After a long period of time without an air duct cleaning, you're definitely considering hiring someone to clean and disinfect your system so that you can have cool air circulated throughout your home during the spring and summer months.

But, before you do, you should arm yourself with knowledge so that you do not become a victim of air duct cleaning scams!

Here's what you should expect to pay for air duct cleaning.

If you're having your carpet cleaned, don't forget to get your ducts cleaned as well. Baker advises that you be prepared for the work — and that you should anticipate to pay anything from a few hundred dollars to somewhere in the vicinity of $500.

Cleaning your dryer vents should be included in that fee as well. "A reputable duct cleaning company will and should clean your dryer vents as well," Baker advises customers. The ducts are also there, you know."


1. Recognize when duct cleaning is required and when it is not required.

When you move into a newly constructed house, Baker suggests that you have your ducts cleaned right away.

The amount of construction waste is significant. The ductwork of a newly constructed home may contain sawdust, drywall debris, and even Doritos bags, according to the expert.

After that, Baker recommends that you have your ducts cleaned every seven to ten years — unless you have someone in your home who suffers from breathing difficulties.

If that is the case, Baker recommends taking a different route.

"You should request that your HVAC supplier fix the filter problem in your furnace. That is money that would be better spent elsewhere rather than on a yearly or every two-year duct cleaning con."


2. Make certain that your HVAC system will be cleaned as well.

"A quality duct cleaning is not complete, in my opinion, unless it is combined with the cleaning of your HVAC system," Baker explains.

It's important to note, however, that duct cleaners are not legally able to work on your HVAC system unless they hold a current HVAC license.

Upon request, the company is required to provide you with the permission number. In the event that they do not, this is not a good omen.

While we're on the subject of HVAC systems and dust, it's worth noting that most HVAC maintenance plans include frequent replacement of the furnace filter. Change the filter between visits, which is normally every three months, to assist maintain your system functioning at optimal performance and reduce dust buildup in between.

3. Beware of Unsolicited Pitches

The way this one works is as follows: A corporation contacts you and informs you that they will be in your neighborhood the next week. In addition, they offer to clean your ducts for a further absurdly low charge of $25.

Baker, on the other hand, is not convinced. There are so many problems with it simply on the surface - you can't even get a pizza delivered to your door for $25, to name a few — that it reeks of SCAM!

Baker claims that he has received these phone calls himself. After unsuccessfully attempting to schedule an appointment, he noticed the following:

"The previous time they contacted, I spoke with the woman on the other end of the phone and expressed my interest. I agreed to set up an appointment and then requested that someone call me. After much back and forth, she finally gave me a 555 number that turned out to be a hoax. "We did end up hooking up."


4. Oppose the use of the mold scare tactic.

Some companies will place a mold test kit in your home in order to persuade you that you need your ducts professionally cleaned. You, on the other hand, are most likely frightening.

If you've been told by a duct-cleaning company that you have a mold problem, Baker recommends purchasing a mold test kit from a home improvement store to independently check what they've told you about the problem.

Unless you reside in a hospital, every quality mold test kit will identify mold in every home, every time, because mold is present in the air everywhere, even in hospitals." Because of this, you cannot rely on the findings of a store-bought mold evaluation to establish whether or not your home has a significant mold problem," Baker explains further.

"However, mold is not the only reason to get your duct system cleaned. " Due to the fact that ducts collect dust and become dirty over time, they should be cleaned regularly. Dust is an unavoidable element of existence.


Final thought

The cleaning of air ducts should not be considered an add-on service to a carpet cleaning visit. In addition, while it might be expensive to have it done properly, an air duct cleaning is not required for many individuals.

To be on the safe side, it's best to set aside money every seven to ten years for the genuine cost of a legitimate cleaning. Of course, if you have a family member who suffers from respiratory difficulties, you'd want to perform this procedure more frequently.

Meanwhile, check with industry trade bodies such as the National Air Duct Cleaners Association to ensure that the company you use is legal and has the proper licensing.