Don't Fall for Duct Cleaning Scams in St. Mary's and Calvert Counties.

3/9/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of St. Mary's and Calvert Counties Duct Cleaning.

Duct Cleaning Scammers are everywhere in St. Mary's County and Calvert County. They use a Variety of tactics to get you to fall into their trap such as cut rates, blow and go scams, and bait and switch. 

<h2-cut-rates">Cut Rates

That old phrase, "If it's too good to be true, it probably is," comes into play here. Illegitimate air duct cleaners love to outbid their competitors for offering "whole house duct cleaning" for $50 or $100. In some cases, these deals simply help them get in the door to upsell you for more work or do a quick and unthorough job before disappearing.

In other more sinister instances, particularly online, scams like these are a method to get your personal information. Never send a deposit, sign forms, or answer personal questions on the phone without verifying the air duct company as certified and insured. Real companies will not demand personal and financial data upfront.

<h2-blow-and-go-scams">Blow-and-Go Scams

This old scam has happened so many times that it's earned a nickname. Blow-and-go scams simply involve the company coming into your home, quickly vacuuming your vents, and hitting the road for the next house. Reputable experts should inspect all the various parts of your system, not just the vents themselves.

These scammers may also perform the bare minimum of work before alerting homeowners of the extensive and costly work they need to perform in addition to the base price. Be sure to research a company's name on the Better Business Bureau site and ask for recent customer testimonials to ensure the quality of the team's work.

<h2-bait-and-switch">Bait-and-Switch

Similar to blow-and-go, the infamous bait-and-switch adds unwanted services on top of what you already agreed to pay. While the advertised price may have looked like it included all your vents, the scammer may claim that the rate only covered a small part of the system. By the time the work is done, you're paying far more than originally expected. Always be sure to read the small print on flyers and ask cleaners to clarify their contracts before getting started.

You may encounter someone who "found mold" or "needed to apply a sealant or biocide" to your vents. While reputable contractors often offer biocides and sealants, the EPA has not registered either of these as necessary at this time. 

Always make sure that you have a full contract in writing before the work begins and report any bait-and-switch tactics to the Better Business Bureau immediately.

How do you find a reputable duct cleaner? Go to National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) which will provide you with a list of professionally certified duct cleaners in your area. SERVPRO of St. Mary's and Calvert Counties is NADCA certified. If you wish to have your ducts cleaned give us a call today at 301-862-9500 to have one of our technicians come out and give a FREE estimate.