This article appeared in the Miami Herald on June 1, 2001. It generated numerous phone calls to Headquarters from consumers requesting the names of member companies in their area. NADCA's Executive Director, Shaine McMahon, was contacted and contributed some of the information in this article. However, there is still a slight discrepancy in the article, in that it estimates the average cost of a residential cleaning to range between "$200 to $400" (NADCA estimates the cost to be $450-$1000). Nonetheless, the article represents a major success for NADCA; this kind of publicity can only serve to spread the word to consumers about the importance of having their air ducts cleaned by a NADCA member company. The article also clearly discredits the infamous "blow and go" companies that NADCA members compete with every day. The more articles we see like this, the better!

Q. I see ads for air conditioning duct cleaning with prices ranging from $39 to $250.  Is this a legitimate business?

 - Alfred Golden, Aventura

A. "Yes. However, as with any home service, be leery of prices that are too good to be true. Avoid sales persons who use dramatic scare tactics or who double or triple advertised prices once they get their foot in the door," warns Jeff Bishop of the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification in Vancouver, Washington.

The independent, nonprofit certification agency represents over 5,000 certified firms and 17,500 certified technicians in nine countries.

In a normal home, expect costs to run from $200 to $400 for thorough cleaning and servicing of HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems, he says.

But you should be taking steps to keep the "indoor environmental quality" or IEQ - the air that circulates throughout your home - as clean as possible, preventing the buildup of dirt in the ducts.

"The key to proper IEQ in your home begins with basic household maintenance and cleaning," says Bishop. Sweep walkways regularly, use entry mats to stop soil entering the home, use quality vacuuming equipment with high efficiency filter bags - and use it two to three times a week - and have annual professional carpet cleaning.

The next line of defense is the filter for the central HVAC system.  "Forget the cheap disposable fiberglass filters," says Bishop. Instead, purchase high quality pleated filters that trap 95 percent of small particles, or ask your HVAC service representative about reusable electrostatic filters that are even more efficient.

In older homes, or in homes where filtration has been inadequate for many years, it may be necessary to have your duct work professionally cleaned. Look for soil buildup around outlet louvers or lots of dust on your furnishings every time you run the system for a few hours.  If there's a stale odor when the system is turned on, and you start coughing and sneezing, it may be an indication of airborne particles coming from soiled duct work.

To locate a qualified contractor, check the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (www.nadca.com) in Washington , D.C. It maintains a list of current members by state. If you don't have access to the Web, call 202-737-2926 for a member company.

And if you see an ad for duct cleaning that states that the company is a NADCA member, check with NADCA to verify that it's true before hiring the company.

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