Worried that your air ducts are contaminated, aggravating your allergies or asthma? If you think cleaning your air ducts might be a good idea to improve the quality of your home’s indoor air, you may want to use this nine-step checklist Flame Furnace has developed to help you get the best service for your money.
- Choose a qualified duct cleaning contractor…not all contractors are equally knowledgeable and responsible. Ask your Chamber of Commerce, friends, family for referral. Look for a contractor that has been in business for years with technicians trained and certified to meet established industry standards, one that is a member of NADCA (National Air Duct Cleaning Association).
- Set up an appointment with the contractor. Make sure the contractor comes to your home at your convenience, and that you have the name of the person visiting. Check their Certificates of Insurance and State license. Ask for references.
- Check references to be sure other customers were satisfied and did not experience any problems with their heating or cooling systems after air duct cleaning.
- Contact your County or City Office of Consumer Affairs or local Better Business Bureau to determine if complaints have been lodged against any of the companies you are considering.
- Find out what your ducts are made of …sheet metal, flex duct, or constructed of fiberglass duct board or lined with fiberglass. Your air duct system may include a combination of these different types and it is important to know the methods of cleaning vary by duct type. Make sure that there are no asbestos-containing materials, as these materials require specialized procedures and contractors trained in asbestos handling.
- Get written estimates. Talk to the contractor about your home, any special needs, why you want your ducts cleaned. Ask what experience they have with systems like yours and if they are using vacuums with HEPA filters. Ask them what procedures they will use to protect you, your pets, and your home from contamination during cleaning. Have the contractor list exactly what is covered by the estimate, what equipment will be used, and the timeframe to complete the job.
- Do not allow the contractor to apply chemical biocides, designed to kill microbiological contaminants, or other chemical sealants to control mold growth unless you fully understand the pros and cons. The use of these chemicals in air ducts has not yet been fully researched by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Also, application of these sealants may also affect the noise and retarding characteristics of fiberglass lined or constructed ducts and may invalidate the manufacturer’s warranty.
- Avoid advertisements for “$99 whole house specials” and other “low ball” sales gimmicks. Air duct cleaning service typically range in cost from $450 to $1500 per house, depending on the services offered, the size of the system to be cleaned, system accessibility and level of contamination.
- Make sure access holes in sheet metal ducts are sealed and re-insulated so they are airtight. This means more than duct tape…they need to be attached with screws, rivets or mastic.
- After they are cleaned make sure that you continue to clean and purify your air with ultra violet lights and HEPA filters.
FLAME has been offering air duct cleaning services for many years and would be happy to schedule some time to visit with you and answer any questions on your air duct system. Feel free to call toll free at 1-888-234-2340 or visit our website @ www.flamefurnace.com.
Just follow the Furnace Doctor’s checklist and feel better about your air duct cleaning!
