Quick Verdict
Since most of the dust in your home’s ducts tends to stay in the ductwork, air duct cleaning isn’t required regular maintenance in most homes
In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency advises homeowners to only clean air ducts when the homeowner detects mold growth, an insect or rodent infestation, or excessive dirt and debris inside the ductwork. But when those problems do arise, most homeowners lack the expertise and tools required to thoroughly clean air ducts themselves. This is a job that requires the expertise of a professional service.
Air duct cleaning services can vary dramatically in price and quality, making choosing the right professional a confusing process. While it’s vital to hire a service that adheres to the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA), there are other factors to consider. This guide will discuss what attributes are crucial to consider when vetting a duct cleaning service.
What to Consider When Choosing One of the Best Air Duct Cleaning Services.
Since quality HVAC duct cleaning can vary greatly from service to service, it’s important to consider a few important factors when vetting a company, including certification, cleaning methods, and customer service. Ahead learn more about these and other crucial attributes of air duct cleaning services.
Certification.
Any duct cleaning service worth its salt should have a National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) certification. The NADCA is responsible for developing and researching standards for cleaning air ducts. The duct cleaning service must adhere to these standards and have at least one Air System Cleaning Specialist (ASCS) on staff to earn this certification. An ASCS has taken classes in these standards and passed an exam to achieve this certification. Most air duct cleaning services display their NADCA certification prominently on their web page.
Cleaning Methods.
Understanding the cleaning methods is crucial knowledge that allows a homeowner to monitor the work. Most services will begin with a visual inspection of the ducts, often using a video camera that extends into the ducts to survey their condition. Next, the technician will attach a large vacuum device from the truck to one of the ducts. The technician must seal each register in every room of the house to create the negative pressure required to suck dust out of the vents. After covering all registers, the technician will turn on the vacuum to create negative pressure throughout the ducts. They can now clean each duct by covering and uncovering each register one at a time. While the ducts will be the focus of the cleaning, a good duct cleaning service will also clean other parts of the HVAC system, including blower motors, evaporator coils, and drain pans. Finally, the technician should replace any filters with new ones.
Additional Services.
In addition to duct cleaning, many duct cleaning companies offer other services that might interest a homeowner. Additional services duct cleaning companies offer include furnace blower and motor cleaning, evaporator coil cleaning, dryer vent cleaning, and HVAC repair. Some companies will bundle services, making them more affordable than purchasing each service individually.
Customer Service.
Whether hiring a plumber, electrician, or air duct cleaning company, customer service is key to having a good experience. A company that offers good customer service should be willing to assess the condition of a home’s ductwork and provide a detailed estimate of the work before requiring a customer to commit to the service. A quality company will have customer service representatives available via phone, email, or online chat. In the year 2022, most companies should have their prices listed online to offer convenience and transparency.
Our Top Picks.
The list below includes three of the top air duct cleaning services in the nation. These services are NADCA certified and have a well-established reputation for quality service.
Our Verdict.
For its innovative, in-depth cleaning process, public transport pricing and simple booking process that gives the customer a full breakdown of the service and its cost, Duct Masters Inc. leads the way when it comes to air duct cleaning services in Laval. If Duct Masters isn’t available, Nouvel Air 2001 is a good second with its powerful truck mount.
How We Chose the Best Laval Duct Cleaning Services.
We considered numerous important criteria in reviewing more than a dozen different air duct cleaning services for our list of the top services. There are a fair number of imposters when it comes to air duct cleaning services, so reputation is key. The services we chose have been in the business for 10 years or more. All the companies on our list have NADCA certification and a proven track record of providing quality duct cleaning. These services use best practices when cleaning ducts, including negative pressure technology and vacuum systems with HEPA filtration. Since ducts aren’t the only component in an HVAC system that can clog with dirt, we chose companies that also clean blowers, registers, heat components, cooling coils, and other integral HVAC parts.
Before You Hire a Laval Duct Cleaning Service.
Before choosing a duct cleaner, determine if the service is needed at all. If an examination of the home’s ducts reveals no large deposits of dust, then there is probably no need to clean the ducts, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. It is normal for the return registers to collect dust as they draw in air and dust from the room. A dirty register can be cleaned with a standard vacuum. That said, if you do have family members with severe allergy symptoms or unexplained illness, it may make sense to have a closer inspection of the ducts by a professional service to determine if a cleaning is needed. A great source for information for consumers is DUCTCLEANING.ORG which has an excellent section devoted to consumer education which can be found here.
Cost Of Using a Laval Duct Cleaning Service.
The cost of hiring a company to clean the air ducts in a home averages between $350 and $475. The amount of air vents and units in the home and its accessibility coupled with the home’s location impacts the price. Should you request a complete HVAC cleaning including the furnace fan and evaporator coil the price will jump a few hundred additionally. That cost can increase significantly for ducts that require mold removal or pest extermination. Pest extermination can add $150 to $500 to the cost, while mold and mildew removal can add $600 to $2,000.
The Advantages of a Laval Duct Cleaning Service.
When a quality air duct cleaning service does the job, there can be many benefits. Clean ducts can improve a home’s overall air quality by removing excess dust, pollen, mold, and mildew inside the ducts that would otherwise circulate into the air. Other advantages include:
• Eliminating foul odors that might be lingering inside the ducts.
• Preventing dirt and dust from potentially damaging the HVAC system.
• Improving the efficiency of a home’s HVAC system, reducing utility costs.
• Relieve allergy symptoms should a trigger be inside the air duct.
• Removes pet hair that gathers inside the air ducts.
• After completing any type of renovation work inside the home to remove construction debris.
FAQ.
Whether you’re trying to determine when to have those ducts cleaned or how much you can expect to pay for it, then read on for answers to these and other commonly asked questions about this service.
Q. What is air duct cleaning?
Air duct cleaning refers to the removal of dust, dirt, mold, and allergens from an HVAC system’s ducts, grilles, registers, and other heating and cooling components such as cooling coils, heat exchangers, and drain pans.
Q. How much do air duct cleaning services charge?
Most air duct cleaning services charge between $350 and $475 in Laval, with a national average of $400.
Q. When is the right time to clean my duct system?
The best time to clean your duct system is in either the spring or fall after you’ve stopped using the HVAC system to either heat or cool the home.
Q. How long does it take to clean air ducts?
A crew of two technicians can clean a home’s air ducts in about 2 to 4 hours, depending on the complexity of the job and the size of the house.
Q. Do I have to clean my ducts every year?
No. The National Air Duct Cleaners Association recommends cleaning a home’s air ducts every 3 to 5 years.
Q. Can I clean my own duct system?
Cleaning a duct system is not a do-it-yourself job as it requires special tools that most people don’t have in their garage or workshop, including a high-powered vacuum and rotary brushes. Without these tools, it’s not possible to access the inside of the ducts or create the vacuum power needed to remove dust and dirt.
