Have you seen the ads on TV for air duct cleaning and they’re always running a special $299 for a whole home? Does it make you wonder if you’re actually getting what you pay for? I am here to give you all the secrets on how much you should be paying for an air duct cleaning.
Let me start by introducing myself. My name is Vanity. I have been working with Bee’s Air Duct Cleaning for the last four years. My frequently asked question I get is how much do you charge for an air duct cleaning. So I’m here to break it down for you. The first thing you should know is there are no regulations on air duct cleaning so anyone can say they can do it however there is a certification you can get that gives a specific standard as to how an air duct cleaning should be done. Here at Bee’s we are the only Northern Colorado air Duct cleaning company that has a certified NADCA (National Air Duct Cleaning Association) technician on every truck.
There are three methods of air duct cleaning. The first and most common that you see advertised is what they call a rotobrush cleaning. What that means is they will come in with a glorified shop vac and get what is right at the vent but there is no way their hose can get down your whole truck line to give you a thorough cleaning. That is why they can charge $299 for a whole home duct cleaning because they are in and out of your home within an hour. The second method of cleaning you can get is called Ram Air Cleaning. That is where they take a clear box that has two holes for a hose and vacuum. They blow air in the vent and use the vacuum to suck at the same time. This method is better than the rotobrush method but it is very messy and can cause a lot of dust and debris to fly around your house. The final method is called Source Removal or Negative Pressure Removal . This is the method we use here at Bee’s. This is also the only method that meets NADCA standards. With source removal we have a big vacuum that we stick to where the trunk line and furnace meet also called the plenum. That puts your HVAC system under negative pressure. We then use compressed air and rubberized whips at each vent starting on the supply side furthest from the furnace. We go from the vent all the way down the trunk line and repeat again on the return side. We then create an access point in the trunk lines and use stiff bristle brushes to get all the debris. This process normally takes two technicians anywhere from four to six hours for a one system house. You should expect to pay anywhere from $800 to $2000 depending on the size of your home.
I have also made a list of important things to know when getting quotes for northern colorado air duct cleaning.
- Always get the quote in writing. Make sure it has exactly what they are doing and charging.
- What method of duct cleaning they do.
- Are the technicians that will be performing the work NADCA certified? Having certified technicians means you can be confident that they are educated and equipped to identify hazards that may make your air quality worse, such as asbestos tape or loose fiberglass.
