Read This Before You Pay for a Duct Cleaning

Duct cleaning has been up for a debate for quite some time. Is it really money well spent or is it a hoax that companies use to get easy money in their pocket?

If you look through your local newspaper, or even on Groupon you may see companies offering coupons or specials on duct cleaning for less than $50. Sounds like a pretty good deal, especially when that $50 is 50%, 65% or even 85% off the regular price.

Unfortunately, more times than not, the old saying, if it’s too good to be true than it probably is, is wisdom to live by. Several companies over the last few years have been busted for their shady, bottom-priced, duct cleaning service. Often loaded with lies about what’s wrong with your system, these business will try to up sell additional services to eliminate the health risks and problems they say exist in your home.

Just take a look at these videos exposing bad businesses and their shady services.

Fox 6 News

Inside Edition

NBC Dateline

Videos like these really don’t give great small businesses, who really do honest work and thorough duct cleanings, a good reputation.

The Real Cost of a Duct Cleaning

And here’s the reality, there isn’t a business in the world, that could make it long term by offering only $49.95 whole house duct  cleanings. It just wouldn’t be sustainable. For example, in the heating and cooling industry, hourly rates can range from $75-$125 per hour or more. And we almost always have two employees working together on duct cleanings which can take anywhere from 4-6 hours.

So if we do the math,

$75-$125 per hour  x  4-6 hours  x 2 employees  =  $600-$1,500

This price range could vary a bit from from company to company depending on the size of the home but no matter what way you spin it you’re not getting anywhere close to the $49.95 coupon you’re seeing in the newspaper.

What Does a Great Duct Cleaning Look Like?

To start, a great duct cleaning from a reputable business looks nothing like the scams you saw in the videos. If all the employees have when they walk into your house are some wet/dry vacuums with some extension hoses be very suspicious. But here are a few things to ask about and keep an eye on when getting your duct system cleaned.

Cleanliness a Priority

Whoever is cleaning your duct system should be putting clealiness of your home at the top of the list. With lots of dust being pushed, blown, vacuumed, and sucked out of your duct system, there’s a large chance of dust going where it shouldn’t. Companies should be putting drop clothes down throughout your home as well as covering all registers with some sort of plastic type tape.

Powerful Machines

In some homes dust and dirt has been building up in duct systems for years. It’s caked on and takes quite a bit of force to remove it all. Compressed air is one of the best ways to dislodge and loosen up the dust in your duct system. And as these pressurized hoses go down into your vents there should be a machine (not a shop vacuum) down by the furnace sucking all the loose dust and dirt into it.

duct cleaning--machineWe use a Hepa-Aire 2000 Power Vacuum which you can see on the right. That large hole on the top has a flexible pipe that’s connected to the duct work right above your furnace. When turned on it creates a huge amount of suction that pulls the dust and dirt from your vents and duct system right into it. It’s very similar to the vacuum cleaner you use on your carpets.

No Quick Fixes Here

The reality is no duct cleaning can be done in an hour, or two for that matter. It takes time to get the things mentioned in the previous two points set up and read to go. Make sure to ask the company how long the duct cleaning should take after they take a look at your home. A duct cleaning for $49.95  can’t take 4-6 hours.

Why Are You Considering a Duct Cleaning?

The last thing we want you to think about is, why do I think my home needs a duct cleaning?

Perhaps you’re noticing your home getting dusty way too quickly after you clean, or perhaps your vacuum is picking up an insanely large amount of dust from the carpets.

Or perhaps you’re noticing irritation in you sinuses or throat. Maybe even someone has some asthma acting up.

All of these are annoying conveniences no homeowner wants to deal with and the reality is a duct cleaning may not take care of these. We would love to help you solve the mystery of what’s causing you and your family irritation. We offer a variety of solutions to meet the specific air quality problems you’re experiencing. Give us a call or email us and we will help you put a stop to it.

Phone: (262) 728-1655

Email

Family Owned & Operated, Since 1991.