Duct cleaning is a common service that homeowners invest in during allergy season due to the improvements it has on a home’s air quality. However, it’s important to make sure your air duct cleaning services are performed by a legitimate company. Authentically professional duct cleaners will use specialized vacuums, blowers, and brushes to clean the ducts in your home, as well as the air handler, fans, grilles, motors, and coils of your HVAC system. Current research shows there is evidence that dirty coils or motors can cause your HVAC unit to be less efficient. You want your home and your family to be healthy, but how do you know when cleaning your ducts is necessary and which technician to hire? Keep reading to find ways you can spot fraudulent air duct cleaning services.
The Basics of Air Duct Cleaning
Your air ducts are linked to your heating and cooling systems, providing airflow to the rest of the house. Unless you haven’t cleaned your air ducts in several years, is uncommon for dirt, dust, and other allergens to accumulate inside to a level significant enough to cause health problems.
At Petersburg Power Washing, Inc., we recommend hiring air duct cleaners in three situations:
- You’ve discovered an infestation of insects or rodents in your house
- You had a professional inspection that confirmed mold in your air ducts
- There is a visible accumulation of dust and dirt exiting your registers
In general, it is recommended that you have your air ducts cleaned every 3-5 years unless you are experiencing a serious issue. When you do enlist the services of an air duct cleaner, expect a thorough, professional job and fair prices to ensure the technician is legitimate.
Scare Tactics
Your home may contain allergens and irritants, but your air ducts are just one place they could be accumulating. An untrustworthy air duct cleaner might use scare tactics to get you to agree to their cleaning services. These include claiming to find mold without a proper inspection, charging an excessively expensive amount for their services, or pressuring you to sign their contract before you’ve had a chance to verify their credentials. True professionals will allow you to double-check who they are and make sure the paperwork seems legitimate. If you sense fraudulent activity from an air duct cleaning company, make sure to hire one of our professionals at Petersburg Power Washing, Inc. in Springfield, IL. We guarantee excellent results when and if you need our cleaning services.
Suspicious Cut Rates
Fraudulent cleaners may offer a great deal for their services, but that may simply be to beat out their competitors and gain access to your home, where they will likely charge you for more work, negating their supposed low rates. Remember the adage: If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Professional air duct cleaning companies know the value of their work and charge customers fair prices for keeping their home allergen and dust-free.
Be especially careful online and over the phone, and do not give out personal information unless the site and the company are reputable. Keep in mind that legitimate companies will not demand payment or personal information upfront. Petersburg Power Washing, Inc. never accepts payment until we’ve already looked at your ducts.
Should I Have Ducts Cleaned?
At Petersburg Power Washing, Inc., we utilize a camera to inspect your ducts and determine if they need professional cleaning services. We will not perform those services or charge you unless your duct needs to be cleaned and your request is based on our diagnosis of the situation. We recommend cleaning your air ducts if they are exceptionally dirty and if you can confirm your ducts or HVAC are contaminated. Otherwise, it’s not something that requires regular maintenance beyond every 3-5 years. You probably don’t need to have your air ducts professionally cleaned more often than that unless you experience one of the following situations:
- Animal or Pest Infestation
- Visible Mold Growth
- Recent Home Renovation or Remodel
- Noticeable Contaminants in the Air
- Family Members Experience Illness
Questions to Ask Prospective Air Duct Cleaners
To feel confident that you can trust the technician and avoid falling for a fraudulent air duct cleaning service, ask these questions for verification:
- Can you provide proof of liability insurance?
- Do you have local references?
- What services are included in your contracted amount?
- Do you have experience with my model of HVAC?
It’s a wise practice to contact more than one air duct cleaner to compare the services and prices offered. Avoiding fraudulent HVAC technicians will allow you to find a true professional that you can trust for years, as well as save you time, money, and unnecessary stress. At Petersburg Power Washing, Inc., we have been the leading residential and commercial power cleaning company in the Springfield, IL area since 2007. You can trust our team of experts to leave your property clean and free of any harmful bacteria, dirt, and mold. Call 217.415.9013 or 217.416.6388 to reach Petersburg Power Washing, Inc. in Springfield, IL for affordable, quality air duct cleaning services to keep your indoor air quality fresh and clean.
