You may not think so, but your home has a lot of air ducts. They are hidden in the walls and underneath floorboards, but they are there. In fact, all homes have some sort of air duct system, whether it’s a central HVAC or ductwork in individual rooms. Keeping the ducts clean is an important part of maintenance and repair. A clogged or dirty air duct can lead to all sorts of problems with the heating and cooling system in your home. However, cleaning them isn’t exactly simple. You should probably hire an expert to do this unless you have experience crawling around in small spaces and cutting holes in drywall. But how do you go about finding the right company? Here are some things to keep in mind when hiring an air duct cleaning company in Brentwood.
Licensed And Certified Company
A big part of the hiring decision will be your contractor’s licensing and certification. In most states, cleaning ducts is a specialty job and requires specific training and licensing. Make certain that the contractor you choose has both so that you can be confident that they are properly qualified for the job. You should also see if your local Better Business Bureau has any complaints against any of the local businesses to get a sense of the industry’s overall reputation.
Reputation and References
As with any company you hire, checking their references is a good idea. Talk to previous customers and find out how satisfied they were with the service they received and whether they would hire the company again. You can also look for online reviews, but be wary of any that seem suspicious. There are companies that pay for fake reviews and can be hard to spot. If a review seems too good to be true, it probably is.
The Duct Cleaning Process
If the ducts in your home are exceptionally dirty and clogged, you may need professional help. Hiring experts to clean the ducts in your home can be a great idea and help you save money on energy bills in the long term. When you hire a duct cleaning service, they’ll typically use specialized equipment to remove dirt, dust, and debris from the inside of your ducts. The cleaning process usually involves the following steps:
– Preparation: Before they start cleaning your ducts, your technicians will walk through your house and make a list of everything that needs to be moved out of the way. This includes furniture, appliances, and anything else that might get in their way. They’ll also clean the ducts themselves to remove any debris that may already be inside your ducts.
– Vacuuming: After the inside of the ducts has been cleaned, technicians will vacuum the ducts to remove as much dust and debris as possible.
Sealant: After the ducts have been thoroughly cleaned, your duct cleaning company will apply a sealant to the inside of the ducts. Sealants are chemical compounds that are used in the cleaning process to prevent mold and other harmful substances from growing inside the ducts.
– Post-cleaning inspection: After the cleaning process is complete, your technicians will walk through your house again to make sure everything has been put back where it belongs.
Determining If You Need A Professional Or Not
Some ducts are so clogged that the only way to properly clean them is to cut out the ducts and completely replace them. If your ducts are in this bad of condition, hiring a professional may be a good idea. If you need to replace your ducts, it’s usually best to hire a professional to do it. It’s a job that requires specialized equipment, and the best way to ensure everything is done correctly is to hire a professional. If your ducts are only moderately clogged, many experts recommend cleaning them rather than replacing them. This can be a good option if you don’t have the money or time to replace the ducts.
Hiring Decisions Based On Your Findings
Your findings while investigating the companies in your area should help you make a hiring decision. Make sure to hire a company that has the right equipment for the job and has experience cleaning ducts of all shapes and sizes. You may also want to hire a company that provides guarantees on their work, as this can provide you with some peace of mind if things do not go as planned.
Final thoughts
Air duct cleaning is an important part of home maintenance, but it’s also a messy and potentially complicated job. While you can clean your ducts yourself, it’s usually best to hire a professional to do the job for you. Make sure to hire a company that has the right equipment for the job, has experience cleaning ducts of all shapes and sizes, and offers guarantees on their work.