The average American spends about 90 percent of their time indoors. Interestingly, indoor spaces can contain pollutants up to five times higher than the typical outdoor concentration. Dirty air ducts can contribute to a significant percentage of these high levels of indoor air contamination.
Your air ducts supply air around the house. Once a duct is dirty, the air it supplies will also be unclean.
The best way to keep your ducts clean at all times is to work with a professional duct cleaning service. But with so many businesses that provide these services, how can you choose the ideal one for you?
In today’s post, we outline factors to consider when hiring a duct cleaning company.
The Company’s Reputation
A duct cleaning company’s reputation is the most accurate way to tell what kind of experience to expect when working with them. If the company has a reputation for delivering on their promises, then it’s very likely you’ll be satisfied working with them.
One of the best ways to know a service provider’s reputation is by reading online customer reviews to see what previous customers have to say about the company. This website, for instance, contains useful customer feedback on the experience clients had working with the duct cleaning company.
During your first interview with your potential duct cleaning expert, ask for a list of references. A top cleaning service will have no problem granting your request. Call two or three of these references to learn more about the company.
License and Insurance
A duct cleaning company needs to be properly licensed and insured to operate legally. Generally, a reputable company will go out of its way to obtain all the necessary documents to work in a certain area. Still, you need to verify whether this is the case.
It is also critical that you work with an insured duct cleaning service. The idea is to ensure that the company can reimburse you in case there’s damage to your property as a direct result of the cleaning process.
Industry Experience
How long has your potential duct cleaning service provider been in the industry? Duct cleaning experience can determine what kind of experience you can expect.
Generally, you want to work with a company that has been around long enough to have a long list of satisfied clients. An experienced duct cleaning service is likely to do a stellar job compared to one that opened two months ago.
Employee Vetting Procedures
Given that the actual duct cleaning will happen in your home, it’s only natural that you’d want to be sure you’re working with trustworthy technicians. You want to be sure that the security and safety of your loved ones and property are guaranteed. In addition, it’s important to know that the technicians the company will send over have the necessary skills and experience to deliver great results.
During your initial interview, inquire how the company vets its staff. In particular, seek relevant information regarding the specific technician who’ll be assigned to you.
Services Included Within the Agreement
It’s always good to know exactly what you’re paying for. Some companies will only clean the ducts. Others will include air vent cleaning services within the same quote.
Generally, you want to work with a duct cleaning service that offers multiple services without overcharging you.
The Cleaning Process
For the ordinary homeowner, it’s difficult to understand all the intricacies related to air duct cleaning. However, it helps to ask your prospective service provider a few questions regarding how they perform their work. The goal is to gauge whether the duct cleaner has a firm grasp of what they’re doing.
You can inquire what method they usually follow when cleaning air ducts. A seasoned professional will have no trouble elaborating their process.
Find out how they plan to take care of your house during the cleaning process. Will they cover your floor and furniture? Will they require you to take your children and pets elsewhere?
When you know these things beforehand, it’s easier to prepare well for the entire duct cleaning project.
Tools and Equipment
Find out what tools and equipment the duct cleaning professional hopes to use for cleaning the air ducts. Most companies use truck-mounted units or shop vacuums to rid your ducts of dust, pollen, and other debris.
Always opt for a duct cleaning service that uses modern duct cleaning equipment as such equipment tends to produce the best results.
Cleaning Products
How safe are the cleaning products your prospective duct cleaning service provider uses? Some cleaning products contain chemicals that are meant to kill any bacteria present in your ducts. Unfortunately, some of these chemicals may cause allergic reactions or cause other complications.
If you can find a company that uses cleaning products that are natural and safe, consider working with them.
Price
Duct cleaning services cost anywhere between $450 and $1,000 per HVAC system. What exactly you end up paying depends on the size of the system, how accessible it is, and the level of contamination.
Get quotes from multiple duct cleaning services before making your final decision on who to work with. Comparing cleaning fees helps make sure that you don’t end up overpaying for the services.
Choose the Right Duct Cleaning Service Provider for You
Clean ducts ensure that your HVAC system works well, besides keeping your indoor air quality high. It’s the reason you should work with a dependable duct cleaning service provider to keep your ducts squeaky clean. Your HVAC will thank you for it, and you and your loved ones will breathe easier at home.
Would you like to read more content on how to care for your air ducts? Please, keep visiting our blog.