Contact
Describe the symptom, not the service
People usually call asking for duct cleaning. Half the time the thing they actually want fixed is something else. Tell us what the house is doing and we can be more useful.
Free, and five minutes
Check these two things first
Both are free, both take five minutes, and between them they explain a large share of the calls we get.
The filter. Pull it out and look at it. If it is gray and matted, or if it is loose enough in the slot that air is getting round the edges, you have found your dust source. Unfiltered air bypassing a filter deposits directly into the system. A new filter that actually fits the slot fixes more "dusty vent" complaints than duct cleaning does.
The registers. Take one off and shine a flashlight in. You are looking for what the EPA describes as excessive dust and debris, or visible mold on the duct surface. If the metal looks essentially clean a foot in, the rest of the run usually is too.
Then tell us
What to put in the box
- What you noticed, and roughly when it started.
- Whether it is one room or the whole house.
- Whether it changes when the system runs.
- What the filter looked like.
- Anything you saw through a register.
- Whether the system is in the attic, a closet or a garage.
After you send it
What happens then
An Arlington duct and vent contractor contacts you. If the symptom points at something other than the ducts (filtration, a humidity problem, a failing coil, a blocked dryer vent) expect to be told that. It is a better outcome for you than a cleaning that changes nothing.
One note on permits: cleaning needs none, but altering or replacing ductwork requires a mechanical permit from the City of Arlington. If a quote involves replacing duct runs, ask where the permit is.