higher-income households (Medium is fine)
Once you have all these elements in place, you are ready to mail. But to whom?
c. Lower income homes/Apartments (Small will be fine)
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My guess is that for most HVAC companies, the answers are: B, B, B, B. Based on these results, my suggestion is a medium-to-large size card. There is no use putting the effort into a card just to have it ignored because you wanted to save a little bit on printing. I’ve seen largersized cards work over and over for HVAC, and you are trying to cut into a busy market, so you need to dress for success.
DESIGN To design a card that cuts through the marketing noise and communicates your message clearly to prospects, there are a few (10, to be exact) elements you need to be aware of and include in your design: 1. Clear headline. 2. Supporting graphic. 3. Color that pops. 4. Intriguing sub-headings on the back that lead into benefits. 5. Benefits! 6. Enticing offer. 7. Business name and logo. 8. Call to action and/or expiration date for the offer. 9. Contact information – website, map, phone number. 10. Return address. Elements 1, 2 and 3 are how you get attention and immediately turn that attention into the decision to read more of the card. If these elements fail to grab attention and generate interest, your postcard will receive a one way ticket to the trash can. Elements 4, 5 and 6 are where you convince the reader to take action. Sub-headings pull the reader into the body copy, which needs to be brimming over with customer-related benefits. Then you seal the deal with an offer they can’t refuse. Elements 7-10 give your prospect the information needed to respond. Note that No. 8, the call to action, is vitally important. DucTales • May/June 2013
The final, and most crucial, of the Big Three is the mailing list. Without a good mailing list, even the best postcard is useless. The mailing list defines the type of person who will receive your ad. Because of this, it influences how they will respond more than any other factors. If you want to get the perfect mailing list, you need to understand the type of person who is your “ideal prospect.” Does your business cater to an older crowd? What about businesses or larger homes? Are you the go-to business for energy efficient heating and cooling solutions in your area? Whatever your ideal target market is, you need to fill your mailing list with people relevant to that market. The specificity of the lists you can obtain is great, too. Homes with household income over $100,000 that live within 20 miles of your location? No problem. Homes in your area built before 1975? No sweat. The trick is to know who you are seeking. So if you want to give your marketing a boost, just nail the Big Three. Your mailing will produce great results, and then you can fine tune as you go. I have seen it over and over again for more than 55,000 businesses. Postcards work, and the Big Three is how to make them work for you. Now, go make 2013 your most profitable year yet! Grow your HVAC business by downloading this report. http://www.postcardmania.com/ 6-ways-to-build-hvac-empire/ About Joy Gendusa: Joy Gendusa is the owner and CEO of direct mail marketing firm, PostcardMania. Joy began PostcardMania in 1998 with nothing but a phone and a computer, never taking a dime of investment capital. Joy originally started PostcardMania as a full-service postcard marketing company helping clients create turn-key marketing campaigns with graphic design, printing, mailing list acquisition and mailing services. Since then, PostcardMania has expanded to offer its clients more services, including website and landing page design and development, email marketing and full marketing evaluations — all while continuing to educate clients with free marketing advice. In 2011, PostcardMania reached almost $45 million in annual revenue, and the company now employs more than 195 people, prints 4 million and mails 2 million postcards each week, and has more than 53,000 customers in more than 350 industries. Please visit www.postcardmania. com for more information. Find Joy on Google+.
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F E A T U R E
From the Tool Kit:
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s a small business owner, no doubt you know the importance of marketing your company. Marketing and advertising are excellent ways to get the word out, but you’ve got another tool in your arsenal — the media. Contacting the press might sound like a daunting process, but there are some simple things you can do to get started. The first step is to identify a media opportunity. What big news does your company have to share? Next, you’ll want determine who from your company is most appropriate as a spokesperson. After that, develop a targeted media list of reporters, writers and editors within your region. It’s important to know reporters often switch beats (or topics they write about), so while a reporter may be covering news stories relating to the HVAC industry one day, there’s a good chance he or she will be focusing on a different industry the following week. Once your targeted media list is developed, it’s time to write your media communications. After distributing your news release, media alert or pitch letter to your targeted media list, it’s time to conduct follow up calls. Take the time to call the reporter or editor and be sure your message has been received. Keep in mind that just because you sent it, doesn’t mean they received it! Reporters generally work with tight deadlines and have lots of pitches coming their way each day, so it’s easy for some of them to get overlooked and fall through the cracks. Take advantage of the opportunity to connect directly with your local media and discuss your business, the industry
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Don’t forget to take advantage of the NADCA Toolkit, where you’ll find press release templates you can customize to help get you started. and your key messages. Picking up the phone and having a conversation is a good way to build relationships with the press. Once they know you, they’ll be more likely to notice when you send them pitches in the future. If interviews are requested, make sure you prepare yourself or your spokesperson in advance. Prepare talking points to help ensure you stay on track and communicate your key messages. After the interview is complete, follow up with the reporter. He or she may have additional questions, and this is your chance to reiterate your key messages. Track your media coverage, and be sure to share with NADCA Headquarters! Don’t forget to take advantage of the NADCA Toolkit, where you’ll find press release templates you can customize to help get you started.
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F E A T U R E
By Erik Caplan But what does this standard mean to NADCA members? The answer is simple—it means more business.
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ntroduced in 2008, Standard 180 is a universal standard for HVAC maintenance. It was written by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) and accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI.) “It has become a real standard,” says Bob Baker, an ASHRAE member who was chairperson of the Standard 180 committee. “It’s the law in California, and it has been incorporated into the Universal Mechanical Code (UMC) as well as the International Mechanical Code (IMC.)” Standard 180 was created to improve energy efficiency in HVAC systems by establishing a baseline of operational conditions and an enhanced level of planned maintenance. This maintenance standard allows HVAC units to function at a consistent performance level for the life of the units. But what does this standard mean to NADCA members? The answer is simple—it means more business. “This is a standard for maintenance of commercial HVAC systems, and only half of it refers to the mechanical portion of the system,” says NADCA President Bill Benito. “The other half of it—the ducts—falls under our area of operations. Most of these systems start to run less efficiently, especially when coils start to clog, so the user cranks the system up more and more to get the comfort level they desire. This obviously uses more energy and makes the system work harder, which means, without maintenance, it’ll also fail before its life-span is up. They
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become less efficient without maintenance because they get dirty, and they get dirty because we live on the earth, which is just a big ball of dirt.” The idea of pulling in more business in large facilities certainly should appeal to most commercial duct cleaning companies, and there’s a simple strategy for making inroads to building owners regarding Standard 180. “If I were a NADCA member approaching a business, I would mention to them that they have a duty to meet this standard,” Baker says. “They have a duty to have their ducts clean of soil and microbial agents in order to meet the standard.” Standard 180 promotes regular preventative maintenance of HVAC systems for prime levels of efficiency. Consequently, for consumers, adhering to Standard 180 can lead to higher levels of energy efficiency, maintainability and equipment longevity. “It’s a fairly simple concept,” Benito explains. “Almost anything, from cars to HVAC units, will work really well for extended periods of time if they’re maintained regularly. As long as the vent gives cold air or warm air when they want it, nobody really thinks about their HVAC systems or their air ducts. That’s when they get someone to check it out, but by then the system is obviously hurting. The standard came into existence for just that reason—because engineers were seeing units using a lot of extra energy and producing bad air over time. There was no standardized approach to care and maintenance of these systems.” DucTales • May/June 2013
Standard 180 promotes regular preventative maintenance of HVAC systems for prime levels of efficiency. Consequently, for consumers, adhering to Standard 180 can lead to higher levels of energy efficiency, maintainability and equipment longevity. In theory, Standard 180 sounds like an all-around winning proposition for everyone involved. The facility managers get better air quality, longer use of their HVAC units and lower energy bills, and duct cleaners and HVAC professionals get more inspection and maintenance work. But the real world is often greatly divergent from the theoretical world. “Building owners don’t always follow the rules, and we, in the industry, haven’t pushed Standard 180. I think we are missing the boat,” Benito says. “We really need to be on top of this—inspection should be a big part of what we do. But nothing happens with a standard until someone gets sued.”
concerns outlined in Standard 180. Like Benito, Baker says this is a recipe for disaster. “Building owners are digging for dollars,” he explains. “Maybe the building isn’t fully occupied, so they’re looking to save money anywhere. So, they’ll cut back on maintenance—they call it ‘deferred maintenance.’ So they won’t replace old carpets, or they’ll wait longer before they paint. But, if you’re a prudent building owner, you’ve got to conform to this standard for the HVAC system. If not, you’re opening yourself up to significant risk.”
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This last statement is rooted in a precedent set in the Texas Court of Appeals in 2001 with Ballard v. Farmers Insurance Company. Ms. Ballard’s case is probably the most prominent mold claim filed against insurers in Texas. An insurance agent failed to comply with the local mold-checking standards regarding water damage in Ballard’s home, and the resulting error led the jury to find in the plaintiff’s favor. This led to a rash of similar lawsuits and widespread information about the dangers of mold. “Building owners need to take it more seriously,” Benito explains. “If someone gets sick from working in an environment with poor air quality and successfully sues the building owner, it will set a precedent. Once that happens, everyone in the industry will be scrambling to comply with Standard 180. Before that happens, there needs to be a cohesive effort to get this standard out and tell customers that we can help them do this. We can make sure that at least 50 percent of their systems—the ducts—meet the standard.” In this age of tight budgets and economic crunching, many facility owners are looking for ways to cut expenses in every possible way, including ignoring maintenance
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A S S O C I A T E
M E mB E R
S P O T LI G H T
Vac Systems, International, Inc. Peter Haugen, ASCS, CVI, President Burnsville, Minn.
How did Vac Systems International, Inc., get its start? Vac Systems International started in June of 2004 when I purchased the equipment manufacturing and sales business of Vac Systems Industries of Minnesota, a commercial air duct cleaning contractor. The equipment manufacturing and sales business originally started in 1992 when I went to work for Doug Groen, owner of Vac Systems Industries of Minnesota, as their Marketing Manager. Doug was primarily a service contractor, but he had developed two products he made for his own service company, so we decided to see if other contractors would be interested in these two products. We had enough success to decide to develop additional products. The first products we designed for the commercial market included Super Collector 3000 and Super Collector 6000 vacuum collection systems, RBS 1500 brush system, Super Trac robotic systems, Super Cart spray systems, Spray and the drill-driven Super Cable brush system. Over time, these products were refined, and more products (residential and commercial) were added. After I purchased the manufacturing and sales business in 2004, I upgraded all the products and added the Super Collector E1.5, Super Collector E-Max and Super Collector E2 vfd vacuum collection systems. Today we offer a complete line of “field-proven” residential and commercial products. Plus, we are truly an international company with approximately 20 percent of our sales going overseas.
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What led your company to join NADCA? Joining NADCA is a must for any equipment supplier. NADCA members are the contractors I want to reach. We always do well at the annual convention because the owners and managers of the member companies are there. But it’s more than a good business decision—NADCA has helped this industry grow and mature. It leads our industry in so many ways (standards, certification, training, etc.). I have been an ASCS since 1999, joined NADCA as an Associate Member in 2004 when I purchased my business and just completed six years as the Associate Board Member. Currently I volunteer for several committees.
What are your flagship products, and how do they fit in with NADCA’s members and the industry as a whole? My main goal is to help my customers succeed. We do that by offering quality “field-proven” products to help maximize productivity and cleaning quality while minimizing cost. We offer a full selection of cleaning tools (brushes and whip systems) for the residential market, and the Super Collector E1.5 delivers excellent suction and portability with the lowest operating cost possible. We offer the Super Collector E-Max and Super Collector E2 vfd for the commercial market. These deliver excellent suction and the lowest possible operating cost. We have the Super Trac robotic systems, the family of Super Cart spray systems for applying coatings and sanitizer in ductwork and a full range of other products. We also offer some excellent educational materials in our Blueprint for Success series of guidelines and documents. DucTales • May/June 2013
What is your view of the HVAC industry from a supplier’s perspective?
What upcoming products are on your horizon for the HVAC industry?
The HVAC industry is full of opportunities for me as a supplier. Many HVAC contractors already offer air duct cleaning services, and many more are thinking about it. Air duct cleaning is a natural extension of an HVAC contractor’s business. It can help them better serve their existing customers and bring in new ones. We have the products, knowledge (based on 21 years in the industry) and drive to help them succeed.
We look at product development several ways. We are always looking for the next new technology we can use, and we continually evaluate our existing products and try to improve them to deliver better value for our customers. Many times we add a product or modify an existing product based on our conversations with our customers. Our goal is to give our customers the quality products they need to be successful.
What is the biggest change you’ve seen in the industry since your company became involved? Our industry has had ups and downs, but it is steadily improving and maturing. The standards, certification, training, consumer education and promotion of our industry continue to improve our industry. Plus, the overseas markets offer a tremendous opportunity as they discover and adopt HVAC system cleaning.
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Please share some thoughts about what you hope to gain from your NADCA Associate membership. Our Associate Membership in NADCA is important. It brings us into an environment where we can develop relationships/friendships with our customers and grow our business. It offers affinity programs (like the credit card processing) that benefit my business. It also gives us the opportunity to get involved with NADCA and give back to our industry.
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The Aging Duct Cleaner: Staying Sharp and Successful as the Years Move Forward
by Dan Stradford
“If I’d known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself.” — Eubie Blake, jazz pianist who died at 96 Dan Stradford is a NADCA board member and the CEO of Action Duct Cleaning. In 1998 he founded Safe Harbor, a nonprofit that provides education about non-drug treatments in mental health. He is the lead author of a guide for doctors, Complementary and Alternative Medicine Treatments in Psychiatry, and the author of The Men’s Code of Honor: 66 Principles That Make a Man.
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very year the sports world shares a familiar story of an aging athlete, usually between 35 and 40, who is past his prime and can’t deliver anymore. He’s getting fat, his batting average is in the toilet, he’s slow in the boxing ring, he spends half his time on the disabled list – in short, his body can’t do the job. Welcome to the realities of getting older. Around the world, life expectancies are increasing. The ratio of workers to retirees in the U.S. has been dropping for decades and is now less than 3-to-1. Government agencies know what’s coming: a continuous increase in those with Alzheimer’s and physical disabilities as Baby Boomers age and the senior population grows. In the duct cleaning industry, the average age of owners and service techs, like the rest of the population, is increasing. Companies like mine, which has been in business for 35 years, are seeing some of their workers
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and executives age and wear down. Once fit, they are now are retiring or moving on to easier jobs. Some are on blood pressure meds and living with arthritis, digestive problems, chronic back pain or bad knees that won’t let them crawl in attics. As a doctor friend of mine says, “Getting old is not for sissies.” Despite our increasing life expectancy, a study recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association tells us we have worse health than our parents. When Baby Boomers — those between 46 and 64 — were surveyed, it was found only one in 10 said they were in excellent health. When the previous generation was asked the same question nearly 20 years earlier, three in 10 said their health was excellent. This is likely because high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and physical disability are more common in the Baby Boomer generation. But for many today, physical breakdown is not an option. When the recession hit, many people — including lots of NADCA members — saw their retirement funds decimated. Plans to retire at 65 have now been moved up to 70, 75 or put on hold indefinitely. Others may be able to retire, but they don’t want to—they like rolling up their sleeves and delivering a solid day’s work. Or they like the challenge of being in business. Maybe they just want to keep making money.
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The bottom line is: If you want to keep working, stay sharp, keep up with the competition and grow old in relative comfort, you’re going to have to take care of yourself now. Otherwise, you may face serious consequences; the human body has many ways of getting our attention when we don’t treat it well. Fortunately, much of the baggage of getting older — weight gain, fatigue, mental decline, aches and pains, illnesses, medical conditions — can be avoided or reduced if we know what the body is asking for and give it the support it needs. That may require changing some habits. But experts say if you can maintain a habit for 21 days, it will become part of your routine. Even Aristotle knew this, noting, “We are what we repeatedly do, therefore excellence is not an act, but a habit.” Frankly, most of what we’re about to cover applies regardless of your age. Maintaining vigor as the years creep up requires paying attention to your lifestyle, making an effort to be healthy and making healthful changes as you go along.
Diet Enjoying comfort foods and treats occasionally is something that makes life pleasurable, but what you eat dramatically affects your current and future health and how you feel, especially if you eat unhealthy foods routinely. U.S. nutritionists have a standing joke, referring to the SAD — the Standard American Diet. Around the world, our junk food diet is being copied and places like France and China, once held up as examples of healthy citizens, are now seeing dramatic increases in obesity and resultant health issues. Even in those who aren’t obese, a poor diet simply does not provide the nutrition and energy needed to feel good and be fully productive. Obesity is generally defined as 20 percent or more above one’s ideal weight. The Centers for Disease Control reports 36 percent of the adult population is now obese, a steep rise over the last 30 years. The Gallup Poll reports the average American adult has gained 20 pounds in the past 20 years. While it’s tough to lose excess weight as you age, even modest weight loss can make a difference.
It is estimated 300,000 Americans die early each year because of obesity. Obesity requires more blood be pumped to the extra fat, creating heart problems and high blood pressure. The added weight puts stress on the joints, contributing to arthritis. The body becomes resistant to insulin, a hormone that helps us absorb sugar in the blood, so diabetes is a common result. These and other medical conditions can be reduced or avoided by eating better. So what makes a good diet? Doctors often disagree, but there are some things most concur on. Eat plenty of vegetables and some fruits. Raw is usually better. The nutrients are good for you, and the fiber is good and filling. Best of all, vegetables and fruit are low in calories and loaded with antioxidants, slowing down the oxidation (like iron rusting) of our cellular components. A 2009 study found people who drank a glass of vegetable juice a day lost significantly more weight than those who didn’t. Watch the sugar and refined carbs like white flour and white rice, which spike your blood sugar and lack nutrients. Millions of years of evolution have groomed us to eat natural foods like nuts, vegetables and whole grains that are slowly digested into blood sugar. Only in the past few centuries have we eaten white sugar and refined carbs that spike blood sugar levels quickly, zapping your energy and increasing your appetite. Now the average American eats 20 teaspoons of sugar a day, resulting in empty calories, added pounds and a strain on the body’s blood sugar processing system. Is any wonder one in four Americans is now diabetic or pre-diabetic? High fructose corn syrup, commonly found in sodas, is even worse, and it is connected with obesity and insulin resistance. Eat sufficient protein at every meal and some fats. Proteins and fat are what make most of us feel satiated after a meal. People vary in their needs for protein, but it is an important part of a healthy diet. Proteins are needed to maintain and build muscles and brain power. And a small amount of fat is a necessary part of a complete diet. Hormones are made of fat, as is 60 percent of your brain. Taking one to two grams of fish oil, an Omega-3 fatty acid, has been found to be an effective antidepressant for many people and provides other health benefits as well. Drink water. That’s what the human body was built to consume. Coffee, milk, soda and juice are okay here and there, but they can add calories or stimulants and simply are not a replacement for water. article continues on page 20
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But how can you eat like this if you have to go to work or are on the road every day? If you don’t have a nearby restaurant that offers these choices, bring your lunch or bring the ingredients to the office and make it there. It takes a little planning, some food containers and as much time as going to the fast food place
Exercise Get enough exercise. “Use it or lose it.” We’ve all heard this, and it is quite true. The human body was made to move. Bones, joints and muscles deteriorate if they are not worked. And they thrive if they are used (though some joints can wear out with age). Research shows sitting down more than three consecutive hours a day, something done by duct cleaning executives, salesmen and those who drive a lot, shortens your life by up to two years. Getting up and moving throughout your day can help. Maybe you work hard all day and get plenty of exercise on the job. But if you don’t, regular walks, going to the gym, jogging, sports, etc., can make a big difference in how you feel. Exercise keeps you fit, keeps the weight down, improves mental focus and digestion, speeds up your metabolism and produces feel-good chemicals called endorphins that can put a bounce in your step and a twinkle in your eye. Even a short work out such as Dr. Joseph Mercola’s “Peak Fitness” routine a few times a week for 20 minutes can make a big difference (see http:// fitness.mercola.com/sites/fitness/archive/2012/02/10/ phil-campbell-interview.aspx). Some evidence suggests it boosts human growth hormone production, which can make you feel like a kid again. Use yoga for flexibility and fitness. You know, I catch a lot of grief from the other NADCA board members because I’m the first board member from California – “The Left Coast,” “The Granola State: Land of Nuts and Flakes” – and I agree it can be a strange place often associated with New Age practices and tree huggers. But yoga is the real deal! It is an ancient practice from India that improves strength, flexibility of the spine and joints, hormone production (causing you to feel bright and burn calories faster) and stress tolerance, among many other benefits. Tons of scientific research has shown yoga is good for you. Generally, you do yoga daily or regularly for as little as five minutes to an hour, depending on how much time you have to spare. When I started practicing yoga, I found I had more energy and needed less sleep. I naturally
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woke up an hour earlier, so it really added more time to my day.. Yoga is usually a series of comfortable, non-impact exercises and poses that stretch and work the body, making it limber, stronger and relaxed – in short, making you feel younger. The ancient yoga masters believed we are as young as our spine is flexible, so I personally do exercises for that area, and I love the results. Yoga can literally save your livelihood by extending your work years if you have a bad back or other musculo-skeletal issue. Learning about yoga can be confusing at first because there are so many exercises and so many kinds of yoga – Hatha yoga (the most popular), Yin yoga and Kundalini yoga (my personal favorite), to name a few. But it’s simple enough to buy a DVD or book or go online (YouTube and many web sites have lots of free routines) or take a local class. Once you know a routine, you can do it at home for free. One simple practice that takes five to 10 minutes is called “Five Tibetan Rites” – found easily online. You may even notice positive results from yoga after just the first day or two.
Sleep Get sufficient sleep. Let me be blunt, failure to get enough sleep can cause weight gain, creates mental fogginess and increases your risk for stroke, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, anxiety and depression. It’s no joke. Some people have habits of burning the midnight oil to squeeze in extra work or play. As you age, it’s a bad investment of your time because it reduces your abilities, your effectiveness, your fitness for work and your life span. Watch out for sleep apnea and other sleep problems. Sleep disorders are well researched these days, and some doctors specialize in sleep. Sleep apnea is one of the most common sleep disorders. Sleep apnea is usually identified by heavy snoring and/or brief cessation of breathing in your sleep. While a lot of people joke about heavy snoring, it prevents you from getting a full night’s rest and causes serious medical issues. You can get chronic brain fog and feel worn out all day; maybe nodding off midday or even while you’re driving. You age faster, increasing your risk for stroke, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, depression and early death. You can get tested for sleep apnea, and it is very easy to treat, so if you suspect you have it, get yourself
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checked out. Correcting it can make you feel alive again, dramatically improve your mood, motivation and mojo. If you have trouble falling asleep, melatonin is a natural hormone that is effective, as are calcium-magnesium drinks (known as cal-mag and available from most health food stores). Also, an Epsom salts bath (discussed in the section below on stress) can help bring on sleep. Other natural sleep aids are also available online and at health stores.
Medication According to a 2007 study by the Millenium Research Group, medical errors are the fifth leading cause of death in the U.S, accounting for up to 98,000 deaths annually. A study published in 2008 found one in seven hospital patients experience an adverse drug reaction. According to the Centers for Disease Control, drug poisoning kills as many people as traffic accidents, and 40 percent of all drug poisoning is from opiate-based painkillers, causing nearly 15,000 deaths a year in the U.S.
Medicine can be a life-saver, but, for some, the health risks are greater than the benefit. Every year millions of individuals decline physically or mentally or are brought close to death by routine prescriptions and over-thecounter drugs. Blood pressure medicine can cause depression, antidepressants can cause suicidal feelings and sexual dysfunction in men and women and some painkillers like aspirin can cause bleeding ulcers. As we age, we tend to use more medications, putting ourselves more at risk for adverse reactions from drugs and combinations of drugs. If you need them for ailments like hypertension, diabetes or high cholesterol, take them. But in many cases, drugs can be reduced or eliminated and medical conditions can be treated with diet, exercise, nutritional supplements, herbs, yoga and other lifestyle changes. Do some research and find out if your condition can be treated with a healthier approach. It’s important to remember some natural remedies can interact badly with prescription medications, so be sure to tell your doctor or pharmacist about any supplements to prevent a dangerous combination. article continues on page 22
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Consult a healthcare professional before trying to stop taking a medication. Quitting cold turkey can have adverse side effects. The American College for Advancement in Medicine (www.acam.org) has a directory of doctors who use non-pharmaceutical approaches. If you want to stop taking psychiatric drugs, my organization’s website has as a health care professional directory www.AlternativeMentalHealth.com that use non-pharmaceutical mental health treatments.
Testosterone Since most NADCA members are men, let’s talk about testosterone. At normal levels, this hormone gives you energy, makes you feel youthful, increases your stress tolerance, helps keep the pounds off and maintains your libido. As it drops in your 40s and onwards, you will likely gain weight, spend more time on the couch, feel more depressed and grouchy and lose interest in sex. A common sign of low testosterone is if you no longer wake up with an erection. Women, too, have some testosterone and can experience similar effects on a lesser scale. And it’s a vicious cycle because weight gain and not getting enough exercise lower testosterone even further. And excess alcohol intake can also lower your testosterone levels. Modern life has worsened the “low T” situation. In addition to our obesity epidemic and sedentary lifestyle impacting testosterone, our environment is loaded with chemicals called “estrogen mimickers” in pesticides, plastics, glues and many other materials. They act similar to estrogen in male bodies, lowering testosterone and sperm counts.
A typical daily combination is the herb tribulus terrestris, 10 mg of boron and DHEA (www.livestrong.com says a typical dose is 50 mg). All of these are available at vitamin shops. Bodybuilding web sites are loaded with natural testosterone boosters, so there are plenty to choose from. Talk to your doctor before taking them or any other supplements to ensure you’re using them safely. Boosting T will increase your mental sharpness, raise your energy, lift your spirits, help with weight loss and…well, let’s just say Mrs. Duct Cleaner will be a lot happier.
Alcohol, Addiction and Substance Abuse As life’s stresses take their toll through the years, and the body begins to slow down, it is common for people to seek some comfort in alcohol, painkillers, marijuana, tranquilizers and similar substances. Alcohol is use very common, and I enjoy a drink much as the next guy. In fact, one to two drinks a day can be healthy for you. But binge drinking or routine heavy drinking takes a toll on your body. Excessive drinking can lower your immunity, lessen testosterone production, cause depression and damage your liver. Like other moodaltering substances, people often turn to alcohol to take their mind off their troubles, but when left unchecked, drinking can become a problem in itself. The day may come when you realize the substance that once comforted you now owns you. You may build your life around it, hide it, do illegal things because of it, spend more than you should on it, ignore the damage it does to your mind and body and choose it over your family, friends or business responsibilities. That’s when addiction has taken root. Make no mistake, it will age you quickly.
Drug company ads seem to offer an easy fix — just see your doctor and get a shot or patch of testosterone. That may sound great, but there’s a catch. These testosterone replacements can actually cause your body to further lessen the production of testosterone and your testicles will shrink. If you ever find yourself unable to get your T shot or patch, you’ll likely feel very depressed, sluggish and weak until you get your fix or your body starts producing sufficient T again weeks later after production starts back up.
Tobacco is a seductive mistress who is hard to say no to, but she will steal your health and maybe years of your life if you hang onto her. Food, gambling, even porn addictions drain you in different ways but can also directly harm your health. And as you get older, you will likely find the burdens of addictions and unhealthy habits are a lot harder to shoulder. The discomfort of quitting them becomes a lot less than the pain of carrying them forward.
A better solution is to address the causes directly. Drop weight, get some exercise, do some yoga, stop smoking, cut back your drinking — these all help. Supplements and herbs can help increase your natural T production.
We abuse substances and habits because we are human and seek pleasure and solace, and we don’t know or use more positive alternatives. But there is lots of help available for people looking to overcome addiction.
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Healthy alternatives can be learned, and habits can be changed. It is never too late, and those who manage to free themselves will tell you it is well worth the effort.
contribute to serious health issues and depression and shorten your life.
Genetics
1. Remove stressful elements from your life if possible, such as negative friends or employees who cause chaos.
Baseball legend Mickey Mantle died at the age of 63, his father at 39 and his grandfather at 41. On the day of his passing, many sports announcers lamented how the Mick’s early demise was part of his genetic makeup, with generations of Mantle males dying before their time. Sad, but not true. Mantle died of liver cancer brought on by years of alcohol abuse, not because he was predestined to die early. Your genes have a lot to do with what you become, but science is finding they do not predict your future. Just because your mother had Alzheimer’s, Type 2 Diabetes or even schizophrenia, doesn’t mean you will, too. This new science is called epigenetics. Epigenetics has found that while your DNA doesn’t change, its activity or “gene expression” turns on and off. So though you may share DNA with your father, who suffered from thyroid problems, those genes may not be expressed. Many things can turn “bad” genes off, including diet, exercise, stress management and nutritional supplements. That’s right. Take better care of yourself, and your body will be nice to you.
The standard recipe for dealing with stress is:
2. Change personal behaviors that are creating stress, like gambling, cheating on a spouse, engaging in high-risk activities or financial ventures that are beyond your risk tolerance. 3. Regularly do things that bring you joy, like playing music, dancing, playing sports, being with friends, going to church or spending time with your grandchildren. In the mental health field, another useful tool comes from the Buddhist concept of suffering: We suffer because we resist. That is, we stress out because we mentally fight over and over against something bad happening. The solution: Do whatever you need to do to fix the situation, but mentally be in the present moment and accept current article continues on page 36
There’s no guarantee you won’t develop a medical condition your parents had, but improving your lifestyle tilts the odds much better in your favor.
Stress, Depression and Alzheimer’s NADCA members know all about stress. That huge job you signed a contact on turns out to have twice the ductwork. The IRS wants to audit you. Your best salesman has gone to work for your competitor. Oh, and by the way, your wife wants a divorce, and the twins need braces. Occasionally you hear some pop psychologist say, “Avoid stress.” That’s good advice, but it’s not always practical. Stress is inevitable in the life of anyone who is trying to run a business, grow, improve and take on more responsibility. Sometimes stress is unavoidable. One of the perks of aging is we tend to become more patient, and we learn to avoid stress from reckless actions or poor judgment. While some stress can keep life challenging and interesting, if it becomes overwhelming or chronic, it can
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C O M M I T T E E
S P O T LI G H T
Certification Committee
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n an effort to keep NADCA members informed with the latest information about certification requirements, our Certification Committee, led by Chairman Stradford, wants you to know what the recent merger of the Ventilation System Mold Remediator (VMSR) certification into our new Air Systems Cleaning Specialist (ASCS) Certification means for you.
Certified VSMR or Equivalent If you are an ASCS who also has a current VSMR (or equivalent) in good standing, you will automatically be enrolled into the new ASCS certification. VSMR equivalent designations are as follows:
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CMR: Certified Mold Remediator*
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CMRS: Certified Mold Remediator Supervisor*
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CIE: Certified Indoor Environmentalist*
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State Mold Remediator Licenses*
All ASCS certified individuals who hold any of the above current VSMR (or equivalent) certifications will have fulfilled the requirement of the new ASCS certification and will just need to renew their ASCS certification as usual. They will NOT be required to take the VSMR Bridging Exam.
How do I meet the requirements of this new ASCS Certification?
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CIEC: Certified Indoor Environmental Consultant*
*If you currently hold any of these above equivalent designations you will need to simply submit a copy of your certification information to NADCA staff for verification purposes prior to June 30, 2013. Additional instructions for submitting this information is available at www. nadca.com.
NADCA recently merged the VSMR certification into a new ASCS comprehensive certification, where exam takers are now required to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary for both HVAC cleaning and microbial remediation within an HVAC system. Here is what this change means for you.
Current ASCS certified individuals who took the former ASCS exam prior to the VSMR being merged with the ASCS will not be required to take the new ASCS exam. However, they will be required to establish the gap in knowledge between the old and new certifications. There are two ways to do this.
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VSMR Bridging Exam Available Online If you are an ASCS who does not have a current VSMR (or equivalent), you are required to pass the VSMR Bridging Exam by June 30, 2013. This 50-question, open-book exam is available online at www.nadcatesting.com at a cost of $75. The exam counts for two CECs toward ASCS renewal. If you’re interested in purchasing a VSMR Bridging Exam Study Guide, you can do so by filling out our Publication Order Form at www.nadca.com. Upon passing the VSMR Bridging Exam, ASCS certified individuals will have fulfilled the requirement of the new ASCS certification and will just need to renew their ASCS certification as usual.
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All ASCS individuals are required to renew their certification annually. The deadline for renewing ASCS certification is June 30, 2013. How long will I have to fulfill these requirements of the new ASCS certification? You will have until June 30, 2013 to meet the requirements of the new ASCS certification. After this date, those ASCS certified individuals who do not come into compliance with the new certification will no longer be ASCS certified.
When will I receive my certificate for the new ASCS certification? If you have fulfilled the requirements of the new ASCS certification, you will receive your updated ASCS certificate when you complete your ASCS certification renewal. Instructions for renewing your ASCS certification will be sent out with the renewal notices. Your updated certificate will state that, in addition to the ASCS certification, the certificate holder also qualifies as a Ventilation System Mold Remediator (VSMR).
How do I renew my ASCS certification?
If you have questions about the VSMR Bridging Exam or the ASCS renewal process, we invite you to visit www.nadca.com or contact NADCA headquarters at certification@nadca.com for any questions or concerns.
Regional Technical Advisory Committee The Regional Technical Advisory Committee, led by Chairman Rick MacDonald, has been busy putting together an excellent program for NADCA’s 2013 Technical Conference. This year’s conference will be held Thursday, September 26 – Saturday, September 28, 2013 at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel in Atlanta. The theme for this year’s event is “Coming Up for Air” and Technician and Advanced Track sessions will be offered. Topics will include the following and more: 4 Introduction to ACR, The NADCA Standard. 4 Basic Overview of HVAC Systems. 4 Customer Service. 4 Ventilation Maintenance Technician (VMT) Training Course.
All ASCS individuals are required to renew their certification annually. There are two methods for renewing ASCS certification, which include acquiring six qualified CECs and submitting proof of CECs with a $75 renewal fee or by passing an online ASCS renewal quiz to achieve the six CEC requirements.
4 Air Tools.
This year, the Certification Committee has developed three new ASCS renewal quizzes available at www.nadcatesting.com for the 2013-14 renewal cycle. They include a two CEC renewal quiz ($75), a four CEC renewal quiz ($225) and a six CEC renewal quiz ($300). For those who don’t have the opportunity to attend NADCA events or other industry related training, the renewal quizzes are a great option for meeting the six CEC requirement for ASCS certification renewal.
The Technical Conference will also offer pre-conference education courses and certification opportunities, including:
The deadline for renewing ASCS certification is June 30, 2013. Those who renew their ASCS certification after this date will be required to pay a late fee.
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4 Compressors. 4 CFM vs. PSI. 4 Vertical Lift Training and Certification Class. 4 Hands-On Training and Demonstrations.
4 Air Systems Cleaning Specialist (ASCS) to the ACR Standard. 4 Air Systems Cleaning Specialist (ASCS) Exam. 4 Certified Ventilation Inspector (CVI) Training Course. 4 Certified Ventilation Inspector (CVI) Exam. You won’t want to miss this great opportunity for high quality education and training! For additional information, visit www.nadca.com.
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S O C I A L
M E D I A
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t is the place to find and be found. LinkedIn is a social networking website for people in professional occupations.
LinkedIn has standardized information entered by users into predefined categories such as Profile Headline, Education, Company, etc., making it easier to locate and identify specific trade professionals. Tutorials walk you through the development process to enhance your profile. In addition to this huge database of information, the platform also provides an search tools to allow you to locate the person you are speaking using specific keywords such as air duct cleaning, NADCA, IAQ, etc. And, the more connections you have, the more you will be found by colleagues. Top Reasons to Join NADCA’s LinkedIn Group •
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The NADCA LinkedIn Group – where you can introduce yourself, connect with fellow members and ask questions or offer solutions to day-to-day problems. Network with NADCA members and other IAQ industry members from around the world.
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Get instant access to air duct cleaning breaking news, questions, comments, articles, white papers and reports – continually updated and all for free. Find the latest advertising for webinars and training across a wide range of IAQ industry areas including health and safety, training, project management and much more. Notifications of IAQ conferences, events and expos around the world to ensure your indoor air quality and air duct cleaning professional skills and certifications are kept current. The opportunity to promote your business to thousands of IAQ professionals.
If you are currently not a LinkedIn member, consider joining. It’s free and valuable! Once you join, be sure to search for and join NADCA’s LinkedIn Group. If you have questions or require assistance or perhaps you just want to know how to more effectively use the site, please contact NADCA’s Social Media Chair, Richard Lantz at r.lantz@airductcleanersva.com.
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NADCA’s Finance Committee
inance, by definition, is the management of revenues; the conduct or transaction of money matters generally, especially those affecting the public, as in the fields of banking and investment. NADCA’s Finance Committee has been formed, as was announced during our general business meeting in New Orleans. Several members have stepped forward to volunteer their time.
Committee Chair: Michael Vinick, Duct and Vent Cleaning of America, Inc.
Committee Members: Bill Benito, Connecticut Steam Cleaning Richard Lantz, Air Duct Cleaners of Virginia John Line, Sani-Vac Service, Inc. Al Sutton, Service-Tech Corporation April Yungen, Air Management Industries
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The Finance Committee is a standing committee of the Board of Directors and is chaired by the outgoing Board Treasurer. The incoming or current Treasurer is a member of the committee, and the remaining members are appointed by the Board President. The committee is responsible for reviewing and providing guidance for NADCA’s financial matters. Specifically, the committee assures internal controls, independent audit and financial analysis for the association. The Finance Committee reviews all financial statements and reports on financial activity to the full board. We have taken steps to bring the Finance Committee to an active status as a testament to our ongoing commitment to transparency. This committee will provide direction for the entire Board for fiscal responsibility; regularly review the organization’s revenues and expenditures, balance sheet, investments and other matters related to its continued solvency; approve the annual budget and submit it to the full Board for approval; ensure the maintenance of an appropriate capital structure; and oversee the maintenance of organizational-wide assets, including prudent management of association investments. DucTales • May/June 2013
N A D C A
C O M M I T T E E
Annual Meeting Co-Chairs: Matt Mongiello Michael Vinick
Tommy Gwaltney Peter Haugen Rick MacDonald Jimmy Meyer MJ Palazzolo Keith Reynolds Terri Reynolds Meg Walker Cindy White
By-Laws Policies Procedures Chair:
Dan Stradford Richard Lantz Pierre Laurin Ronald Nichols
Certification Committee Chair:
Dan Stradford Bill Benito Brad Kuhlmann Richard Lantz Pierre Laurin Greg Long Rick MacDonald Mike McDavid Vito Moscato Todd St. Ores Tom Yacobellis
Sub-committee: CVI Job Analysis Chair: Bill Benito
Education & Safety Committee Co-Chairs: Mike White Rick MacDonald
Bill Benito Tommy Gwaltney Richard Lantz Kehau Mendes Ronald Nichols Robert Rizen Dan Stradford Bill Tyrell
Sub-committee: Training Programs Chair: Richard Lantz Sub-committee: White Paper Task Force Chair: Dan Stradford
A S S I G N M E N T S
Sub-committee: Safety Program Review and Update Chair: Dan Stradford Sub-committee: Regional Technical Advisory Committee (RTAC) Chair: Rick MacDonald Mike White Richard Lantz Kehau Mendes Mike McDavid Bill Tyrell
International Affairs Chair:
Matt Mongiello Carlos Gonzalez-Boothby Peter Haugen Pierre Laurin Rick MacDonald Travis Tassey
Regional Coordinators
Ethics Committee
United States Northwest - Vito Moscato, Bill Tyrell Southwest - Matt Kelly, Kehau Mendes Northeast - Rick MacDonald Southeast - Tommy Gwaltney, Perry Bagley
Chair:
Canada Region 9 - Gary Lapstra Region 9.5 Quebec - Pierre Laurin
Richard Lantz Pierre Laurin Ron Nichols Dan Stradford
Finance Committee
Oceania-Australia Region 11 - Jeremy Stamkos
Chair:
Italy Region 12 - Chair: Giorgio Ziragachi, Past President of AIISA; Andrea Casa, President of AIISA
Michael Vinick Bill Benito Richard Lantz John Line Al Sutton April Yungen
Industry & Public Relations Committee Co-Chairs: Bill Benito Richard Lantz
Jim Castellano Chad Cowan Peter Haugen Clayton Ivany Matt Mongiello Chris Wilson
Sub-committee: Energy Research Study Task Force Chair: Mike White Bill Benito Sub-committee: EPA Website update Task Force Chair: Rick MacDonald Sub-committee: Editorial Committee Chair: Bill Benito Richard Lantz Sub-committee: Social Media Chair: Richard Lantz Bill Benito
China Region 15 - Robert Nicholson Central & South America Relations Chair: Carlos Gonzalez-Boothby Richard Lantz
Membership Chair:
Michael Vinick Nelson Constanza James Cooke Peter Haugen Matt Mongiello MJ Palazzolo Kevin Uilkie Mark Zarzaczny
Leadership Development Committee Chair:
Bill Benito
ACR Standards Committee Chair:
Bill Lundquist Bill Benito Brad Kuhlmann Richard Lantz Greg Long Rick MacDonald
Congratulations New Members New Regular Members: Air Duct Maids Lorton, VA Alberta Furnace Cleaning Edmonton, AB Canada
Duct Dudes, Inc. Iselin, NJ EnviroTek LLC Greenville, AL Griffiths Carpet & Upholstery Cleaners East Hampton, NY
Alpha Air Corp. Blaine, MN
Offshore Air & Refrigeration Lafayette, LA
Bryant Heating & Air Conditioning Citrus Heights, CA
Rainbow International of Knoxville Knoxville, TN
DARI - Demolition & Asbestos Removal, Inc. Greensboro, NC
Supply Side Duct and Furnace Cleaning, LLC Oconowowac, WI
Duct Care, LLC Memphis, TN
Service Legends Des Moines, IA Servpro of Manahawkin Manahawkin, NJ
CALENDAR I N D U S T R Y
C A L E N D A R
To include your event, please contact NADCA Headquarters at 1-855-GO-NADCA, or email publications@nadca.com. For additional information and current calendar of events, please visit www.nadca.com.
NADCA Events NADCA 2013 Technical Conference September 26-28, 2013 Atlanta
NADCA’s 25th Annual Meeting & Exposition March 3-6, 2014 San Antonio
Related Industry Events American Institute of Architects 2013 AIA Convention
2013 Every Building Conference & Expo® presented by BOMA International and BUILDINGS
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers ASHRAE 2013 Annual Conference
SMACNA Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors Association
June 20-22, 2013 Denver
June 22-26, 2013 Denver
June 23–25, 2013 San Diego
Call For Submissions Do you have an interesting story to tell? Discovered a new technique? We want to hear from you! If you are interested in submitting an article, please contact NADCA Headquarters to discuss the current submission schedule and writing criteria. Call (856) 380-6810 or write to info@nadca.com.
October 20 – 24, 2013 Maui, Hawaii
M E mB E R
S P O T LI G H T
Steamatic of St. Louis Michael McDavid www.steamaticstl.com
What made you want to become involved in the duct cleaning business? As a full-service restoration and indoor air quality service company, it was a natural fit for us to move into the HVAC ACR industry.
How did you get started? We were fortunate enough to be a part of the Steamatic franchise system, which helped us begin cleaning ductwork from the time we opened our doors in St. Louis, Mo. The primary focus was soot being re-introduced into structures after fires. As our services expanded into microbial contaminants, remediation projects were also a growing concern for many organizations in our market.
How long have you been in business? We have been in the St. Louis market since 1991, but Steamatic Corporate built and developed some of their own equipment in the early 1980’s.
How did you become aware of NADCA and get involved? NADCA was suggested to us by Steamatic Corporate, but as more specifications required the ASCS Certification, we knew we had to join or get left behind. Also, we found it was a unique way for us to separate ourselves from the local competition.
Where do you see the industry headed in the next 10 years? I don’t see the IAQ side of our business going anywhere, but I do see the market being shifted into a focus on DucTales • May/June 2013
energy conservation. If we can prove our services reduce operating costs associated with HVAC equipment, we will save facilities money. If we can’t, the rest of the crowd just may pass on us.
What is the strangest thing you’ve encountered on a job? Aside from every pet (usually dead) known to man or Uncle Billy’s lost toy from when he was a little boy, we have found syringes hidden in the ducts when cleaning meth labs, and hand grenades on military bases when cleaning basic combat training barracks.
What is your biggest accomplishment as a business in the industry? Considering what we actually do for a living and taking away the monetary dollar amounts of contracts, one of our biggest accomplishments was when a frantic facility manager from a hospital that primarily handles pediatrics and children called us one Friday afternoon. A severe microbial problem had been discovered in one of the air handlers, and it could have potentially contributed to the death of one or more of their patients. We were asked to respond immediately by cleaning every AHU on a 24-hour rotation until the job was completed. I am proud to say our experienced and dedicated staff was able to have all 18 systems back up and running by the beginning of Monday’s shift. After testing, the Infection Control Officer commended our crews for the outstanding job completed. We all went home tired and relieved that the work we performed helped save lives. It doesn’t get any better than that!
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Congratulations New ASCSs Ellis Adams RoyalAire Mechanical Services, Inc. Oldsmar, FL
Wayne Ellison Atlas Butler Heating & Cooling Columbus, OH
Thomas Lachowicz Duct Dudes, Inc. Iselin, NJ
Craig Powers COIT Cleaning & Restoration Woodinville, WA
Thomas Angus EnviroCare Systems Limited Toronto, ON Canada
Robert Eriks Americlean, Inc Merrillville, IN
Robert LeConey Carolina Air Care Travelers Rest, SC
Tom Fehr K.M. Facility Services, LLC Glendale, AZ
Mark Litchke Mavo Systems White Bear Lake, MN
Mike Ramirez Alberta Furnace Cleaning Edmonton, AB Canada
Mike Fields DARI Greensboro, NC
Paul Litchke Trinity-Vac Systems Roseville, MN
Vincent Fontana Degmor, Inc. New York, NY
Ray Litchke Trinity-Vac Systems Roseville, MN
Ed Forton Lamunyon Cleaning & Restoration Hutchinson, KS
Jim Lunceford Stanley Steemer Atlanta, GA
Chris Fyrberg Servpro of Manahawkin Barnegat, NJ
Michael Mascherino Brylin Inc. dba Stanley Steemer Pottstown, PA
William Galvin Monster Vac, Inc. Englewood, CO
Michael McDowell The Cleaner Image Rowlett, TX
Mike Garza Monster Vac, Inc. Englewood, CO
Josh McSwain Clean Air Services, Inc. Hattiesburg, MS
Tommy Gess Mighty Ducts Cheyenne, WY
Rebecca Melton Indoor Air Technologies, Inc. Victor, NY
Eric Gordon Carlisle HVAC Wylie, TX
Craig Moeckel Lamunyon Cleaning & Restoration Hutchinson, KS
George Gray Hasgoe Cleaning Systems, Inc. Evansville, IN
Randall Montgomery Stanley Steemer Englewood,CO
Mark Hall AdvantaClean of Lexington, KY Lexington, KY
Chris Moore Monster Vac, Inc. Englewood, CO
Joshua Hawkins Rainbow International of Knoxville Knoxville, TN
Mike Murray Trinity-Vac Systems Roseville, MN
Josh Hendrick Envirotek Greenville, AL
Nicholas Netefor T&D Duct Cleaning Eldersburg, MD
Gerald Vargas Colon Quick Tech Solution Corp Toa Alta Puerto Rico
Taylor Hill BDV Ventilation Thunder Bay, ON Canada
Edward Noonan T&D Duct Cleaning Eldersburg, MD
Jeremy Vickery Clean Air Connection Wenatchee, WA
Charles Parker Carolina Air Care Travelers Rest, SC
Nicholas Wanderscheid Service Legends Heating & Cooling Des Moines, IA
Mike Parkinson California Power Vac Valencia, CA
Bradley Weaner Servpro of East Dayton/Beavercreek Dayton, OH
Nick Paulson Weather Engineers Jacksonville, FL
Jason Webster Cary Reconstruction Co., Inc. Apex, NC
David Pixley Alpha Air Corporation Blaine, MN
Keith Wiebke Core Mechanical Pennsauken, NJ
John Pollard Oliver Heating & Cooling Morton, PA
Chris Wilson Cool Zone Inc Naples, FL
Christopher Belcher Colonial Webb Contractors Poquoson, VA Roy Brewer Mighty Duct Mendon, MA Brent Burdette Oliver Heating & Cooling Morton, PA Albert Cabral Hightower Restoration Norwalk, CT Douglas Campanharo Air Duct Maids Woodbridge, VA Mike Chaumont Offshore Air & Refrigeration (OAR) Lafayette, LA William Clark Steamatic of Nashville Nashville, TN Marco Constanzini Termoidraulica Savignanese SRL Modena Italy Robert Cox Aqua Plumbing & Air Sarasota, FL MacKenzie Cox Supply Side Duct & Furnace Cleaning, LLC Oconomowoc, WI Gustavo Cruz Omega Ingenieros SAS Valle Del Cauca Colombia Donald Cuba Ductworks Inc Arvada, CO Sean Davis BDV Ventilation Thunder Bay, ON Canada Bobby Dean Servpro of Alexander & Caldwell Counties Lenoir, NC Tyler Dear EnviroCare Systems Limited Toronto, ON Canada
Kurt Hulett Jr. Stanley Steemer Lenexa, KS Chris Hurd Tri State Hood and Duct, LLC Nashua, NH
Wesley Dempsey Griffiths Carpet East Hampton, NY
Josh Irving Weather Engineers Jacksonville, FL
Lynn Derouen Offshore Air & Refrigeration (OAR) Lafayette, LA
Thomas Juranich Delaton Service Corporation Lagrange, GA
Ray Duhon Offshore Air & Refrigeration (OAR) Lafayette, LA
Muni Kumar Clean Air Australia Brisbane, Queensland Australia
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Ting Ren Alberta Furnace Cleaning Edmonton, AB Canada Darren Roach Power Vac-BELFOR Saint John, NB Canada Carl Rodenberg Hasgoe Cleaning Systems, Inc. Evansville, IN Oscar Rodriguez American Technologies, Inc. San Diego, CA Scott Sawyer Air-Wave Environmental Service Northwood, OH Skip Stanton Aqua Plumbing & Air Sarasota, FL Tracy Stover Stover’s Restoration Maize, KS Earl Thompson C.C. & S.S. Inc. - Stanley Steemer Dothan, FL Patrick Tierney Cary Reconstruction Co., Inc. Apex, NC Isaac Tilstra Griffiths Carpet East Hampton, NY Joshua Trites Mighty Duct Mendon, MA
Richard Pomerloeau Air-Cares.com, LLC Northford, CT
DucTales • May/June 2013
President’s Message continued from page 3
a relatively new industry that is essentially 25 years old. I believe our industry is paralleling what happened to Japan. People thought our product was junk, and even the EPA said they didn’t really see the need for it. Now we see our ACR in specifications everywhere. We have energy studies that show savings from HVAC system cleanings. The EPA wants to take another look at how we do things. Other related industries are working with us to find the best solutions to IAQ and common ground where we can overlap our work to give the customer the
best results without doubling the cost. Other trades are starting to treat us with respect. As the wave starts to build again, I am excited to be part of it. I want to contribute to our industry, and I know because you are a member, you do, too. We provide some of the best consumer information pertaining to our industry on the web, and we are going after anyone using the NADCA name improperly or illegally. We may not get them all right away, but, by being vigilant and increasing the quality of our own work, we will drive them out.
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Executive Director’s Message continued from page 4
“The toughest part of getting to the top of the ladder is getting through the crowd at the bottom.” — Unknown Crowds, people, comrades, co-workers, fellow duct cleaners…these are your greatest resources. I always talk of networking and the value of face-to-face meetings. This couldn’t have been more evident than at NADCA’s annual conference in New Orleans in March. This was my first annual meeting with NADCA, and it was important that I had the opportunity to meet and greet as many NADCA members and past volunteers as possible. As the days passed, I found myself shaking hands with members in the hallways, the elevators, at the bar, in training sessions and even on the streets of New Orleans. This gathering offered so many venues to make these important connections. I recall having met a brand-new ASCS on the street during our now legendary St. Patrick’s Day parade. Looking back at the parade photos reminded me of all of the familiar faces and many of the names. NADCA long-timers like John Line and Charlie Cochrane, Paul Burns and Terry Donohue, and of course those I’ve had the pleasure of working with personally over the past year, Bill Lundquist, Greg Long and Brad Kuhlmann. As I worked the room and made introductions, I saw many of you doing what you do, talking business, making deals, forging new relationships and fostering those built decades ago. This crowd was a winner! This crowd was safe! This crowd was productive, and it was a party among friends old and new. The stark contrast between our crowd and its outcome, and that of the Boston Marathon is tragic. What we need to walk away with is a sense of gratitude and selflessness. We have been blessed to have had this successful event filled with fun, friends and business, and each of us made it home to our families safely so that we could wake up
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and do it again. That, in itself is a huge win. Tomorrow is another day, and we may find ourselves in another crowd. We may ask ourselves “what if” but we show up anyway. Or life moves forward without us… NADCA is moving forward. Watch your inbox and check the website for our 2013 training schedule. We’ve put together a nice webinar program to get you on track for your CEC compliance, with three sessions available prior to the renewal deadline on June 30, 2013. The Fall Technical Conference is now confirmed for Sept. 26-28 in Atlanta and by press time, the Quebec City Summit will have occurred. Our goal is to offer quality training in affordable and accessible locations across the United States and abroad. Look for the newest member benefit coming your way shortly. NADCA has partnered with IAQA to offer members deep discounts on IAQA educational sessions. NADCA recognizes these sessions for CEC credits, and IAQA has graciously extended a tremendous discount available only to NADCA members. Have you received a welcome email with your log in credentials for NADCA’s new website and online renewal system? Log on to renew your membership dues and your certifications. Upload proof of CECs and instantly complete your renewal process in just a few easy steps. NADCA is taking steps to build integration and functionality that will bring ease of compliance, saving you time and money. Stay tuned because there is so much more to come! PS – If you missed the annual conference, be sure to check out the photos and event recap on page 6. Make sure you save the date for NADCA’s 25th Annual celebration, March 3-6, 2014 in San Antonio.
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DucTales • May/June 2013
The Aging Duct Cleaner continued from page 23
reality instead of resisting it — it won’t change just because you stress over it. A great book for learning about this is The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. There are tons of other non-pharmaceutical tools for stress, including improving your diet, yoga, herbs like kava kava, exercise and those mentioned in the book below, The Mood Cure. If you’re really stressed out or can’t sleep, you can try soaking in a warm bath with two cups of Epsom salts. It’s better than Jack Daniels. Deal with depression. “Depression” is a common term used to describe a state of sadness, which can include a loss of interest in life, sluggishness, fatigue, sleep issues, etc. Contrary to the marketing of drug companies, depression can’t always be fixed by a pill. It is a common life condition, sometimes severe, that can have a genetic or biological component and can be caused by a variety of reasons, sometimes in combination, each requiring a different treatment approach. As we get older, our physiology changes, our bad habits start to catch up with us, we go through losses, divorce, family disasters, business setbacks. All can cause depression. If you don’t know what’s causing it, or you assume you know but it still won’t resolve, get a thorough physical. Low thyroid (very common), low testosterone (very common), low blood sugar, certain medications, influenza, lack of exercise, menopause – several hundred medical issues can cause depression, so look there first if your symptoms are deep and/or chronic. If you still need help or just want a boost, my favorite tool (that I have recommended to thousands) is the book The Mood Cure by my friend Julia Ross, one of the smartest people I know. It contains many natural tools for anxiety and depression, including the use of inexpensive amino acids that work within an hour — very effectively for many people — to reduce or eliminate symptoms. Exercise — even a 30-minute walk three times a week — has also been shown by many studies to improve depression. Research by the largest mental health organization in the UK found that time in greenery — at a park, gardening, in the woods, etc. — has a very positive impact on mental health. Fishing, hiking or just a stroll in the park can do a lot. Some people may want to seek counseling, depending
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on the situation. Some may want to try antidepressants. Use your own judgment, of course, but if you want to try non-pharmaceutical options, there are many. Simply do an Internet search for “natural treatments for depression” or try my organization’s web site, www. AlternativeMentalHealth.com. Guard against Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s disease is not a natural result of aging but is a gradual deterioration of brain tissue most commonly found in the elderly. While the cause is in question, it is very common with recent estimates of more than 5 million Americans with the disease, or one in eight older adults. Alzheimer’s can be hereditary, but, as we discussed in the section on epigenetics, that does not make it inevitable. And what are some of the risk factors for Alzheimer’s — those things associated with a higher chance of getting the disease? • Lack of exercise • Smoking • Excess Alcohol • Obesity • Excess TV watching • High blood pressure • High blood cholesterol • Poorly controlled diabetes • A diet lacking in fruits and vegetables • Lack of social engagement Sound familiar? Most of these are the same issues we have been discussing. The message is loud and clear. Take care of your body and live an active life or pay serious consequences.
Summary To sum it up, aging is inevitable, but you can do a lot to keep pace with the young bucks, keep yourself sharp and fit enough to clean HVAC systems or keep your business roaring for years to come. And finally, to paraphrase Dr. McCoy from Star Trek: “Damn it, Jim, I’m a duct cleaner, not a doctor.” Be sure to consult with a healthcare professional before making any major changes that could impact your health.
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DucTales • May/June 2013