5 Must-Know Facts Before Buying Air Duct Cleaning Services

Unsure whether you should get your air ducts cleaned?

Superior Air Duct, which services Greater Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Youngstown, Ohio, gives you five facts you need to know before buying air duct cleaning services.

1. Most Cheap Air Duct Cleaning Offers Are Scams

You heard right. If it’s cheap, you won’t get much out of it. A common scam in Pittsburgh and Youngstown is the "$99 air duct cleaning deal." Scammers often send out mailers offering duct cleaning for under $100.

According to the National Duct Cleaning Association (NDCA), the average duct cleaning service is between $500 to $1,500.

Because their equipment isn’t high-quality and their cleaning methods aren't legitimate, the duct system is not cleaned properly and might even get damaged.

Aside from cheap offers, scammers will also often point out the dust on the metal grills covering the return air ducts. They use this as justification for why you need duct cleaning. However, these registers are designed to trap excess dust. It does not mean there is dust within the duct itself. It can easily be wiped down with a cloth.

In order to fool the general public, many scammers claim to be members of the NDCA. However, if you’re unsure whether or not to trust a duct cleaning company, contact the NDCA directly and ask if the company you’re looking into is a member or not.

2. Air Duct Cleaning Doesn’t Prevent Health Issues

Air duct cleaning does very little to create healthy air quality unless there are mold spores, heavy dust, construction residue, or toxic debris already present within the duct system. In this case, professional duct cleaning will give you cleaner, healthier-to-breathe air.

If you have breathing problems, you might wish to first consult with a doctor and, second, get a professional opinion on your home’s HVAC system.

3. Improper Duct Cleaning Leads To Damaged Ducts

Those who want to do it themselves or hire a non-reputable company (even a scam company) may find that after a duct cleaning, there are costly damages, like torn duct lining.

Superior Air Duct uses industrial-grade equipment that is safe and effective on all duct system types, flexible and rigid. It’s well worth paying for professional services from a company with the right equipment.

4. Duct Cleaning Isn't A DIY-Activity

You want to save some money. We get it. But doing it yourself can lead to destructive results, and even bigger long-term costs - including repairs to your duct system. If an untrained technician can damage it, so can an eager homeowner.

An easy, surface-level DIY duct cleaning tip is to remove the registers of the ducts, and lightly vacuum any residual dust around the surface area, no more than 8 inches deep. However, sticking a vacuum directly into your ductwork over 10 inches deep can damage your ductwork.

5. You Might Just Need Sanitization NOT Cleaning

The average home with six rooms can collect up to 40 pounds of dust, according to the NADC. With that in mind, regular yearly cleaning is probably a great idea. However, for most homes located in relatively clean, construction-free zones, cleaning isn't what’s needed — sanitization is.

Anti-microbial sanitization treatments are perfect for duct systems that have taken in toxic air pollutants through in-house products like disinfectants, spray cleaners, and other cleaning solutions that stay in the air and filter through the duct system.

Contact Superior Air Duct For Professional Duct Cleaning

We’re here to help you get the best quality cleaning for your money. We’re passionate about what we do and are willing to help educate you on best practices to ensure a long life for your duct system. Contact us today to schedule a cleaning.