Air Duct Cleaning Service

Air duct cleaning is the process of removing dirt, debris and other contaminants that circulate through your heating and cooling ductwork and lower the air quality in your home. Professional duct cleaners follow the standards set by the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) to properly clean the supply lines, return lines and furnace. A trained professional with the right equipment is the best way to keep your system running at peak efficiency without recirculating contaminants throughout your home.

Airborne contaminants in your HVAC system include:

• Construction debris
• Drywall dust
• Dust mites
• Decomposing animals and insects
• Rodent feces
• Pet hair and pet dander
• Dead skin cells
• Pollen and other environmental elements
• Microbial growth
• Asbestos (the most harmful contaminant a home can have, so contact a remediation company immediately if you find it)

Homeowners who struggle with allergies often notice a difference once these contaminants are out of the vents. Removing them benefits everyone living in your home. Make sure the company you hire is using the proper equipment!

When you do a quick Google search for costs, you will find national companies offering their insights, but those generalized numbers are often off for our area. Ductwork cleaning costs vary from region to region, and several factors contribute to the cost of cleaning your ducts.

AC duct cleaning cost factors:

• Size of your home measured by square feet
• How many vents your home has
• How many furnaces your house has installed
• Where your HVAC furnace is located (attic, crawl space, basement, etc.)
• Style of home
• Year of home
• Whether your air vent covers are vintage or painted over

Many Wisconsin duct cleaners price by how many vents you have in your home, so counting your vent registers gives you a rough idea of the cost. SimpliHome charges $0.22 per square foot instead, so you can figure out your price before anyone shows up.

Air duct cleaning average costs in Wisconsin:

Be skeptical of flat rate companies. Do your research and ask for lots of photos!

You will more than likely pay a premium for an air duct cleaning from these two types of companies:

HVAC companies: $1,000 to $2,500. Why do they charge so much? Because they can. HVAC companies primarily repair, fix and install furnace systems, and they make far more money on that part of their business, so when a customer asks how much, they throw out a large number hoping you will bite.

Companies with a duct truck: often $1,000 or more. These companies are expensive because of the overhead it takes to maintain the truck and keep a full time crew operating it. You should get a quality cleaning from them, but a duct truck is completely unnecessary for a residential home. That type of equipment works best for commercial air duct cleaning, and they sell you on the WOW factor.

A professional cleaning removes the dust and allergens sitting in your ductwork, improves your indoor environment and helps your HVAC system run efficiently. Clean ducts are a good way to promote a happy, healthy home for your family to live and breathe in. You also know your HVAC system is running at peak efficiency while you save money on air filters and energy bills.

Benefits of air duct cleaning include:

• Better air quality for easier breathing
• Reduce allergens and respiratory irritants
• Decrease unpleasant smells and odors
• Improve air flow efficiency and lower utility bills
• Save on HVAC furnace maintenance
• Prolong the life of your most expensive appliance in the home

Your ducts likely need cleaning if you notice any of these signs:

• Vent registers are clogged with dust
• Furnace filters are dirty and need changing every month
• Odors and smells emanating from your vents
• A musty or mildew scent coming from your furnace supply ducts
• Poor airflow coming from the vent covers
• Rodents and other vermin are using your ducting as a home
• Dust settles on your furniture soon after you clean
• 3 to 5 years since your last cleaning
• Pet hair blankets the home
• You recently finished a major renovation

For the homeowner, a duct cleaning is mostly a clean process. For the technicians, not so much! A quality job is not messy when it is done right. Companies that do not use the proper equipment and cleaning techniques can make the dust issue worse, so hiring a company with the right equipment is the number one concern for homeowners.

Make sure they follow NADCA standards and that their vacuum is HEPA rated and compliant. A company should be using a negative air vacuum, which keeps the ducts under suction so the loosened dust is pulled out and filtered instead of blowing into your rooms. If they are not, you may have a mess on your hands and have to hire another company to clean up!

If you think clean air ducts will solve all of your dust issues, consider the other factors that contribute to dust and air quality in your home, especially if you want to spend less time dusting.

• Pets that shed
• Kids coming in and out
• Living near a dirt road
• Your cleaning habits
• Vacuum frequency
• Dusting regularity
• Clutter in your home
• Cleanliness of drapes, carpet, bedding, rugs and other decor
• Changing furnace filters
• Ducts that have not been cleaned in years

Start tackling these cleaning tasks on a regular basis if you want to reduce the dust and allergens floating around your home. Carpet cleaning helps a lot, and we always recommend it to our customers when they have dust issues.

There are many shady companies in the duct cleaning industry, and they count on homeowners who do not know what to ask. Asking the right questions will help you get a quality, professional service.

• Do your due diligence and read customer reviews. This one can't be stressed enough!
• Ask for references from customers who reviewed the company.
• Ask them to walk you through their cleaning process, step by step.
• Learn about the types of duct cleaning equipment out there and go with a company using a minimum 175 PSI gas powered air compressor, a HEPA vacuum with a minimum of 5000 CFM of negative air pulling debris out, and proper agitation tools. See the HyperVac we use.
• Pricing is a dead giveaway of a poorly run duct cleaning company. If they can't give you an accurate quote over the phone or email after asking about your home, run! Cheap offers like the infamous $99 unlimited vents special will cost you more in the long run.
• Licensing, bonding and insurance. Ask for proof if something seems off.
• Ask if the company runs background checks on its employees. You don't want criminals running wild in your home!

Asking these questions up front helps you find a professional company and a quality cleaning.