How To Protect Yourself Against Air Duct Cleaning Scams

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SCAM ALERT. Grunge red rubber stamp. Scam square sign label isolated on white background

As a homeowner, there’s a high chance that you might experience a repair or maintenance need at least once in your lifetime. However, it’s important to understand that you might encounter a scammer when trying to address the issue.  Visit  TerraBloom for low mentainance fans that keeps your air duct clean 

It’s believed that the residential improvement sector is rife with criminals and scammers. Although you might undertake the cleaning and maintenance task by yourself, in most cases, it’s complex and might require expertise. Unfortunately, scammers know this very well and may use it to their advantage and lure unsuspecting homeowners. 

The scammers will not only deliver poor results; you’ll end up losing your hard-earned cash. For these reasons, it’s important to conduct extensive research to learn how to avoid falling for fraudulent service providers. 

Luckily, the following post discusses what you need to know about air duct cleaning scams. You’ll learn the ways you can avoid them and more. Keep reading to find out more. 

How To Protect Yourself Against Air Duct Cleaning Scams 

The following are ways to avoid falling victim to fraudulent duct cleaning companies. They include: 

1.Understand The Common Duct Cleaning Scams 

The following are some of the duct cleaning scams you should look out for. They include:  

  • Bait-And-Switch 

This is one of the air duct cleaning scams you should look out for. In this scam, the service provider will add extra services on top of what you already agreed to pay. 

For instance, a scammer may advertise a USD$99 air duct cleaning service which might look like it includes all of your vents. However, when the fraudulent service provider finishes the task, you might realize the final charges are far more than originally agreed.  

  • Blow-And-Go 

A cleaning company schedules many appointments in one day so that they can clean several houses in one day. 

Due to their schedule, the cleaning company will not have enough time to clean areas that are readily accessible such as air vents. And they leave behind areas you can’t see or access. Thus, you’ll end up with a poorly cleaned duct system, which might cost you more in the long run. 

  • Mold Inspection Scam 

This is another scam you should look out for. 

Mold growth is a nightmare for homeowners. The scammer will take advantage of your fear to siphon your hard-earned bucks. They typically provide a great deal to entice you. 

Once inside, they’ll conduct an ‘inspection’ process and deliver the much-dreaded news of detecting mold growth in your home. The scammer will charge lots of money to ‘remove’ the mold (although there aren’t any), and you’ll lose money for unnecessary service.  

2.Conduct Extensive Research  

Equipping yourself with the necessary information will play a huge role in protecting yourself against duct cleaning scams. 

For a scam to be successful, the fraudulent service provider doesn’t want you to do your homework. If a company tells you there’s mold growth, it’s advisable to put the whole project on hold. Then take your time visiting another contractor to get another opinion. Plus, you can reach out to a certified mold expert to determine whether paying thousands of dollars is necessary to eradicate the growth. 

It’s also important to ensure you conduct extensive research to understand the average prices in your locality. Make an effort to visit more than one service provider to save you from paying more money than needed. 

Additionally, take your time to go through the provided customer testimonial. If the vendor has lots of negative reviews, there is a high chance you might have the same experience and end up with poor results. 

3.Be Observant Of Possible Red Flags 

This is another way you might use to protect yourself against duct cleaning scams. Some of the red flags you should watch out for include: 

  • Suspiciously Low Prices 

Like the ancient adage, if something seems too good to be real, you should be extra cautious. The scammers may advertise ridiculously low prices to lure in unsuspecting homeowners, and they end up paying more. A reputable service provider should display average package prices in your locality. 

  • Strange Payment Requests 

If a company requests unusual payments, such as full payment upfront with cash, gift cards should be your cue to move to the next service provider. Additionally, the company may ask you to make quick payments. An honest company will only allow you to take your time before making a payment and ensure you’re satisfied with the results. 

Wrapping Up

As discussed above, the home improvement industry has lots of scammers you should look out for. A scammer will not only deliver poor results but also you’ll end up losing your hard-earned bucks. Hence, it’s important to identify ways you can protect yourself from duct cleaning scams, saving you bucks in the long run. 

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