Zachary Ortwine Archives

Zachary Ortwine

Company name: Southeast Clean Air Solutions

Position: Owner

Zachary Ortwine is the owner of Southeast Clean Air Solutions and has 7+ years of full-time, field-based duct cleaning experience. He holds the following certifications:

National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA): Certified Ventilation Inspector (CVI) and Air Systems Cleaning Specialist (ASCS)

National Comfort Institute (NCI): Duct System Optimization, Residential HVAC System Performance, Residential Air Balancing Certified

He is also a 3x previous speaker for NADCA Fall Technical Conference, a NADCA Scientific Committee member, and serves as part of the ASCS and CVI Exam Writing task forces.

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The 1/7 (or 1/10) Rule for Oxy-Acetylene Torch Tips

We already know that oxy-acetylene torches have a lot of safety considerations attached: don’t oil regulator threads, bubble-test your hoses, you get the picture. But there’s one more we haven’t really covered: the 1/7 rule (or 1/10 rule, based on the latest industry guidance). This commonly cited rule reduces the likelihood of flammable acetone coming […]

Evaluating HVAC Tape Performance Under High Heat and Static Load (Part 1)

When sealing ductwork or repairing HVAC insulation, the tape you choose dictates the long-term integrity of the system. Temperatures fluctuate wildly in attics and mechanical rooms, and the tape must be able to withstand these environments without degrading. To better understand how different professional-grade adhesives actually perform under elevated temperatures, we decided to put them […]

Oxy-Acetylene Torch Tips and BTUs

Oxy-acetylene torch tip manufacturers publish charts that tell us the ideal applications for each tip size, which is quite useful on its own. After all, a small tip may be great for a ⅜” liquid line but would hardly make a dent in 2” commercial refrigeration piping. But we can also take the information from […]

Ethical Duct Cleaning

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Duct Cleaning Training with Zach Ortwine

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Can You Coat Fiberglass?

In this episode of the HVAC School Podcast, Bryan interviews Zach about duct coatings and their applications in HVAC systems, particularly focusing on the Hardcast RE500 product. The discussion delves into the importance of proper duct coating applications and their benefits for both contractors and customers. Zach, who has extensive experience in duct cleaning […]

Duct Cleaning – How Long & How Often?

In this episode of the HVAC School podcast, Bryan interviews Zach from Southeast Clean Air Solutions about the intricacies of professional duct cleaning. Zach specializes in addressing duct cleaning challenges specific to the Southeastern climate, with a particular focus on fiberglass-lined ducts. The conversation delves into the complexities of cleaning different types of duct […]

Can Ducts Be Cleaned Ethically?

In this episode of the HVAC School Podcast, Bryan interviews Zachary Ortwine, a duct cleaning professional who provides insights into ethical duct cleaning practices. The conversation delves deep into the complexities of cleaning different types of ductwork, the importance of proper assessment, and the potential challenges in maintaining indoor air quality. Zach emphasizes the […]