Like all fellow Texans, we love Texas and the great warm weather that comes with it! It really is one of the greatest places to live! Especially in Central Texas where we are blessed with the beautiful hill country. However, if there is one drawback, it’s got to be Cedar Fever. This time of year many of us start battling allergies. It makes us question whether it is even worth going outside, but are we safe inside? This brings us to one of the most commonly asked questions that we receive from customers. “How much does it cost to clean air ducts?”
Why Should I Clean My Air Ducts?
Before we talk about how much it costs to clean air ducts. I want to discuss why you should clean your air ducts. In most cases air ducts are kind of a behind the scenes player in your home or business. You don’t see the importance of what they are doing. In Texas though you sure can feel it. God Bless A/C.
Over the years these cold air transporters can get really dirty from pet dander, build up of dust and mold, as well as droppings from insects or other pests. This can cause some to have trouble breathing or even cause your HVAC system to run a little less efficient. Cleaning your air ducts is essential in living a cleaner healthier life.
As a general rule of thumb, the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) recommends air duct cleaning every 3 to 5 years. However, frequency of cleaning depends on several factors, and it should be based on the preference of the homeowner. Some of the things that may lead a homeowner to consider more frequent cleaning include: smokers in the household, pets, post home renovations, or prior to moving into a new home.
Who Should Clean My Air Ducts?
I know we have all passed by a sign or two driving down the street advertising Air Duct cleaning for $99. These advertisements do not tell the whole story and are usually scams. The cleaning company should be certified professionals. This is the standard for HVAC system cleaning. You should also check for relevant licenses and insurance – some states require a license for duct cleaning while others don’t.
Professional duct cleaning services use specialized blowers, vacuums, and brushes to clean out the supply, intake, and return ducts throughout your home or business. Duct cleaning should also involve a thorough cleaning of the air handler, registers, grilles, fans, motors, housings, and coils of the HVAC system.
In some cases, you may want to have antimicrobial chemicals applied to the interior surface of the air ducts to treat microbial contamination such as fungi (mold), viruses or bacteria. The use of antimicrobial chemicals is an additional service that is not part of a typical air duct cleaning project and can run up the cost.
How Much Does It Cost?
Now that we have discussed the reason to clean your air ducts, let’s get to the reason we are all here. How much does it cost to clean air ducts? On average, air duct cleaning will run between $49-$69 per air vent. If you want a good idea as to how much a job will cost, do a quick air vent check in your house.
A lot of our customers shared that they were ripped off in the past! They received a promotional card in the mail for $99 air duct cleaning. As mentioned before, this is rarely a real deal. What normally happens is a technician shows up and does their assessment. Then 20 minutes later comes back with a list of items on top of just cleaning your air ducts. Quickly your quote goes from $99 to $2,000-$4,000 for a sanitation you probably don’t need. Make sure you do your homework, and find a professional company that will give you a proper consultation. This could save you hundreds and even thousands of dollars.
In the end, you should make sure you are working with a certified technician, and a company that has great reviews. You can learn more about finding a quality company by reading our last blog. Do a quick visual inspection on your own. Do you see dust build up around the vents? Does it feel stuffy in your home or is there a significant odor? If you notice any of these signs, get in touch with a consultant and use the tips and tricks we have shared with you, to make sure you are getting the best quote for what you need.
