Good Neighbor Podcast: Bergen

Ep # 158 From Clogged Vents To Confidence: How Green Cleaning Improves Indoor Air

• Doug Drohan • Season 2 • Episode 158

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Ever notice your eyes sting when the heat kicks on or your dryer takes two cycles to finish a load? We sat down with Alfredo Valentin, owner of Green Air Solutions, to unpack the real-world playbook for cleaner indoor air, safer laundry rooms, and a healthier home without harsh chemical scents. From botanical cleaning products to practical timelines, Alfredo brings clarity to a space full of myths and guesswork.

We start with air ducts: why a good filter isn’t a silver bullet, how dust and pet hair still make it into blower motors and coils, and why a three-year cleaning cadence keeps both your lungs and your HVAC system in better shape. Alfredo explains why they choose botanical solutions with either a fresh, natural scent or truly neutral deodorizers, so families—especially those with asthma or scent sensitivity—can stay in the home during service. We talk signs you shouldn’t ignore, like watery eyes and sudden dust when you switch seasons, and why waiting until symptoms appear usually means a deeper, more costly cleanup.

Then we turn to dryer vents, the overlooked fire hazard hiding behind the appliance. You’ll learn how vent length and every 90-degree elbow reduce airflow, why long runs can require six-month cleanings, and the red-flag clue of condensation drips at a joint. Alfredo breaks down straightforward timelines, typical service durations, and the huge energy savings that come from restoring proper exhaust flow.

Alfredo also shares his journey from technician to tri-state business owner, launching during COVID with $500, used gear, and a commitment to transparency. We dig into what sets his team apart—competitive pricing, free estimates, and a strict policy of explaining findings and getting approval before any added work. It’s a refreshing approach that turns one-time jobs into long-term trust.

If you care about indoor air quality, energy efficiency, and preventing dryer fires, you’ll walk away with clear steps you can take this week. Subscribe, share this episode with a neighbor who needs a nudge, and leave a quick review to help more homeowners breathe easier.

Green Air Solutions
Alfredo Valentin
New York · Connecticut · New Jersey
(914) 320-8325
service@gogreenairsolutions.com
greenairsolutions.org

Intro/Close:

This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Doug Drohan.

Doug Drohan:

Hey everyone, welcome to another episode of the Good Neighbor Podcast. I am your host, Doug Drohan. We are brought to you live from a snowy Bergen County on the border of Rockland County, where our next guest is from Alfredo Valentin, is the owner of Green Air Solutions, based in, I guess, is it Congress?

Alfredo Valentin:

Uh no, in Terrytown, actually. Oh, Terrytown.

Doug Drohan:

Okay, over the bridge. So anyway, how are you today? Welcome to the show.

Alfredo Valentin:

I'm doing very well and yourself.

Doug Drohan:

Um I'm well, thank you. So you guys are in Terrytown, and um I guess as the name would uh suggest, green air solutions means uh you offer a more environmentally friendly way of doing air duct cleaning.

Alfredo Valentin:

Uh that is correct. Uh so we use nothing but botanical-based products, uh, pretty much for the safety and health of all of our clients. Um, it's much more effective because one thing is that when we do our cleanings, a lot of people do ask uh, do we have to leave the home or do you use any certain chemicals that can cause any type of allergic reactions to us, especially to babies or pets? So we decided to go the green way and use uh botanical-based products that are actually healthy for people who do suffer from any type of allergic uh type of symptoms or asthma. So they can remain in the home while the work is being completed.

Doug Drohan:

I would think the reason you're getting your air ducts clean is because you want to get rid of the allergens. I didn't think that the actual product you use to get rid of or to clean out the air ducts could create allergens as well, or or you know, introduce allergens to the home.

Alfredo Valentin:

No, yeah. So not necessarily allergens, but um there's certain people that are very um sensitive to certain kinds of scents. Um a lot of them like that has actual artificial chemicals do tend to have like a stronger type of scent. Yeah. Um, but what we use, uh we we have two different kinds because some people do like scents. So again, we use botanical-based products, there's no artificial chemicals involved. We have one that has like a thyme oil kind of minty kind of smell, um, to give you like a really fresh uh smell to your home. And we also use other products that are deodorizers that are very neutral, that has absolutely no scent, but still very effective in getting rid of uh any kind of bacteria or um allergens inside your uh vent systems.

Doug Drohan:

Got it, got it. So um, like how important is it for people to get their air ducts cleaned? And you also do dryer vent cleaning. Um, like how often should it, you know, how often should sorry should it get done? And is there a point where you say, okay, I know, like are there any signs in your home that your air ducts need to be cleaned?

Alfredo Valentin:

So typically, um a lot of people actually say that, oh, it's not necessary to get the air ducts cleaned. Uh, there's a lot of controversies in regards to things like that. However, I mean that's the passageway of the air that's going into your home, especially when you have force heating and cooling. So typically, ideally, you should get the vents cleaned out every three years to maintain everything in a very efficient way for your health as well as the um efficiency of your HVAC system. And uh, if you haven't gotten it done in three years, typically it's probably most likely has some contamination in there and it should get done. Um, a lot of people tend to wait to have symptoms like, hmm, I'm turning on my heating, I'm turning on my air conditioner, and why are my eyes getting watery? Why am I starting to sneeze more? I'm starting to see more dust. When it gets to that point, there's already most likely a pretty widespread contamination in your vent system to where a basic cleaning probably wouldn't even be enough for the cleaning. So um, one thing is that don't wait until you actually feel symptoms to get it done. One of the big signs is if you haven't gotten it done in three years, it's probably time to get it done.

Doug Drohan:

Um and then what about if I clean my air filters every few months? You know, is that enough?

Alfredo Valentin:

Uh it's actually not enough if you haven't gotten the vents clean within the past three years. Because the purpose of the filter um is to pretty much block any type of allergens or contamination from getting into your HVAC air handler or furnace, um, because there's key components in there, such as blower motors and coils. If those get contaminated, um it's going to continuously recycle and filter into the ductwork and into your home. Um, it's not like just opening a window, getting fresh air. So it's recycling the same air.

Doug Drohan:

Okay. So um, but you know, my my filters can look pretty nasty after a few months. I guess obviously they're doing their job.

Alfredo Valentin:

Oh, yeah.

Doug Drohan:

Are there certain things in your home like having a pet? Or if you're a smoker, not too many people smoke in their homes anymore. But are there third certain things like having a pet that might uh accelerate the need to get your air ducts cleaned sooner than normal?

Alfredo Valentin:

Oh, most definitely. Um, because you have uh return vents, which pretty much sucks in the air in your home. So pets tend to shed, of course, depending you have cats or dogs. So all that hair does get into the vent system and could actually get through the filter sometimes and accelerate uh the process of contamination in your vents.

Doug Drohan:

Yeah, well, I have a dog, but he doesn't shed. Okay. No, I'm kidding, he's he's a husky, he's got hair everywhere. Somebody asked me, like, ah, he's such a great dog. Does he shed? I'm like, you know, if you're asking that question, you shouldn't have a dog.

Alfredo Valentin:

That's true. Yeah.

Doug Drohan:

If you have an issue dealing with dog hair, then don't get a dog because and yeah, some shed more than others, but um yeah, it's just something you you deal with, you know.

Alfredo Valentin:

That's correct.

Doug Drohan:

And then when you have sit on my couch with black jeans on because I come away with a lot of hair in your pants. Um, no, that's interesting. So, how did you get into this business? Like, you know, what like you wake up one day and say, I want to be in the air duct coining business, or what happened?

Alfredo Valentin:

Okay, so it uh long story short, the way this actually occurred was that uh this was back in 2016, I believe. Um I was out of a job. So I started looking on Craigslist and I saw that a company called EnviroGreen was hiring for air duct cleaning technician. I applied and I worked with them for four years actually. So um I'm very hands-on type of guy. Um, I tend to learn pretty quickly when I see how things are being done in front of me. Um, so with the amount of experience that I got, the certifications that they provided me with, um, I decided that I would like to kind of do things a little differently as well because the way they did work was not very ideal for the way, you know, me being as a technician. So I decided that, you know, I took their experiences and my own experiences that I learned from to try to do things a little differently and uh open up my own company, and that was back in 2020, right in the middle of COVID season as well. Um, it was not easy because of COVID. However, since we are dealing with like indoor air quality and that type of stuff, so it actually was very helpful to start at that time because a lot of people were worried about their ventilation.

Doug Drohan:

Right, I guess what you did was kind of on the top of people's minds.

Alfredo Valentin:

Exactly, correct. And uh I started off with nothing, I completely left that other job blindly with only $500 in my account. And uh I I used uh equipment that I bought, um, used as well. That's how I started off, and then uh I started building my own clientele, and uh from there until now, everything's been so very well.

Doug Drohan:

How did you build your own clientele?

Alfredo Valentin:

So I learned a lot from that company I was at. I did see that they used a lot of social media advertising as well as uh Val Pack coupon and money mailer coupons. So that typically became one of my biggest marketing strategies to try to get in front of as many homeowners as possible.

Doug Drohan:

Yeah, um, and that's how I started I might have an alternative idea for you.

Alfredo Valentin:

So okay, I'm definitely open to ideas for sure.

Doug Drohan:

Yeah, it's an idea. Um okay, so so you you did like mass mailings, uh maybe low return, but if you do enough of them, uh it's kind of like people that are in the exact moment that they need you, they see your your foul pack or money mailer.

Alfredo Valentin:

That's correct, yes.

Doug Drohan:

Got it. Nice. And then um, I mean, when you guys come, like I saw my neighbor had some a big truck outside the house with a big uh you know, hoses, I guess, for want of a better word. Uh it's obvious in the neighborhood that you're having your air ducts clean. So um I'd imagine that there's a lot of word of mouth than you know, I know a guy kind of thing after you've worked in the neighborhood.

Alfredo Valentin:

Oh, yes, especially when uh you provide them with good service and they're very happy with what you provided them with. So a lot of people do tend to recommend us to friends and families, and we're able to get a lot of clientele that way as well and keep a good relationship with a lot of our uh clients.

Doug Drohan:

Nice, nice. So um years ago in my own neighborhood, my neighbors had a fire, their dryer vents were were clogged, and they had a fire in their basement. Luckily they get out in time, and but they have some decent amount of damage. So, what uh how do you know when you need your dryer vents cleaned? And it's not enough just to clean the uh the filter, I guess. Again, again, me with the filter.

Alfredo Valentin:

No, yeah. Um, a lot of people think that just cleaning out the lint trap, which is also where the filter located, the dryer is sufficient. However, um there's an exhaust behind a dryer that is technically called the dryer vent, and that's what exhausts the uh lint to the outside of the house. So typically you want to get it done once a year. Now, here's the thing dryer vents should not exceed more than 20 feet in length. If they are over 20 feet in length, you are probably recommended to get it done every six months because the longer the vent is, the less air pressure is coming out. So towards the end of the vent, more accumulation from the lint would start to uh get caught up at the end because the air pressure is not strong enough to allow it to fully come out the home. Um also a lot of people tend to have uh a lot of angles and bents, 90 degree angles, when it comes to the dryer vents as well. So for every single elbow or vent, uh vent that's in the dryer vent, you got to deduct five feet from that as well, or add five feet. I'm sorry. Add five feet as right, yeah. Yeah, correct. So typically dryer vents should be done once a year and uh very big fire hazard when there's a lot of land.

Doug Drohan:

I don't know anybody who gets the dryer vent clean, so that's why we got to get the word out. So once you have a dryer vent and it goes overhead out, you know, out to the uh exit uh point in your house, and you notice when you're running the dryer that there's water dripping, like almost like condensation dripping from where one of the seals are in the dryer vent. What does that tell you?

Alfredo Valentin:

That's definitely a big sign of uh clog. Um usually when there's uh a lot of obstruction and uh the lint uh is obstructing the airflow, more condensation starts to form right there where the actual uh lint is at. So that's how you can definitely tell for sure 100% that there's some sort of a blockage uh along the line.

Doug Drohan:

And what is the uh like the time it usually takes to perform uh a dryer vent cleaning?

Alfredo Valentin:

Um some of them could be pretty fast, straightforward. It could be as low as 10 minutes. Uh some of them can go as much as an hour.

Doug Drohan:

Um so it's not like when you do your air duct for an entire house, that could take you a few hours, right?

Alfredo Valentin:

Oh no, yeah, correct. Yeah, yeah, definitely not.

Doug Drohan:

Okay. So what do you think is stopping people? Um, like, why don't people do it every six months or every year, every three years? Like, what do you think is the big um kind of kind of obstacle? Because you're talking to a homeowner who's had his air ducts clean once and his dryer vents clean never. And I've lived in this house nine years. So, what is it that's stopping us from doing it?

Alfredo Valentin:

It's typically one of the things that a lot of people put in the back burner of their minds, uh, because of course there are a lot of other things that should be taken care of the house first, like, for example, like maintenance of your roof, your chimney, things that you typically would use every day, or things that would, God forbid, need major repairs. So typically people say, Hmm, I need to get my air ducts clean, but then months pass, years sometimes, and they just forget about it due to like so many things that's going on in their house. So it is very important to get it done, and it is in a lot of people's mind, but it's typically in the back burner when it comes to uh like getting things done and projects done.

Doug Drohan:

Right. And then the cost is not, you know, certainly if you think about when it comes to a dryer, the cost of getting a dryer vent clean versus having a fire. Oh, yeah, it's well worth it. And then in air ducts, it's probably not too expensive. But um, so you know, so five years ago you go off on your own. What was it like to say, I'm gonna run my own business? Obviously, like you said, you had to build your book of business, you have to get your clients. Uh, you have a team now and you have a staff, and so what has that been like? And and what kind of advice would you give someone who might be thinking of starting their own company? And you know, and and I just want to say this like there's always an excuse why now's not the right time. Oh, it's COVID, oh, the economy, oh, it's winter, oh, it's you know, holidays, whatever. Like, what what do you uh what kind of advice would you give people? And you know, and what has the experience been like for you?

Alfredo Valentin:

Gotcha. Okay. I mean, so I can't speak for everybody, but I think probably everybody has a very similar um mentality when it comes to this. And I feel like a big thing that stops a lot of people is fear, thinking that you know they're going to leave a lot behind to focus on something that's not a hundred percent concrete, that you don't know how it's gonna turn out. But at the end of the day, you won't know how it's gonna turn out until you start. So, what I would recommend is just if it's something you want to do, leave fear behind and just go for it 100%. Dedicate your time, and it's not gonna be easy enough beginning, especially very beginning. It's not gonna be easy, it's gonna be a lot of obstacles to get past um before you start to create that type of foundation. Um, for me, I was terrified at first, especially during COVID, because I'm like, I just left a job that's good for me for the past few years, and I just left it like that. And I'm starting everything brand new right now. Um, but even through like very tough times where there was days I didn't have any work and I had to stretch every single penny that I had to save up uh before I actually started getting more clientele. Um and uh in the very beginning, I would just say that just stay stick to the plan because it's either you get started and fail trying, then never starting and you know, live with the regret of wondering like what if this, what if that, which still at the end of the day, it's it's typically almost like a fail, then too, because uh with that type of mentality, um, you're not able to like achieve what you are capable of sometimes. Some people don't know what they're capable of until they actually get to a position where um they have to really be consistent with something as well, which I believe everybody has that inside of them.

Doug Drohan:

Yeah, I mean, I think um, well, first of all, to to use a hockey phrase, you miss 100% of the shots you never take. So if you exactly have this dream, and and listen, yeah, the fear of failure, I think it's what drives a lot of people too. You know, like you decided to go off, I went off on my own, and you hear the term failure is not an option. It's certainly an option, you know. Yeah, I think one out of every two business new businesses fails every year. Um but it it depends on the kind of uh perseverance and grit that you have, I think internally. And then you have to learn a lot. You have to have your your eyes and ears open and make your car like your university, listen to podcasts, read books, uh, learn from other people uh like you learn from your old bosses, and and then you tweak things that work for you. And um now when you started, you were first since you're in Tarrytown, you focused on New York to start, and then you branched out into New Jersey and Connecticut. That is correct. Your initial plan was to have a tri-state presence.

Alfredo Valentin:

No, yeah, I saw uh I I pretty much started off yeah in Westchester County, and then uh the way I got into North Jersey was because I actually got recommendations from a lot of family members that I did in Westchester County. So then from there, people started seeing my work van with my signs on the side, and people started calling me that way. So I noticed, okay, I'm getting a pretty decent presence in Jersey as well, and I haven't even advertised there. So um I'm gonna try it out and and put some of the money that I have saved into that, and then yeah, there was no looking back from there, just kept kept going and kept going and and trying to keep my mind very neutral um and not get over myself, just take everything step by step and just focus on expanding.

Doug Drohan:

So, you know, you mentioned that uh you do valve packs and money mailers, and I get those, and I think maybe I recognize your logo now, but there are a lot of other similar companies that do that. Uh I mentioned my neighbor had a truck in his driveway today for getting his ducks cleaned, and I never heard of this company before, but there they are. And there was another one that did some other work that I've seen. And um, you know, there's maybe some bigger names like Stanley Steamer that offer it or others. So, what do you do to stand out? Like what makes you know, put you on the spot, what makes you special?

Alfredo Valentin:

Uh, so we do offer very, very competitive pricings compared to our competitors. Um, and like I mentioned, also we use nothing but botanical-based products. So that's one thing that actually puts us in favor in regards to a lot of other companies as well. Um, we do offer free estimates as well, and there's no obligation to do the work with us either. Um, we don't apply any kind of pressure. Um, of course, in the air duct business uh business, uh sometimes you know people tell you, hey, I got 20 vents and two systems, but when you get there, they have 25 and three systems. So the estimate that you give them over the phone would of course change. Or if we start the work and you start to find any microbial growth, which is mold inside your vents and everything, that kind of changes the procedure a little bit as well. But we don't just go ahead and start doing the work automatically either and hit you with this big bill later. Anything that we find, we bring it to your attention so that you're 100% aware. We'll explain to you the process that would need to be done, and we'll offer you recommendations. However, nothing is done additionally unless you give us the approval to do so, and we don't obligate you to do anything at all. It's completely up to you. We're there to do whatever you want.

Doug Drohan:

Got it, got it. All right. Well, I mean, that that's good to know. I mean, um, well, how would how would people find you? Like, what's the best way to reach you?

Alfredo Valentin:

Um online on greenair solutions.org, or they can contact us directly uh through the phone line. Um, either way, or even email service at go greenair solutions.com. They can ask any questions. Uh we'll be more than happy to assist them with any type of questions and uh schedule an appointment if they would like to have an appointment done. And uh we're here to be very transparent with all of our clients and build a relationship with them so they keep using us in the future.

Doug Drohan:

Yeah, yeah. And the phone number is 914-320-8325. Um and uh again, it's 914-320-8325. It's Green Solutions, Greenair Solutions.org. Um, you work in all of New Jersey or just mostly northern New Jersey?

Alfredo Valentin:

So right now we're actually going down to central Jersey, all the way as far as New Brunswick. Okay, all the way from New Brunswick all the way up through uh northern Jersey.

Doug Drohan:

Yeah, okay. Yeah, it's funny, like people in South Jersey would consider like New Brunswick, North Jersey. I'm like, no, that's not North Jersey. Yeah, I learned that. I live I live six miles or so from the Tappansee, that's North Jersey. No, yeah, yeah. Three miles from the Tapan New York border, that's North Jersey. You know, I think Bergen County is North Jersey. Uh maybe, maybe Essex County. I don't even, I wouldn't even call it Essex County North Jersey, but you know, it's funny. I guess it depends where you live, you know, what people consider. That's true. That's true. Yeah, yeah. Well, Alfredo, this was great. I uh I have some questions for you. I'm gonna ask you offline. Okay. Um, but bear with us. We're just gonna have Chuck take us out, and you and I will be right back.

Alfredo Valentin:

All right, sounds good.

Intro/Close:

Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to gnpbergen.com. That's gnpbergen.com or call 201 298 8325.