Duct Cleaning -- and then the upsell

[dadster4]

:thumbsup:
- I've always said: If EVERYBODY did their part & kept a telemarketer on the phone for 1/2 hour, they could only make 16 calls a (8-hour) day. Let's assume that 1/200 people is a sucker, if so at 16 calls a day, they'd only be successful once every 12.5 days. The whole telemarketing industry would collapse within 3 weeks. The world would rejoice!!

Love It!!!

 

[kenmac]

Every time these hvac / plumbing companies call me . All I have to tell them is.. I'm in the hvac . plumbing business..they say thanks. have a good day

 

[LD1]

Wow, what a sales tactic full of all kinds of BS.

For starters, mold needs 55-60% + humidity to survive. Not something likely to be found in HVAC ducts circulating conditioned air that is more likely to be 30-40%

Second, mold and bacteria is two totally different things. Bacteria doesnt make mold. Thats just BS.

Infact, the only place you are likely to have any mold issue in ducts is the bathroom vents and laundry. Because that isnt conditioned air, and is exhausting really humid air. But whats the concern there, they are EXHAUSTING.

Now if your vents are reversible and can PULL in air as well as exhaust, then I would have some slight concern. Had one like that at my old house, fan was reversible and had a heater. But had doors that closed off outside air and thus no air being pulled through the vent that "may" have mold. But one of those flapper doors could fail I suppose.

 

[Pirate]

:thumbsup:
- I've always said: If EVERYBODY did their part & kept a telemarketer on the phone for 1/2 hour, they could only make 16 calls a (8-hour) day. Let's assume that 1/200 people is a sucker, if so at 16 calls a day, they'd only be successful once every 12.5 days. The whole telemarketing industry would collapse within 3 weeks. The world would rejoice!!

Many people in this part of TN need those call center jobs, the only work for many. I try to be nice to them anymore, at least they are working.

 

[Sprinklerman]

Sounds like the sell I got from Bath fitters , I was running out of time to get my house ready to move in . So I gave them a call . Now there is no furniture in the house , a table saw in the living room and I am in work clothes . First the salesman asked where my wife was , I asked why ? He said " we require it " So I told him there a problem , I am gay . I looked over at my helper and said " honey " The guy picked up his sample and left . We both couldnt stop laughing for a half an hour .

I said screw it and put in a brand new tub .

 

[jfh28]

if I'm not mistaken mold requires moisture to live.........so unless you have a humidifier attached to your furnace or have a really damp house its unlikely you have mold in the ducts.......most hot air systems have the opposite effect and dry the house out.....look at your furniture joints and see if they are separating........if you do have a humidifier on the furnace consider disconnecting it and getting rid of it...they are a breeding ground for lots of nasty things that then get spread around the house......with newer construction being almost air tight just general day to day living generates a lot of moisture that stays inside.........Jack

 

[Bird]

I just now read this thread. We had a complete new HVAC system (heat pump) installed in 2010 with a 10 year warranty. They replaced everything EXCEPT the flexible duct work. But I also allow the company to charge one of my credit cards $12 a month. For that, they call us (don't have to call them) to schedule a visit and check everything twice a year. The young man doing that just left. He replaced one start capacitor this time (no charge, of course). He also suggested that we might consider having the ducts cleaned; no hard sell, just gave me a brochure with prices for various things and suggested that we consider it. This house was built in 1999 and I would imagine it has the original duct work and they've never had any cleaning. We have an Aprilaire 2200 filter on the intake The total job to clean all the ducts would be just over $1,100.

So what's your opinion? Should I let then do it or not?

 

[ustmd]

Family Handyman says "No" unless you have a specific issue:

Is Duct Cleaning Necessary? | The Family Handyman

Cleaning Air Ducts | Air Conditioning Cleaning | Home Maintenance

 

[newbury]

<snip>
So what's your opinion? Should I let then do it or not?

I read the two articles.
It depends a lot on your air flow and sources of "stuff" that would cause dust to accumulate in the ducts. For example if you cooked fried fish for every meal and an intake duct was nearby grease would accumulate. My ducts seem "self cleaning", I've had 3 furnaces, the original from about '69 to '84 and one about 5 years ago. Each replacement I was told the ducts were fine.

That's what the filters and cleaning the filters are for.

 

[bcp]

You can clean them yourself.



Bruce