What criteria
should I use in selecting an HVAC system cleaner?
Interview as many local
contractors as you can. Ask them to come to your home and perform a
system inspection and give you a quotation. To narrow down your pool of
potential contractors, use the following pre-qualifications:
· Can the company show proof of NADCA membership and certification?
· How long has the contractor been in the residential HVAC system cleaning
business?
· Avoid advertisements for "$99 whole house specials" and other sales
gimmicks.
·Can the contractor provide you with evidence of the current Worker’s
Compensation and General Liability Insurance coverage? (Ask for
Certificate of Insurance)
· Does the contractor posses the proper Licenses that are required by your
city or state to perform the work they are proposing? (Not all cities or
states require licenses - click here to check your state.)
· Will the contractor provide you with 3 to 5 customer references with phone
numbers for which they provided service in the last 30 days?
· Will the contractor conduct a thorough inspection of your system PRIOR to
performing any work and alert you to any problems? This is required by
the current NADCA Assessment, Cleaning & Restoration of HVAC Systems
(ACR) Standard.
· Will the contractor provide you with a means to conduct a visual inspection
at any time during the cleaning? (Mirror and flashlight, camera or other
remote visual systems.)
· Will the contractor be cleaning the complete system, including coils and
fans?
· Will the contracting company actually do the work? (Some companies
subcontract the work to independent contractors. You will want to apply
these guidelines for subcontractors as well.)
· Is the contractor giving you a guaranteed price before the inspection? This
may expose you to extra costs. Finding mold in the system, damaged
fiberglass insulation, cleaning or treating cooling coils may become
add-on costs.
