Over the years, we have come to realize that when it comes air duct cleaning, most Northern Virginia-Washington D.C. homeowners are unaware of what air duct cleaning means. Moreover, most property owners are uncertain whether or not they have harmful airborne contaminants in their home, and are not exactly sure what an air duct cleaning service appointment should look like or how often they should clean their air ducts. Further, many owners are uninformed about the problem of air duct cleaning scams in the Northern Virginia-Washington D.C. region.

 

First of all, owners should know that there is a dedicated task force looking for air duct cleaning scams in our area. The problem is that big! The good news is there are watchdogs like A Plus Enviro-Services that are looking to protect homeowners and safeguard our industry.

 

About Air Duct Cleaning

Air duct cleaning is an important home maintenance service because the air ducts and vents in your home can accumulate contaminants overtime. The air duct system is your home is considered the respiratory system of your house and the air ducts circulate all the air in your home anytime the furnace or air conditioner is running. That circulating air results in a slow build-up of contaminants in your duct-work. Common contaminants include dust mites, pet hair and dander, bacteria, molds, fungi, fibers, and more. What happens is that contaminated air re-circulates through your home, in a never-ending cycle, and can cause allergies and even asthma. Only professional duct cleaning can remove this material and restore quality air to your home. The results of your duct cleaning depend on technical experience and the use of the right equipment. Learn more about Air Duct Cleaning information from the EPA.

 

The National Standards for Air Duct Cleaning

There are standards for air duct cleaning as upheld by National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA). They are the only association that certifies air duct cleaners. If you follow the standards, anything in your HVAC system that is not supposed to be in there is a containment. Basically any dust or debris that is accumulated is considered a containment with the most harmful containments being fiberglass and mold. The reality is, most HVAC systems will accumulate some fiber glass material inside the HVAC system because of insulation. Insulation is necessary for the system because it maintains the unit temperature and reduces noise. Overtime, due to air friction, the insulation breaks down and releases fiberglass containments into the duct work. Only a professional can properly clean and remove the containments.

 

How Often Should You Clean Your Ducts

The NADCA standard says that you should have them inspected once per year and cleaned every other year. But, based on our experience we think, if you hire a qualified company that does a thorough cleaning, then every 3-to-5 years is all that is needed. But, if you have respiratory issues or pets for example, you may want to clean them every other year.

 

How to Avoid Scams

Our advice to you is that when you are searching online for an air duct cleaning service provider, choose a company that specializes in air duct cleaning. The reason this matters is because it is a common practice in the industry for unethical companies to say they will come to your home to clean the ducts as a method to scam customers. What this means is that some companies will say they want to clean your air ducts, but really they are looking for a way to get out to your home to see what else they can sell you. We know this because A Plus Enviro-Services has to redo work and clean up messes all the time after an owner has had a bad experience with scam-oriented service provider. Sadly, we see it every day.

 

Another thing you should be wary of is extremely low price quotes. A Plus Enviro-Services has found that many companies use what are known as “bait and switch” tactics, which is basically when a service provider offers a “bargain” price but then upcharges and adds outrageous fees without telling the customer. These are warning signs that a service provider may be trying to scam you. A reputable company will have fair and transparent pricing and provide their prices upfront. Finally, you should always hire a company that is licensed, bonded and insured, and one that carries pollution liability insurance for added peace of mind. We have a video library on the tactics of air vent cleaning SCAMS

 

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