Air duct cleaning tips prove helpful
As a homeowner, you may wonder if a periodic, thorough cleaning of your air ducts is essential. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends you have air ducts cleaned on an as-needed basis; however, clean, efficient systems are less likely to break down, have a longer life span, and generally operate more effectively than dirty systems. Keeping your HVAC system clean may also contribute to lower home energy bills. The EPA notes you should consider having the air ducts cleaned if you have noticed the following: substantial visible mold growth appears inside hard surface ducts or on other components of your heating and cooling system, vermin such as insects or rodents infecting the duct system and if excessive amounts of dust or debris and/ or particles are actually released into the home from your supply registers.
Though there are many reputable air duct companies to choose from, unfortu- nately, there may be unlicensed air duct cleaners in operation and some scams too.
Doug Long of Power Vac America Inc., a BBB Accredited Business and 2016 BBB Pinnacle Award Winner, said consumers should be cautious: “Beware of bait-andswitch scams, which are as prevalent in duct cleaning as they are in any other industry. In the duct cleaning industry, these scams usually involve $99 coupons. Once they get their foot in the door with the coupons, then they use upselling to clean other components of the air conditioning system. Also watch out for contractors attempting to use Shop-vac or carpet cleaning type vacuum cleaners instead of equipment designed to clean ductwork.”
The Better Business Bureau of Houston and South Texas offers the following tips when choosing an air duct cleaner:
• Research the company. Check with the BBB at BBBHouston.org to review the company’s complaint history and background before you sign up.
• Check licensing. An air duct cleaner should hold an Air Conditioning Contrac- tors license with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation if they are making cuts into the air ducts or if they are performing biomedical remediation or sanitization services. Request licensing information and select a business that is licensed to perform all of the necessary work you need. Consumers can check the status of a license at the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation’s (TDLR) website at www.tdlr.texas.gov or through TDLR’s customer service lines at 1-800-803-9202 or 1-512-436-6599.
• Interview potential service providers. Ensure the business is experienced and will use procedures to protect you, your pets and your home from contamination. Be wary of duct cleaners who make sweeping claims about the health benefits of duct cleaning as such claims are largely unsubstantiated. Find out how many service technicians will be on the job site, and ask if the company is fully insured, including worker’s compensation. Check references to be sure other customers were satisfied and did not experience any problems with their heating and cooling system after the cleaning.
• Get written estimates. Check with at least three service providers before deciding whether to have ducts cleaned. If the service provider charges by the hour, request an estimate of the number of hours or days the job will take, and find out if there will be interruptions in the work.
Watch out for “blow-and-go” air duct cleaning companies. These companies often charge a nominal fee and do a poor job of cleaning the heating and cooling system. They may also perform unneeded services without the consumers’ permission.
The Better Business Bureau is an unbiased nonprofit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Every year, more than 87 million consumers rely on BBB Business Reviews and BBB Wise Giving Reports to help them find trustworthy businesses and charities across North America. For information or to check the reliability of a company and find trustworthy businesses, visit www.bbbhouston.org, which includes our BBB Accredited Business Directory, or call 713-868-9500. Leah Napoliello is senior director of Investigative Services with the Better Business Bureau of Greater Houston and South Texas. Send questions regarding homeowner issues to Leah Napoliello, Better Business Bureau, 1333 West Loop South, Suite 1200, Houston, TX 77027, or e-mail her at lnapoliello@bbbhou.org. Include mailing address and phone number on letters and emails.