In recent years the air duct cleaning industry has gotten a bit of a bad reputation and now many homeowners wonder if the whole thing is a scam. Unfortunately there are some shady companies out there which have given the industry a bad name, so it’s understandable that people are concerned about spending hard-earned cash on this service.
However, we are here to reassure you that air duct cleaning is very much legitimate. It can help reduce allergies, keep your home a little cleaner by reducing dust, help everyone stay healthy by ridding the air of mold and bacteria, decrease energy costs, and complete renovation or restoration efforts. There are lots of good reasons to have it done and plenty of great companies across the country who are not scammers.
So how do you tell the difference between the good guys and the bad guys? Here are some tips to help you sort it all out.
- Stay away from companies which tell you they can clean your whole house for $49 (or some other very low price).
In our industry we call these “blow and go” companies. They come in, blow some air through your ducts with sub-par equipment, spend only about an hour in your home, and then tack on a bunch of hidden costs after the fact, routinely bringing their bills up into the thousands of dollars for even the smallest homes. About 99% of the time, your duct work is not clean after these guys finish and you spent a lot more than anticipated, too.
In the Cincinnati area (where we are located), there have been several of these companies over the years scamming homeowners. Some of them have even changed their name after local homeowners started catching on to their dirty tactics, allowing them to continue ripping people off.
Legitimate duct cleaners typically start their services at a few hundred dollars for small homes and apartments and can go into the thousands for larger homes or commercial buildings. Remember that old saying: “If it sounds too good to be true, it is”? Well, it definitely applies here folks, because $49 is too good to be true.
Consider this: for $49 there is no way a business could pay a crew of 1-2 people, plus gas, and supplies to come and clean your home. That business would go bankrupt in a few months. The only way they can make that work is to tack on a multitude of hidden costs once they get in the door and/or to do many jobs each day (a good duct cleaning will take between 3-5 hours on the average home, meaning they can usually only fit in 2 cleanings per crew per day).
For additional information, check out this article from the National Air Duct Cleaner’s Association on avoiding scams.
- Ask them to explain their process.
A telltale sign of many of the scammers is that they are not able to explain exactly what they do once they are in your home (hint: because they aren’t doing much of anything). All homes are a bit different, especially the older ones, but a good company should be able to give you detailed information about what they do and how they do it in a typical home.
- Ask what type of equipment they use.
As with many things in life, not all equipment is created equal. Many of the scammers use little more than a common Shop Vac and maybe a brush to attach to the hose. This will not get your ductwork clean, though, as it simply doesn’t have enough vacuum power to do so.
Legitimate duct cleaners invest in industry-standard equipment such as HEPA air duct vacuums (both portable or truck-mounted), brush and whip systems to knock debris loose, and sanitizing, antimicrobial sprayers which kill mold and bacteria.
If you call a company and they are not using the equipment listed above, keep looking. For more information, you can take a look at the National Air Duct Cleaning Association’s guidelines on proper cleaning methods and equipment.
- Check to see if they are members of NADCA.
NADCA is the National Air Duct Cleaner’s Association and can help you to find a reputable company in your area. Click here to go to their website and then click the link in the upper right hand corner to ‘Find a Professional’ in their directory.
Hi Tech Duct Cleaning is dedicated to cleaning ductwork the right way, every time. If you are in the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky/Eastern Indiana region give us a call at (513)737-3200 to schedule an appointment.
I am a general air conditioner user. I clean the air conditioner’s ventilation duct two to three times a year. Usually when I have a problem with my air conditioning I have it repaired by a technician. I think I have no problem with my air conditioner. I had a problem with my machine last month. As usual I called a technician and he repaired the device. I want to know what kind of problem the technician had. He told me that your air conditioner’s air ducts got dirty and its ventilation narrowed. Then, he repair it and my machine going well. An air duct cleaning professional can inspect your ductwork and, if mold is confirmed, provide evidence of its presence. They can then eliminate the problem drawing on their expertise and specialized tools. Thank you very much.
It’s all about protecting the homeowner. Not all ductwork needs cleaned. One fellow I know hooked his dryer vent up to his ductwork. He needed a good duct cleaning, for sure!