$99 Air Duct Cleaning? Here’s Why You’re Better Off with Fresh Sweeps
What You Need to Know About Air Duct Cleaning Deals That Are Too Good To Be True
Have you ever seen an advertisement for a $99 air duct cleaning? If that sounds too good to be true, it’s because it almost certainly is. Modern air duct cleaning is a complex process requiring lots of time from a skilled, highly trained technician with expensive, professional equipment. It’s simply not realistic to offer a high-quality, whole-house air duct cleaning at such absurdly low prices.
Unfortunately, in today’s world, there are plenty of people trying to lure customers in with the promise of an extremely cheap air duct cleaning, only to vastly increase the cost, severely let them down, or in some cases never even show up to do the cleaning at all. In the past, you might have encountered these ads on mailing flyers sent directly to your home. Today, you’re more likely to encounter these “deals” on sites like Facebook, Google, and Craigslist.
In this blog, we’ll explore three of the most common air duct cleaning “deals,” and then share some tips for finding a high-quality provider like Fresh Sweeps so you can get your house clean and fresh without the worry.
Full-Blown Fraud
In the worst-case scenario, the promise of a $99 air duct cleaning turns out to be a full-blown fraud. Let’s say you stumble upon a Facebook ad for a low-cost cleaning, and you like the post. A moment later, the account sends you a direct message to try and set up an appointment. They ask for the deposit in advance, you send it, and you never hear from them again. Meanwhile, the page disappears from the internet soon thereafter.
Thankfully, many of these posts have one red flag or another, and learning to identify those warning signs can help you avoid these types of scams. For starters, don’t trust any online advertising for a $99 or similarly low-cost air duct cleaning. Beyond that, keep your eye out for these other signs:
- You can find identical content (photos, videos, language) being published across multiple different accounts
- They don’t mention the name of a real company (real businesses almost always want to get their name and brand out there)
- They do mention the name of a company, but you can’t find a legitimate website or any other information about the company online
- They say something like, “We promise we’re not a scam!”
- The account is brand new or has very few followers, posts, photos, etc.
- They try to pressure you into a quick decision
- They ask for payment upfront or only accept cash
Bait and Switch
Sometimes, a $99 air duct cleaning ad might be connected to a “real” company. Still, these operators may be setting you up for a “bait and switch.” That means they’ll tempt you into booking a cleaning with the promise of an exceptionally low price, but once they get to work, they’ll find a number of reasons to tack on services you don’t really need—raising the actual price significantly.
Sometimes these folks will show up, only to let you know that the $99 service you requested isn’t actually a full cleaning—maybe it only covers the vents, for example—so you’ll need to shell out a lot more money for the real thing. In general, when it comes to air duct cleaning services, watch out for a lack of transparency and detail around the actual cleaning process. Also, generally speaking, it’s best to find a provider who prices their services based on the square footage of your home.
Bait-and-switch people are also known to use a variety of scare tactics to pressure you into purchasing more expensive services. They might tell you there’s an urgent, pressing need for major HVAC repairs, or say you have mold or other potentially toxic substances in your system when you really don’t.
All of that said, sometimes a real air duct cleaning professional will indeed encounter unexpected concerns that arise during an inspection or cleaning. Just make sure you’re working with a trustworthy business (more on this below), and make sure any changes to the bill/quote are documented thoroughly in writing. And, if you’re suspicious, feel free to get a second opinion before paying for the service, and never let yourself get pressured into making a quick decision.
Poor, Ineffective Air Duct Cleaning
On the flip side, people do occasionally show up and perform some kind of air duct “cleaning” for $99. If this happens, they’re probably not doing a great job, using either inadequate equipment, techniques, or both. Some of these people could even potentially damage your system, and they’re almost certainly going to leave behind a lot of soil and other contaminants throughout your ducts.
Remember, for a single quality air duct cleaning, the company needs to pay its highly trained professionals for hours of their time (a routine air duct cleaning may take 3-4 hours), maintain vehicles and high-powered cleaning equipment, and market their services effectively—how could they do all of that, and still turn a reasonable profit, for just $99? In reality, they can’t.
How to Find a Quality Air Duct Cleaning Service
In the United States, the National Air Duct Cleaners Association has established thorough industry standards for high-quality, professional air duct cleaning services. You can read all about the complex tactics involved in a comprehensive air duct cleaning on their site. They also maintain a searchable online registry of certified NADCA members. If you’re looking for a trustworthy provider who you can count on to provide a top-quality air duct cleaning, this registry is a great place to start.
The Best Value Around
We all want the best value for our money, and it’s easy to be tempted by the promise of some serious savings. But in the world of air duct cleaning, an offer that seems too good to be true is likely just that. So save yourself the hassle, and hire a qualified team like Fresh Sweeps for all your air duct and HVAC cleaning needs.
If you’re ready to book a service or receive a free quote, check out our Online Scheduler or call us directly at 1-888-FRESH-SWEEPS today!
