Do you need the help of an air duct cleaning specialist for your home? Scam artists may try to convince you that there is severe mold or health concerns in your ducts in order to get you to spend even more money. For example, the $49 discount you received in the mail might wind up costing you much more.
Here are some tips to guarantee you’re employing a respectable air duct cleaning company, to make the most out of your money.
Is An Air Duct Cleaning Really Necessary?
According to the National Air Duct Cleaners Association, you should clean your air ducts every three to five years. The EPA does not specify a time frame, but suggests doing so if your system has significant mold growth, a vermin infestation, or large levels of dust and debris.
What Should The Cost Of Air Duct Cleaning Be?
According to NADCA and the EPA, a good air duct cleaning procedure will cost between $400 and $1,000. It varies greatly depending on the size of the property, but experts estimate that the average home will cost roughly $500.
Avoid The Bait-And-Switch Scam
One of the most popular scams used by unethical cleaners is to provide a $49 “whole-house” cleaning price in a coupon or mailer, then tack on a slew of additional costs or upsell services.
When they start talking about “extra returns” and “main lines,” you might wind up spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars in additional costs for the “$49” cleaning. A professional air duct cleaning will cost at least a few hundred dollars. If anything appears to be too good to be true, it most often is.
Many of these advertisements have a small print restriction, such as 10 vents and one main trunk line, however most homes have more than 10 vents and at least two main trunk lines. Companies often charge extra for all of these additional lines. Even if you convince them to execute the work for the quoted fee, many of these “blow and go” contractors simply slap a vacuum over the vents and go. A thorough air duct cleaning entails much more.
What Characteristics Should A Good Air Duct Cleaner Have?
Most states and towns do not license air duct cleaners, so you must find another means to vet them. Ask for proof of liability and workers’ compensation insurance.
Any reputable company will have this coverage and will gladly give written proof. If they refuse, look for another company — this one is likely untrustworthy, and you might be on the hook for a large sum of money if they damage your home or one of their staff gets harmed while on your property.
Check to see if the company has been operational for a while and has maintained the same name. If a company has been operating in your town for several years, they are unlikely to disappear next week if you have an issue. If the air duct cleaning firm appeared three weeks ago and does not have an office address listed, be careful.
For your duct cleaning and other HVAC cleaning services, be sure to contact Calvey Heating and Air!