Q. What process do you use for carpet cleaning?
A. Steamatic uses a hot water extraction process that features hot water (190 degrees at the cleaning tool). We do not use soap in our water, so we will not leave a sticky residue that attracts dirt and makes carpet matted. The hot water extraction process controls odor by removing the dirt and grime in the carpet. This process will also remove 95% of bacteria in your carpet. Heat also causes fibers to release dirt and bacteria, which extends the life of your carpet and protects your investment. Steamatic's hot water extraction process also means faster drying time - about 6-8 hours.
Q. How often should I have my carpets cleaned?
A. Carpet mills recommend our process annually to keep their warranty in force.
Q. Can I feel safe having your employees in my home?
A. All Steamatic employees go through a pre-employment screening that includes drug testing, a criminal check, credit history, driving record check and a verification of their previous work history. Steamatic employs uniformed technicians who are certified and insured.
Q. The last time my carpets were cleaned, the company quoted me one price on the phone, but it was double by the time they finished the job! What can I do to prevent that from happening?
A. Steamatic's phone estimates are based on the information our trained estimators receive from the customer, and a written estimate can be faxed, e-mailed or mailed prior to scheduling the work. The only way the price will change is if our customer gave us inaccurate information. If you don't feel comfortable with a phone estimate we will be happy to send one of our estimator to give you an in home estimate.
Q. How do you estimate what it will cost to clean my home carpeting?
A. Our trained phone estimators will ask you a series of questions such as: What areas of carpeting would you like cleaned? An area is any room under 300 sq ft. 13 stairs are considered an area. Small stairways, walk in closets, hallways are considered half areas. L shaped areas are considered 2 areas. Where are you located?
Q. How do you estimate what it will cost to clean my home air duct system?
A. Our trained phone estimators will ask you a series of questions such as: How many vent openings (both supply and return) do you have in your home. How many furnaces do you have and where are they located? Does any of your ductwork run thru an attic or crawlspace? Do you have central air conditioning and if so, would you like us to clean your AC evaporator coil in your furnace duct plenum? Where are you located?
Q. There are lots of air duct cleaning companies out there. How do I choose one?
A. The National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA), a non-profit organization, has published guidelines for consumers to follow when choosing an air duct cleaning company. They offer these suggestions for selecting an air duct cleaner:
| Guideline |
Brouwer Bros. Steamatic |
| Make sure the cleaning contractor uses "source removal" cleaning methods designed to extract the debris within your air duct system. (The routine application of encapsulants to seal debris within the ductwork is not recommended.) |
Yes, we use the source removal method. |
| Get references for past jobs. |
See our testimonials for a list of our customers. |
| Make sure the duct cleaner has worked on air conditioning systems similar to your own and ask how long the cleaning technicians who will be servicing your system have been performing duct cleaning. |
Ask your technicians these questions during your in-home estimate. |
| Make sure the duct cleaner takes care to protect your home and belongings. Duct cleaning is a relatively routine process and you should not have to do any unusual house cleaning after the job. |
Steamatic technicians go through a rigorous pre-employment screening to ensure our employees are quality individuals who respect your home and do the job properly. |
| Make sure that any chemicals used in the cleaning process are EPA registered for the intended application. You may also request a Material safety Data Sheet (MSDS). |
Steamatic uses only EPA registered chemicals for duct cleaning. |
| Make sure that the cleaner you choose agrees to perform the cleaning services in accordance with all provisions of the industry performance standard NADCA 1992-01, Mechanical Cleaning of Non-Porous Air Conveyance System Components. |
Steamatic follows all industry performance standards to the fullest. |
| Ask if the firm has all the necessary business and professional licenses. Some states have recently passed statues that require air duct cleaners hold air conditioning contractors licenses or similar professional licenses. |
Steamatic operates with all the appropriate business and professional licenses. |
| Watch out for "add-on" sales. Some cleaners will charge a base fee and then surprise the customer with additional costs for applying sanitizers or other related services. Make sure you have agreed on the total cost and the scope of the job before work begins. |
Steamatic offers you a written quote and our price will not change when we come to do the work. |
| Confirm that the duct cleaner is a member in good standing of NADCA. Contact NADCA at 1516 K Street NW, Suit 503, Washington, DC 20005; (202) 737-2926. |