It’s Time to Interview a Duct Cleaner
Is it me, or are ‘new’ duct cleaning companies rivaling that of the latest trending tech startup? OK, it’s probably just me. Or maybe we’re just now starting to recognize these duct cleaning companies on the road, at networking events, and even at our customer’s homes. Where is this growth in duct cleaning coming from and what are the benefits of having a duct system cleaned? How do I distinguish duct cleaning companies? What are my options as a business owner? Partnering with the right duct cleaning company can lead to a new avenue of financial growth and brand recognition.
The Growth and Benefits
In short, the growth has come from awareness and demand. Home and business owners are looking to provide their families and/or co-workers with improved IAQ and more energy efficient residences and workplaces. Our overall knowledge of IAQ and energy usage has grown nationally. Ridding ductwork of excessive dust, debris, and other common air pollutants can contribute to a more comfortable home and business. The removal of these contaminants can allow for improved airflow through the duct system. Improved airflow can allow a HVAC system to reach its desired temperature more efficiently, resulting in the HVAC system running less and saving on energy and increasing the life of that system.
Qualify Your Vendor
Identifying a duct cleaning partner does require a bit of research. Here are my top four steps to finding a quality match:
1. Find a National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) certified company. Basically, they have a higher set of standards, training, and education. If the company is not NADCA certified, move on to the next company. If the company is certified, proceed to Step 2.
2. What are their customers saying? Read their Google, Yelp, and Angie’s List reviews. If they have less “stars” than the latest reviewed Chuck Norris film, immediately remove them from your list. If their customers give them two thumbs up, continue to Step 3.
3. What do they look like? Check out their Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn pages, and company website. Look at their process, equipment, before-and-after photos, videos, and completed commercial projects. If their website is “Under Construction”, they’re obviously too busy to take on any additional work; scratch them off the list and start over. If everything checks out, proceed to Step 4.
4. Ask the appropriate questions: What type of liability and insurance do you carry? How extensive are your background checks? Give an example of how you failed a customer and what you did to rectify the situation. What kind of uniform do you provide your technicians? Do you allow your technicians to smoke on job sites? Are you prepared to take a polygraph test? OK, that one goes too far, but you see what I’m driving at.
So now you know some of the benefits of duct cleaning and have partnered with the Top Dog* of your local duct cleaning companies. Now, we’ll explore how the HVAC and duct cleaning industries can work together.
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Profitable Add On and Cross Marketing
Duct cleaning is an additional service you can provide your customers, without all of the additional overhead. There are several ways to manage this new business relationship.
1. Include the cleaning for any furnace or air conditioning install. Ideally, prior to a HVAC system install is the best time to have the duct system cleaned. This will ensure that any preexisting debris will be removed, rather than circulate through a newly installed system.
2. Include the cleaning in maintenance programs or service packages.
3. Cross market your services with your duct cleaner. Some duct cleaning companies are in over 100 homes per week! This is one of the least expensive ways to market your business. Since you’ve done your research and partnered with a reputable company, you’ll notice a high closing ratio in the referral area.
*Top Dog was a film released in 1995…starring…Chuck Norris.