Category: Duct Cleaning

Duct cleaning scams are a thing. Homeowners all over the world get a lot of scamming phone calls from duct cleaning companies that they are not aware of. Canadians are not excluded. They receive a call from a well-known company promising great offers and deals. People may get swayed by the low prices offered or the opposite- they may even get bullied into these services. 

These scammers steal different companies’ identities and act as if they are them. Homeowners often fall for this trap and learn the hard way about the scam.

If you are getting these calls or know someone who is, it’s important to know how to protect yourself and others. 

Here is how duct cleaning scams work and how you can avoid them.

Duct Cleaning Scam: How it works

It all begins with a phone call from a local number. When the homeowner answers the phone, a duct cleaning company will start pitching their once in a lifetime deal. Most people feel pressured to accept the service as they may promote it as an offer that you can’t pass on. One of the deals that may be offered is to clean the entire house for $100.

When the homeowner accepts the offer, he has taken the bait. There are different tactics that may happen in this situation. Some of the companies take the appointment deposit and run. Or they actually show up to your house. 

Upon arrival at the house, they start their process and begin selling you very expensive and unnecessary services. Some people fall victim to these scamming services and accept them as they feel pressured. They end up spending hundreds of dollars on services they don’t even need.

The services offered aren’t performed by the company. The duct cleaning company will show up with equipment, but most often they will only be putting on a show. The scammers pretend to be doing the service and by the time they are done, the owners are paying a lot of money for nothing. 

The fact is, these scamming companies are never local. Their main goal is to trick homeowners into thinking they are a part of a big company. When people hear this, they will agree to accept the services. So don’t be fooled by these scammers, even if they pretend to be a well-known duct cleaning company with a good reputation.

Duct Cleaning Scams: People at Risk

Homeowners who are used to having companies call them to offer their services are the ones to most likely fall for the scam. We all like to believe that we are smart enough not to be fooled by these scams. But in reality, you would be surprised how many of us do get scammed. 

So if you have an elderly parent of friend, this is the time to discuss these issues. To educate others and learn new things yourself is the best way to protect anyone from these scams.

Since at WeServe we have many professionals working with us, we understand the hard work they put in to maintain a good reputation. These scamming companies work on stealing other companies’ identities and credibilities. They potentially can ruin the reputation of these businesses. On top of that, they scam homeowners. 

Duct Cleaning Scams: How to Prevent Them

The scamming companies are smart. They take time to figure out how to trick homeowners and learn how to be persuasive. Educate yourself with their tactics to avoid the duct cleaning scams. 

Cold Calls are Not a Thing

Cold calls and door-to-door sales tactics are long gone. As you have noticed, at WeServe, people do all their requisitions through the app. Our professionals don’t come to your door and offer you their service. Also, no professional company will hire a telemarketing company to make their calls on their behalf. 

Look Up the Company

Before booking any service with a company, investigate it. The internet made this step so much easier. All you have to do is type their name online and you will find their website and reviews from other customers. You can find a banner or a post if they were ever in an identity theft scam. 

Say No to Too Good To Be True Deals

Every home has a different duct system. The price to clean them varies depending on what your home needs. Duct cleaning is an expensive project. It takes a lot of work and time. The good thing is you only have to do it every few years. But still, no one can give you a quote over the phone. The company needs to come to the house before giving you a quote. 

What scamming companies do is give you an offer so much cheaper than what you would usually pay for. They lure you in with this deal just so they can trick you.

Hang up

Due to our polite Canadian nature, when someone calls us no matter how uncomfortable we feel we don’t hang up. But these scammers are very persuasive and can bully you into accepting their offer. If you are ever put into this situation, just say you are not interested and hang up. Nothing wrong with doing that. Block their number as well so they can never contact you again.

Scams do happen a lot. So always be on alert and take action if you don’t feel comfortable. If you need to hire a duct cleaning company, be sure to hire a well-researched company with a good reputation. You can find many trusted professionals on the WeServe app to help you out with this project. And remember, with WeServe you won’t ever need to hang up.

Download the WeServe App Now!

Air ducts are connected to your ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) and heating system (furnace); Acting as pathways for heated or cooled air to travel through your home. Generally, duct cleaning services main goal is removing dust and other contaminants that build up in the duct over time.

Since ducts are often out of sight over the ceiling or behind the walls, maintenance can be easily neglected. Regular air duct cleaning relieves long-term indoor air quality problems. The National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) recommends cleaning air ducts every 4-7 years. 

What is duct cleaning?

Duct cleaning is the process of removing mold, dust, and other contaminants from the ducts of your heating (furnace) and air conditioning system.

According to the EPA, “duct cleaning generally refers to cleaning various components of the heating and cooling system for forced air systems, including ducting and air supply and return air ducts and registers and grilles, heating and cooling coils and heat exchanger heating, and condensate drain trays, fan casing and motor, as well as the casing of the ventilation unit.”

Indoor air pollution has been identified as a major environmental health risk in Ontario, and duct cleaning significantly reduces indoor air pollution, making your home a healthier place to live. Air duct cleaning can also greatly improve the efficiency of a home HVAC system. When air ducts are clear and air flows freely, your HVAC system does not have to work at full capacity resulting in less energy usage, which lowers your monthly energy bills. The best way to keep your family healthy and clean is to hire duct cleaning professionals through the WeServe app.

Pros of duct cleaning services

The main benefit of cleaning ductwork is improving indoor air quality. There are many advantages to professional air duct cleaning, the most important of which are the following:

Promotes better airflow

Air ducts and registers can easily accumulate dirty objects that restrict the airflow from the oven and air conditioner. When this happens, your system has to work harder to cool or heat your home. As a result, the efficiency of your system is reduced. When you have a clean system, it works on optimal levels and more saving will take place due to better system performance.

Helps make breathing easier

Do you or anyone in your home suffer from respiratory illness or chronic allergies? Cleaning your air ducts ensures that only clean air circulates in your home and makes everyone breathe easier. Even healthy people can easily start coughing and sneezing when dust and pollutants enter your home.

Get rid of unpleasant odors

Every home has its own unique scent, but you certainly do not want the smell of dirty socks or other unpleasant odors in your home! Many things cause stale odors in your air ducts, and some of them are tobacco, paint fumes, mold, food preparation, household cleaners, and pets. These odors will constantly spread throughout the house if the duct is not thoroughly cleaned.

Creates a cleaner environment

When professionals clean your air ducts, dust is reduced. However, if the dust is not removed, it can enter the living space and settle on furniture, floors and bedding. Duct cleaning can reduce the amount of dust and internal cleaning required keeping your home clean.

When do you need Air duct cleaning services?

According to NADCA, in everyday life, up to 40 pounds of dust is generated annually! Your HVAC system recirculates air five to seven times a day, so house dust and other air pollutants enter your ducts, stick to walls and build up over time. Air duct cleaning helps maintain healthy indoor air quality.

• Contact Duct Cleaner for cleaning if you notice that you need to sweep and dust more than usual.
• If the rooms in your home have limited or no airflow from the vents, ducting can help restore airflow through the ventilation system.
• Whenever signs of allergies appear, especially after the air has begun to flow in, clean air ducts can remove particles such as mold and dust, which are known triggers.
• If you are getting higher than usual utility bills, clean air ducts can improve your system’s efficiency.

How to Clean Air Ducts according to (NADCA) standards?

In most cases, professionals follow the strict standards set by the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) when performing air duct cleaning. Courteous and professionally trained duct cleaning technicians use the following process:

• After ordering a duct cleaning service in Ontario, an experienced technician will visit your home and greet you, and they will carefully review the services you requested, explaining our duct cleaning process in detail.
• Your home will be prepared for duct cleaning by providing access to all vents and air vents and installing floor protectors and corner fences where necessary.
• Professional technicians will carefully cover your vents and return before cleaning the ductwork begins and put negative pressure in the air conditioner ducts to increase air flow.
• They will connect a powerful vacuum device to your mainline, which will collect dirt, dust, mold and other contaminants that will be removed during duct cleaning.
• High pressure compressed air blowers will be inserted into the ducting to remove dirt and debris that will collect in the containment unit. 
• After completing the duct cleaning process, they will cover the main duct access hole with a metal access panel in accordance with NADCA standards.
• A technician will then review your duct cleaning project with you to make sure you are satisfied and will answer any questions you may have.

What criteria should you follow when choosing a duct cleaner?

• A NADCA certification is a plus to perform proper duct cleaning, since it is a reputable member, and is properly insured.
• Make sure that the duct cleaning services professional is going to clean and visually inspect all duct-work and associated system components.
• Avoid fake ads and other sales gimmicks found in search engines.

Conclusion

Your air ducts have one job to do and that is to circulate the air in your home. Entrust it to professionals and they will make sure that everything is flawless. Schedule your duct cleaning service with the WeServe app, we are committed to connecting you with the best duct cleaners in Ontario. Download the application to schedule an air duct cleaning service near you!