Red Flags and How to Avoid Scams!

Q: “WHAT WILL HELP ME AVOID SHADY DUCT CLEANERS AND SCAMS?”

A: In the duct cleaning industry there is a well known phrase we use when describing duct cleaners who scam customers. We call them “blow-and-go’s”. They often bait consumers in with extremely low pricing, show up with the wrong equipment and blow around your ducts to make it look like they did something important and then add hidden charges before they leave.

One way you can avoid this is to ask how long it will take for them to clean your ducts. If they answer that it will be a one man job that only takes half an hour, you can be sure they are not doing a proper job and are not worth wasting the time or money to have them show up. An average house with around 25 vents (and cold air returns) will likely range from 2-4 hours of work to properly hook up a negative air machine to your furnace, remove the blower*, blow the hot air vents using compressed air tools, pull the debris in the main trunk lines using a reverse skip-line or other agitation tool, clean the cold air return vents, pull the debris again with the same reverse skip-line or agitation tool and then clean the A/C, furnace and blower before putting your furnace back together and testing it to make sure it works before they leave with all of their equipment. So be sure to ask any non-QUADCA certified duct cleaner how long it will take to clean, as well as if there are any hidden fees or costs when the job is completed.

*Note that not all furnaces can have the blower removed – in some instances the blower may need to be cleaned without being removed.

For more information about QUADCA, avoiding scams or to find a certified QUADCA member in your area, visit QUADCA.com.

Also be sure to read our full article on Consumer Education: What you need to know!

Be sure to also review and DOWNLOAD NADCA’s RESIDENTIAL CHECKLIST