DUCTZ of the Upper Bay Region

Much of the time and cost to clean the system depends on the system's location, the number of supply and return ducts, the condition of the system, and the number of air systems. An example of a single-family home with the Furnace in the basement, which has 18 duct vents, would usually take 5 to 7 hours to clean the entire system properly. Situations like the Furnace being located in a crawl space or attic or significantly more or less ductwork to clean also impact the time and price. If the fan wheel or evaporator coil requires type-2 cleaning, that takes additional time, which may be an additional cost. Homes with multiple systems naturally have additional costs commensurate with the work required to clean them.

DUCTZ cleans more than "just the ducts" to consider your air system cleaned. Our Basic processes include many tasks that others charge extra for, including:
- Clean all accessible ductwork with both brushes and air whipped/air washed while under negative pressure
- Wash all registers(Hand wiping or power washing if required)
- Clean both the supply and return air trunks with brushes and air washes while under negative pressure
- Clean via vacuum and air wash accessible evaporator coil and plenum
- Clean via vacuum and air wash. Blower Wheel and Blower Motor
- Clean Air Handler Cabinet and Plenums
- Remove all trash and debris collected from the duct system
- Seal all access ports to assure no leakage
- Leave premises in as good or better condition than found
Our business is built on reputation and referral, so your satisfaction is of our utmost importance. All work is guaranteed.

Respect for your home and belongings is very important to DUCTZ. We call it Total Care. Our technicians will use drop cloths throughout your home; they wear shoe covers, use corner guards, and even bring their doormats to wipe their feet as they enter or come up from the basement. Any furniture that requires being moved is put back in its place. All registers are cleaned and returned to their original position. Since the entire system is under negative pressure, we assure you there is no dirt or dust in the occupied space (it all flows into our collection unit). When we are finished working, we do a complete walkthru with the owner to make sure everything is up to your satisfaction. We build our business on referrals, so we do everything to delight the customer.

If the ducts in your home have never been cleaned, it may be good to have it done. Even in new homes, there is often construction debris in the ductwork and fine particles like drywall dust that can affect your Furnace and its performance. You may want to check your return ductwork since the returns pull air back to the Furnace, and this ductwork is frequently the dirtiest. The returns are usually larger and easier to access by removing the grill with a flashlight and a mirror for inspection. Other reasons to consider duct cleaning include fire, water or mold restoration, an infestation of rodents or insects, installation of a new system, dust from a remodel, pet hair, odors, symptoms of allergies or asthma, or the previous use of an inadequate filter.

After a thorough cleaning, the duct system should stay clean for multiple years if properly maintained with a good quality air filter. The filter should be changed regularly. Factors that influence frequency are the number of people living in the home, living near a road that produces lots of outside dust, living near fields or construction zones, the number of pets, having smokers in the home, and the filter's efficiency. It is usually not annual maintenance, and the EPA recommends duct cleaning "as needed" rather than periodic. DUCTZ recommends inspection every 3 to 5 years but cleaning only when necessary.

It is not uncommon for microbial growth (mold, fungus, yeast, mildew or bacteria, etc.) in the ductwork, the air handler evaporator coil, the blower, and the air handler cabinet walls in humid climates. The particulate that accumulates in an HVAC system often presents conditions for such growth, and if moisture is present, it may create a breeding ground. If microbial contamination is present, it is important first to establish the cause and remediate it, or the contamination will likely return.
Applying sanitizers (Biocide) is not part of a routine air duct cleaning. The source removal techniques used by DUCTZ remove the dirt and existing microbial growth from the system. Once the food (dust, dirt, skin flakes, pet dander, existing mold, etc.) is removed from the system, there should not be a significant need to apply biocides or other chemicals without good reason (such as dead rodents, fire restorations, etc.). There are stats and deodorizers DUCTZ may apply, but we only intend to use chemicals when necessary. All chemicals must be approved for use in ventilation ductwork (ask to see the MSDS material safety data sheets) to verify. If someone advises sanitation (a typical unnecessary upsell), then have them show you why it is necessary. The National Air Duct Cleaners Association recommends that biocides are not routinely used inside the duct system.

The best way to determine whether system cleaning is effective is through visual inspection before and after cleaning. At the same time, you can perform an inspection with a mirror and flashlight or a digital camera. A professional cleaner should allow you better access to system components. If there are no access ports that can be easily checked, your duct system did not get properly cleaned. In addition, NADCA offers a post-cleaning checklist at the nadca.com site or click this link: NADCA's consumer checklist
DUCTZ uses "Picture Perfect," a method of taking photos during and after the cleaning, to assure the customer that proper cleanliness levels have been achieved.  A full picture report is sent to the customer post-cleaning.

DUCTZ has developed a reasonable pricing method for properly cleaning the entire air system.  We charge $695 per system and include cleaning the air handler by vacuum and compressed air tools (without disassembly), cleaning the blower fan, evaporator coil heating coils, drain pan, cleaning any return pans,  the return trunk, the main supply trunks, and up to 10 duct branches.  Additional branch ducts (over 10 per system) are $15 per duct/register. When the air handler requires more aggressive cleaning, disassembly, and type-2 (wet method) coil cleaning or type-2 blower (removal, power washing, and re-installation), or if system access is significantly difficult due to attic or crawl space conditions, or if there are multiple systems, additional charges are expected.

DUCTZ offers a Free assessment and a firm quotation before beginning work.  We will evaluate the system for leakage and repairs and point those out during the assessment.  There are never any surprises.
Beware of companies offering whole-house specials for one low price. Air duct cleaning is not a regulated industry, so it is very easy for people to get into business using substandard or inappropriate equipment and inexperienced laborers and/or subcontractors. They often schedule as many jobs in one day as possible. Another unfortunate practice is known as bait and switch. A customer schedules whole house duct cleaning for an unbelievably low price (such as $99) and ends with a $700 bill once the work is complete (be sure to read the fine print in these ads). They charge extra for things normally included in the service provided by DUCTZ that must be completed to consider the air system clean. If the duct cleaner you hire is in and out within an hour or two, your system does not get properly cleaned. (We call these guys "Blow and Go" companies).
The EPA clearly states: "It is nonsense to clean ductwork if the air handlers are left untouched.  Air ducts deliver exactly what an air handler drives, and if the ductwork is dirty, so are the air handler's guts".

Proper Air Duct Cleaning may Increase system efficiency, reduce allergies and asthma symptoms, extend equipment life, increase airflow, reduce dust, reduce or eliminate musty and/or stale odors, and even decrease cleaning costs.
The list of benefits from duct cleaning is long; however, these benefits are based on need. The benefits you'll receive in your home will depend on the condition of your ductwork and, of course, the company you choose to clean it.
Since duct cleaning is unregulated in Maryland, companies use shop vacuums, carpet cleaning equipment, and various other types of ineffective equipment. Others may have the proper equipment but send out different people constantly who have little or no training. DUCTZ thinks the air system should be properly cleaned and completely cleaned to realize the benefits of improved indoor air quality.
The DUCTZ business model is based on referrals from satisfied customers. DUCTZ professionals are certified, qualified, and trained professionals who use proprietary techniques to clean, recondition and restore heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. DUCTZ professionals are industry-leading advocates for applying stringent indoor air quality (IAQ) standards to HVAC systems. We improve IAQ and bring HVAC systems back to their peak efficiency through superior air duct cleaning and HVAC restoration, leaving our customers with cleaner air to breathe.