Paul Hannah’s family business has been cleaning ducts in GTA homes for more than a decade. Dead squirrels, adult movies and children’s toys: Hannah has dug them all out of the vents.

His Woodbridge-based company, the Duct Cleaning Specialists, has a steady flow of customers, but the question for many homeowners is whether duct cleaning is really necessary and whether it’s worth the cost.

The telemarketing pitches are fast and furious in the fall and spring, promising health benefits and offering a great price. But should you take the bait and buy? But experts say the jury is out on whether duct cleaning makes your home healthier. And since the field is unregulated, it is often hard to tell what you’re buying, compare services or ensure a quality job, so Hannah suggests you do your research and choose carefully.

Hannah’s company is one of 41Ontario companies that are members of the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA), a trade association that requires members to have a licensed technician, liability insurance and adhere to a code of ethics.

But there are many companies outside the association that probably don’t meet those standards, Hannah claims.

“There are a lot of fly-by-night duct-cleaning companies,” Hannah warns.

The cleaning services can be as little as $99 for one-hour “deals” to hundreds of dollars for a thorough inspection. Some will do little more than vacuum the heat registers, possibly using improper tools that cause permanent damage to duct systems. Others offer a cheap rate and then tack on additional charges later.

Consumers should look behind these great deals and sales gimmicks, get several quotes, ask for references and ensure the company is going to clean and inspect all of the air ducts and system components in the home, Hannah suggests.

Bruce Cran, president of the Consumers Association of Canada, says complaints about duct cleaning companies have declined in the past several years. Still, he warns consumers to read contracts carefully, ask all the questions they can and watch out for “deals” that might end up with extra charges added on.

“You want to make sure it’s a reputable company you’re dealing with and do a reputation check,” says Cran. “You also have to be very sure to have an understanding of what’s going to be done.”

Source: https://bit.ly/2c9ZhqW