Caution:  Coupon Companies

Awareness about the air duct cleaning industry has increased over the last several years due to a greater emphasis and knowledge of indoor air quality. The National Air Duct Cleaner’s Association (NADCA) has been integral in spreading awareness on this topic and providing regulations for the industry as well as being responsible for innovations in the way air duct cleaning is performed. ​

There are many air duct cleaning companies that compete for consumer business. However, only a small percentage of such companies are NADCA certified. Acquiring NADCA certification involves rigorous training, an examination and continuing education on an annual basis. All NADCA companies must adhere to certain standards and protocols when cleaning air ducts. This is what sets NADCA companies apart from what is referred to in the industry as “bait and switch” or “blow and go” companies. Consumers who hire these coupon companies, unfortunately, don’t take the time to read the fine print and are left not only with a dirty air duct system but an empty pocket.

Not a Deal

Many of the companies you see advertised at intersections, or in money mailers and Valpak coupon books entice customers by promising extremely low prices for their services, such as $39, $59 and $99 for an entire house cleaning. Not only do such companies use inappropriate methods to clean the air ducts but they can often cause more harm and cost you more in the long run for these reasons:
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1. They lack the knowledge and expertise about the air duct cleaning industry that is a trademark of NADCA certified companies
2. Their equipment is subpar, often times using a shop vacuum or carpet cleaning vacuum to complete the job
3. They end up leaving the air duct system as dirty, if not dirtier, than it was before they started; they can even introduce moisture leading to a mold problem in the future
4. They are dishonest. The low price they advertise up front ends up being multiplied 5-10 times. The drastic increase in cost is usually blamed on hidden fees not included with the job such as cleaning of all of the vents, the cleaning of a return or supply duct line, or even components of the air handler unit, all of which are included in a standard price quoted by a NADCA company.

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Make an Educated Decision

Although the upfront cost quoted by a NADCA company might appear more expensive, by the time the job is completed it will more often than not be less expensive to use a NADCA company than a coupon company. NADCA companies do not quote jobs using hidden fees and in addition, the ducts will be cleaned properly. Please take a few moments to watch the below clip to see what happens when non-certified air duct cleaning companies, which have used coupons to entice the consumer, are hired. As the first Washington, D.C. NADCA certified company, our goal at Dapper Ducts, Inc. is to educate you about the importance of indoor air quality and choosing a NADCA certified company to complete the job.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNu6u8KiA-o
 
We encourage all customers to verify the NADCA membership of a company before choosing who you will bring into your home. Visit www.nadca.com to see the list of certified companies in the Washington DC, northern Virginia and Maryland metropolitan area.