Air Duct Cleaning - Beware of $99 Air Duct Cleaners Who ‘Blow and Go’
DUCT CLEANING SERVICES
Duct Cleaning Services in the North Georgia Area
Beware of
$99 Air Duct Cleaners
Who ‘Blow and Go’
DUCT CLEANING SERVICES
Duct Cleaning Services in the North Georgia Area
Beware of $99 Air Duct Cleaners Who 'Blow and Go'
Is a $99 air duct cleaning a scam? In most cases, yes. Professional air duct cleaning requires specialized, high-powered equipment and takes several hours to complete properly. It is financially impossible for legitimate companies to operate at a $99 price point. These offers are typically 'bait-and-switch' tactics designed to get inside your home and upsell you on unnecessary, expensive services.
In this guide, we'll show you exactly how these scams work, what a real cleaning should cost, and how to protect your home, your health, and your wallet from predatory contractors.
Table of Contents
Don't Fall For This Scam
Over the years, dust and debris build up in the air ducts in your home. When this happens, you need a professional to clean them out to improve your home's air quality as well as reduce the risk of a fire. There are some firms out there that try to scam homeowners when it comes to air duct cleaning by offering a "whole home air duct cleaning" for an incredibly low introductory price.
However, once they are in your home, they "find mold," change the terms of the offer, or just upsell you on something you don't need. You need to make sure that you're dealing with a reputable company that does the job right.
Hire a company that you can trust that follows Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidelines. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a very clear definition for cleaning air ducts. It also offers guidelines of what you should expect a professional company to achieve during the cleaning.
Call 470-602-3019 for a free no-obligation quote today.
About Those $99 Deals
From time to time, you may get a flyer in the mail or online from a company offering to clean your air duct system for as little as $99. When they arrive at your home, it's revealed that the deal only covered a few vents in your home.
To clean all your vents, some dishonest companies will charge you extra to clean all the vents and not even touch the actual internal parts of the HVAC system. According to the EPA, this isn't very effective. You want to work with a company that cleans out the entire system.
Aside from the ductwork, you also need an HVAC cleaning that cleans all the various components of both the heating as well as cooling elements in a forced-air system.
HVAC Cleaning Technologies goes above and beyond industry standards to guarantee an extensive cleaning of the air ducts and HVAC system in your home that leaves you with refreshed air quality. For more details on our process, check out our page:
What To Expect When We Clean Your HVAC.
Breaking Down the Cost of A Thorough Air Duct Cleaning
A professional company charges you to clean your air ducts in one of several ways:
- For each system, vent, and return
- By the number of systems
- For a set price for the first system with a certain number of returns and vents, with additional charges for extra vents, returns, and systems
- By the amount of square footage in your home
- For add-on options
You can expect the cleaning to cost between $400 to $1,000 for a mid-sized home with 1 to 2 AC units. Ask for a quote before the company arrives and ask if they will guarantee the quote won't change unless the quoting information was incorrect. At HVAC Cleaning Technologies, the price we quote is the price you pay — no exceptions.
"The Other Company Quoted Cheaper"
We hear this a lot, which is why we put this resource together so you can be informed in your decision to hire an
air duct cleaning specialist. However enticing it may be to hire the cheapest in town, you will get what you pay for. Please keep in mind that the person cleaning your HVAC system needs to be well-trained, as they are working on your system that can cost thousands of dollars to replace.
If the company is subcontracted without insurance or a fly-by-night hire that you found on Facebook, you may end up with a repair bill that costs way more than the money you "saved" with the other company.
To put it another way, in order to properly clean the entire HVAC system (not just blowing out the ducts) in a standard home, a technician should be on site for 3 to 6 hours.
| Feature | The $99 "Discount" | The Professional Cleaning |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment |
Uses handheld portable vacuums with weak suction
|
Uses American Caddy Vac trucks with 14,000 CFM of suction (nearly 5× more powerful)
|
| Scope of Work |
Cleans only the vents they can easily reach; may skip the attic and air handler entirely
|
Cleans the entire system: supply, return, coils, drain pans, fan motor, and air handler
|
| Time on Site |
30 to 45 minutes
|
3 to 6 hours
|
| Pricing |
Bait-and-switch pricing with hidden upsells
|
Transparent, upfront pricing, the quote is the price
|
| Expertise |
Technicians may not be certified
|
Every lead technician holds NADCA ASCS certification
|
How could a company afford to:
- Properly pay their staff
- Hold the proper insurance and licensing
- Operate state-of-art cleaning trucks & equipment
- Pay business expenses (Office, Gas, Taxes, etc.)
- Train and certify their employees to ensure a job is done correctly
- Be onsite for 3-6 hours (plus travel time)
For only $99?
They would be out of business in a week. So if someone quotes you a "$99 Duct Cleaning", just know there is no way they can do a good job at that price. Either they are superficially cleaning the ducts (waste of money) or they are setting you up for a "bait-and-switch" upsell for the big bucks once they get onsite.
At HVAC Cleaning Technologies, the price we quote is the price you pay.
We get scammers trying to sell us these "jobs". They will promise and "book" a job at an unrealistically low amount with the whole intention of upselling the unknowing customer upon arrival. The unreputable companies that buy these kind of leads have no intention of doing the service for the amount quoted, otherwise they would lose money.
Check out this example:
Hire a Team You Can Trust
When the time comes to clean your air ducts, look for a team trained in the methods set forth by NADCA. This can ensure the job is done correctly and will help protect your family from indoor air quality issues.
With more than 25 years in business and as an accredited member of the Better Business Bureau, HVAC Cleaning Technologies has a team of reliable perfectionists to get your air ducts and HVAC system squeaky clean. Our family-owned and operated company has all the certifications necessary to meet the needs of our customers.
Tips for Choosing a Reputable Company to Clean Your Air Ducts
- Verify that the company has the correct equipment and has worked in homes similar to yours. Ask for references.
- Many other companies use handheld portable vacuums which do not provide adequate suction. In comparison, our American Caddy Vac trucks have 14,000 cfm of suction, almost 5x more suction than some of our competitors!
- Make sure the company has adequate experience and many years in business.
- Don't fall for any gimmicks or $99 deals.
- Many other companies will buy cheap leads from marketing companies with the "$99 Cleaning" offer to get their foot in the door, just to upsell you when they arrive.
- Check with the Better Business Bureau in your local community to ensure the company is in good standing.
- Review your quote to ensure that all of your vents and systems are visually inspected and cleaned.
- Check for the proper licensing and insurance policies for the company.
- Ask if the technicians servicing your home are National Air Duct Cleaning Association ASCS certified. Many companies just offer one ASCS-certified technician on staff (the bare requirement for NADCA), but not actually on the job.
- Every one of our lead technicians is NADCA ASCS certified. This makes us the only company in the Atlanta Region that guarantees an ASCS on every job site.
As a NADCA-certified company ourselves, we strongly agree with the hiring guidelines set by the
National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA)—a non-profit group formed to ensure the highest standards of cleaning.
When you hire someone to clean your air ducts, you want to make sure the job is done correctly to protect the health and safety of your family.
What Homeowners Are Saying: Real Stories From Real Customers
We hear from homeowners every week who were burned by a discount air duct cleaning company before calling us. These aren't hypothetical scenarios, but real experiences from real people in the Atlanta and North Georgia area.
"They cleaned the vents we could see but left the system horribly dirty."
"Another company claimed I had mold and tried to charge an exorbitant amount."
"The other company never even went up to the attic."
Want to read more? Check out our 770+ 5-star reviews below:
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a real air duct cleaning take?
A legitimate, professional air duct cleaning typically takes between 3 to 6 hours for an average-sized home, as it requires servicing the entire system including supply lines, return lines, coils, drain pans, the fan motor, and the air handling unit.
How much should a thorough air duct cleaning cost?
You can expect a professional cleaning to cost between $400 to $1,000 for a mid-sized home with 1 to 2 AC units. Always ask for a detailed quote before the technician arrives.
Can dirty air ducts make you sick?
Yes. Dirty air ducts can circulate dust, pollen, pet dander, mold spores, and other allergens throughout your home every time your HVAC system runs.
How Often Should You Clean Your Air Ducts?
Since cleaning your air ducts is an investment, you probably wonder how often you need it done. Generally, you should schedule your air duct cleaning every four to seven years. There are several factors that might cause you to clean them more often, including:
- An infestation of rodents or other critters
- A smoker in the home
- Pets with dander who shed
- Damage to your HVAC system in a flood or other natural disaster
- A family member with asthma or other breathing concern
If you are experiencing any of these signs, or if you simply can't remember the last time your system was inspected, it's time to call in the professionals.
Don't risk your home's air quality with a $99 "blow and go" scam.
At HVAC Cleaning Technologies, we guarantee a NADCA-certified technician on every job, state-of-the-art equipment, and 100% transparent pricing. The price we quote is the price you pay — no hidden fees, no high-pressure upsells.
Call us at 470-602-3019 or Get Your Free, No-Obligation Quote Online online today.
