Duct cleaning scam

Duct cleaning scam

Every so often, someone mentions having their air ducts cleaned.

Usually it has something to do with a family member suffering from allergies.

It immediately makes me feel like a slob if I don’t have mine done as well. So I looked into the whole duct cleaning thing to see if there was anything to it. What I found was that, although there are many commercial duct cleaning services to choose from, there are also some disreputable businesses to be wary of. As with any industry, scam artists typically use scare tactics in order to get to your checkbook. For one thing, I read how important it is to get references from prior customers as to their satisfaction – or dissatisfaction – with the service. Also, it’s imperative to ask for written estimates, as reputable companies should offer these free of charge. Once the estimate is received, you should invite one or two other HVAC contractors to do the same. When the dollar amount of the estimate is provided, anything less than four or five hundred dollars should be considered suspicious. A true professional duct cleaning takes several hours, sophisticated equipment and multiple workers. If someone offers you a deal that costs much less, they are likely only planning on vacuuming a few ducts with a powerful vacuum cleaner. Certified HVAC contractors and air duct cleaners will have the certificates to prove their authenticity. After the service is performed, you should insist on a visual inspection of both the intake ducts and the supply ducts. And beware the scam artists who try to sell you additional items, such as so-called anti-microbial sprays. The EPA actually warns against them, as they are potentially harmful.

 

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