Duct Cleaning, the Pros and Cons

First the Pros:

• Source Removal – If you get rid of the “source”, you will get rid of the problem.
• Clean Air – It only stands to reason; if your ducts are clean the furnace and air conditioner won’t blow it around your home.
• Health Benefits – Ask any allergist, or allergy sufferer.
• Very Affordable – For as little as $99 you could have all the air ducts in your home cleaned.
  Fast and Efficient – With two duct cleaners, the process should take less than an hour for a typical home with just one furnace.
• No Haggling Over Prices – Unlike other domestic services, duct cleaning should be easy to bid over the phone. Nowadays, most duct cleaning companies will give you a price quote over the phone.

Now the Cons:

• Duct Cleaning Cost – How clean is “clean”? Duct cleaning prices range from $69 – $1,000. This creates a lot of confusion, because the typical homeowner can’t inspect the work.
• Discount Duct Cleaning – Beware of any company offering $10 off, or $50 off. What is the real duct cleaning cost? Ask $10 off of what price?
• Per Vent Pricing – Most homeowners are unaware that their home may have 15-30 vents. Even at $10 per vent, this ads up fast.
• Duct Cleaning Scams – As in any business, duct cleaning companies will pop up from time to time and try to take advantage of unsuspecting homeowners.
• Incomplete Cleaning Methods – Look for companies that will give you a “Whole House Price”. You should be able to provide basic information about your heating and cooling system over the phone and get a price quote. If the duct cleaning company wants to come out to your home to give you a bid, hang onto your wallet!

I hope this post has given you a little insight into the pros and cons of duct cleaning. Remember to always check with consumer watch-dog groups and do a little homework before you hire any contractor to do any type of work in your home. You might also want to read the article “20 Tips on Hiring a Duct Cleaner“, published on the CleanMyfurnace.com website. Or, you can always give us a call at 612-412-1867, or mail in your questin to: DuctCleaningTwinCities.com, 40 South 7th Street, Suite 212-144D, Minneapolis, MN 55402.

Duct Cleaning Techniques Have Greatly Improved

Way back in 1997 the EPA did a study that down played the importance of duct cleaning. Many feel this was due in large part to the “air duct cleaning scams” that were being reported all across the Minneapolis area as well as the entire US. While the report was very thorough, duct cleaning techniques and equipment has changed. “Duct cleaners” were running around in station wagons and mini-vans with a shopvac, calling themselves “Indoor Air Quality Professionals.

Allergists Agree, Duct Cleaning Helps

Allergy sufferers don’t need to travel very far to learn the benefits of air duct cleaning. A short visit with their local allergy clinic and they discover that duct cleaning ranks high on the list of allergy cleaning or allergy proofing a house. They will also learn the importance of things like; like mattress cleaning, freezing pillows, allergy bedding, etc), Most people who suffer from allergies know there is no cure-all which will relieve all their symptoms. They understand that air duct cleaning is just one part of the allergy cleaning process.

Is Duct Cleaning Right in Your Situation?

According to your furnace manufacturer (yes, Trane, Bryant, Amana, Carrier, Lennox… yes, everyone of them!), your furnace should be cleaned and inspected yearly. If the manufacturers all recommend annual cleaning, it stands to reason that your ductwork, which supplies un-filtered air to the furnace and heated or cooled air to your home, should be cleaned too. Most homeowners understand the benefits of duct cleaning, even if purely from a “heating and air conditioning maintenance” standpoint. For about $200 or less, a qualified Twin Cities air duct cleaning company will thoroughly clean all your air duct work and will inspect your furnace and air conditioner for no additional charge! So, if you are troubled by allergies, what do you have to lose? Schedule to have your air ducts cleaned today. Who knows, your allergy problems just might improve! DuctCleaningTwinCities.com, 40 South 7th Street, Suite 212-144D, Minneapolis, MN 55402 (612) 412-1867