Verify a duct cleaner before you book
Five free checks that take about ten minutes and rule out most of what goes wrong with this trade.
NADCA membership
The National Air Duct Cleaners Association keeps a public member directory. Membership means the company has certified technicians and agrees to the ACR standard. It is worth checking — but note that in Nashville several long-established specialists are not members, so absence is not proof of a bad company.
Search the NADCA directory →Better Business Bureau record
Look for the rating, whether the business is accredited, how long the profile has existed, and — most usefully — how the company answers complaints.
Search BBB Middle Tennessee →Tennessee business registration
The Secretary of State's business search shows whether the entity exists, when it was formed and whether it is in good standing. It is the quickest way to test an 'in business since' claim.
Search TN business filings →Proof of insurance
Ask for a certificate of insurance naming general liability and workers' compensation, sent directly from the insurer or agent. A crew working in your attic without cover is your problem, not theirs.
Reviews that are actually about ducts
Open the reviews and read ten of them. On multi-trade companies, most five-star reviews are about plumbing or an HVAC install. What matters is what people say about the duct visit specifically.
Six questions to ask on the call
- What exactly is included — supplies, returns, main trunk lines, the blower and coil?
- Is the price per system, and what happens if my home has two?
- Will you use negative air pressure with a truck-mounted or portable HEPA unit?
- Can I see before and after photos of my own ductwork?
- Is the quote firm, or can it change once you're on site?
- Are the technicians employees or subcontractors, and are they certified?