What you should know.
Choosing a professional for any home service project can be a daunting task. Here are a few tips to take the guesswork out of choosing a company to tackle your HVAC system and air duct cleaning.
Look for members of NADCA who are active and in good standing.
NADCA is the National Air Duct Cleaners Association—the trade organization that upholds industry standards and provides certification and education. There are multiple benefits of choosing a NADCA member for your project including use of proper methods and equipment. Choosing a member of NADCA helps ensure that you are hiring someone with the appropriate qualifications to complete the job properly. NADCA’s website includes a section to search for members by area. This directory also includes information on how many certified professionals are on staff, and how long the company has been a member with NADCA. This information can help you gain a sense of how long the company has been in the air duct cleaning industry and the culture of within the company.
Verify that the company has been in business long enough to establish a track record.
You don’t want a company that will give you a great rate today and be gone tomorrow. While cost savings can be a great perk to hiring a startup, it is often difficult to know what you should expect from a company that has yet to establish a history of performance. Additionally, a warranty is only as good as the company backing it. Make sure that the company you hire has an established reputation of standing behind their work, answering questions, and being available for follow up if needed. While warranty periods on HVAC and air duct cleaning don’t rival those of roof replacement, you still want to make sure you’ll be able to locate and contact the company if anything does come up down the road.
Request references from friends, neighbors or your HVAC company.
Leaning on members of your circle with first-hand experience is a great way to vet an HVAC System and air duct cleaning company. Knowing your friend, neighbor, co-worker, family member, or trusted HVAC provider had a great experience with air duct cleaning service goes a long way to ensuring you will have a similar experience. Ask around! If you don’t know anyone who’s recently had air duct cleaning performed at their home, reviews can be a good alternative source of first-hand information. Look for reviews that are specific, consistent over time, and address aspects of the air duct cleaning service that are important to you.
Verify proper licensing and insurance.
Any company performing HVAC system and air duct cleaning should be able to provide information on their credentials and insurance. Verifying this information helps avoid shady start-ups or “blow and go” companies. An experienced, reputable contractor will proudly provide this information for you. It took a lot of hard work to get and maintain those credentials! Why not show them off??
Avoid low-ball gimmicks and promotions.
Everyone wants to get the best deal, but some deals really are too good to be true. With the increased awareness surrounding indoor air quality after the COVID-19 pandemic, the HVAC system and air duct cleaning industry has seen significant growth—and not all of these pop-up companies are reliable and trustworthy. Be especially careful of promotions advertising things such as ”whole-home specials” or “$199 duct cleaning.” Companies offering air duct cleaning services at low-ball price points are attempting to sell you quickly and get in and out before you realize how poorly the job was done. Make sure you know what is included, what to expect, and request it in writing before booking services.
Expect follow-up after the service.
One of the hallmarks of great service is what happens after the service. You should reasonably expect a check in after your air duct cleaning to ensure your satisfaction. As you’re speaking with representatives, be sure to ask about any follow-up after service, when and how payment is expected, and what to do if there are any questions after the technicians leave. While these may seem like minor details, facing a concern after service only to realize the company is gone, unreachable, and has your payment in hand is not a pleasant situation.
