Some of the pictures of air ducts that Dave Kostecka shows potential clients are funny, and others are a bit creepy.
In one, there’s a plastic jack ‘o lantern in an air duct, stuffed there by some industrious child, one imagines. In another, a frightening amount of dust and cobwebs crowd the view.
“I’ve seen a duck in a duct, a rubber ducky,” Kostecka said. “I’ve seen lots of toys, pens, pencils … A marijuana joint. Bocce balls. Stuffed animals. You name it.”
As owner of DuctVac Northwest, a Marysville-based company, its Kostecka’s job to clean out that junk. Using a hose that knocks free the dust while sucking it away, Kostecka works through every floor of a home to truly flush out home heating systems.
Kostecka will be at the Everett Fall Home Show to discuss how his company can improve indoor air quality.
Duct cleaning isn’t just for neat freaks. Kostecka said removing the filth can help alleviate allergies and, in rare or extreme cases, may help heating.
“Those really, really bad ones, where (the dust is) about an inch thick, or two inches thick, of course it’s going to increase the efficiency,” he said.
Kostecka got into the work in the early 1990s. He had some background in sales, but was looking for a career change. Flipping through a catalog, he came upon the work.
“That looks interesting,” he recalled thinking, “and that’s always going to be around.”
After working with companies throughout the Northwest, he struck out on his own in January. He said DuctVac Northwest has taken off since its founding 10 months ago. Kostecka is expanding his staff now, after spending the earlier part of the year handling most of the work on his own.
Kostecka said he always stands by his estimates, which usually range from $400 to $1,000 for most homes. If he ends up being low on the figure — if it takes longer than he expected — well, “that’s my bad,” he said.
He also occasionally turns away work, when he feels ducts don’t need to be flushed out yet. While he recommends flushing a system every three to five years, he said there is a simple test for homeowners unsure if they need a visit.
“Take a digital camera, put it inside a duct, take a picture and you can see for yourself,” he said.
Just remember: If you’ve got kids, don’t be surprised if you see a pumpkin grinning back.
Reporter Andy Rathbun: 425-339-3455 or e-mail arathbun@heraldnet.com.
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