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 Surefire Way to Get a Blower Wheel Off

I’ve always opposed the practice of grabbing a hub puller as the first method of removing a blower. The video below by Brad Hicks with HVAC in SC on YouTube demonstrates the exact method I use to safely remove a blower wheel without damaging anything. Thanks, Brad! The Steps Kill the power. Pull the blower […]

Tech, Mechanic, or Craftsman

Put three good tradespeople in front of the same problem, and you may see three different kinds of enthusiasm. One wants to understand why the system behaves that way. Another wants to get the failed part out and make the repair. The third is already thinking about the layout, access, and details that will make […]

Double Lugging, A Common Mistake

Connecting more than one wire on or under a single lug or connection point is called “double lugging,” and it is ONLY allowed in line voltage wiring under one condition, according to NEC 110.14: If the terminal, lug, or connector is specifically rated for more than one wire In the case of a conductor splice, […]

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 […]