The $99 "Special," the Big Franchise, and Us
You've seen the $49–$99 "whole house special" ads. The FTC and NADCA have both warned about how that model works: a teaser price to get in the door, then a $1,500 "mold emergency" once they're inside. Here's a straight side-by-side — including where the big franchises land — so you can judge with the cards face up.
| The $49–$99 coupon crew | The national franchise | E Cleaning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The advertised price | A teaser. Industry watchdogs (FTC, NADCA) document jobs jumping 5–15× once they're inside your home. | Usually real, with big-brand overhead priced in. | Real starting prices published right on this site — routine from $299.99 per HVAC unit, flat written quote before work starts. |
| The inspection | "Free" — and it always finds a scary problem. | Often a separate scheduled visit. | Free video inspection: you watch the camera footage of your own ducts before any quote. If they're clean, we say so and leave. |
| The quote | Verbal. Grows in the driveway. | Corporate rate card. | Flat and written. The quote is the invoice — no "while we're in here" add-ons. |
| Who shows up | Whoever answered the ad this week. | Depends on the local franchisee and their subs. | Our own techs — the same names (Amaro, David, Dan, Max…) our customers mention in their Google reviews. |
| Equipment | Often a shop vac and a rotobrush knock-off. | Varies by location. | Truck-grade negative air + rotary agitation — NADCA-method source removal, the only thing that removes packed buildup. |
| Proof of work | None. You get a smell of "sanitizer." | Sometimes, on request. | Before/after photos and video on every job, shown to you before we pack up. |
| Insurance | Ask for a COI and watch what happens. | Corporate policy, somewhere. | $1M/$2M liability — the actual documents are public on this site, license PA 187935 included. |
| Warranty | The van is the warranty. When it leaves, so does it. | Typically ~30 days if you push. | 6-month workmanship warranty on every job, in writing. |
| Price match | — | — | We match any competitor's written quote for the same scope. |
| If you're not happy | Good luck with the chargeback. | A 1-800 queue. | Tell us within 48 hours — we come back and make it right, free, under the written 6-month warranty. |
We name no companies here — these are the three business models you'll meet when you search "duct cleaning near me." The FTC's consumer alert on air duct cleaning scams and NADCA's anti-fraud guidance describe the coupon-crew pattern in detail; everything in our column is documented on this website.
The one-question test
Whoever you're considering — us included — ask one question before booking: "Will you show me camera footage of my ducts before and after, and put the total price in writing before you start?" A real company answers yes in one sentence. The $99 crew changes the subject. That single question filters out almost every bad actor in this industry.
And if a deal seems impossible, it is: a legitimate crew with insurance, real equipment and two techs physically cannot clean a whole house for $99. Someone is paying the difference — and it's always the homeowner, in the driveway, after the "inspection."
Getting other quotes? Good. Take this with you.
"10 Questions to Ask Any Duct Cleaner Before You Book" — one printable page. Every legitimate company answers all ten in one phone call; the $99 crews hang up around question three. Use it on us too.
Comparison questions
Why is a real duct cleaning $300+ when ads say $99?
Because a real cleaning is 2–4 hours of labor with truck-grade negative air equipment, insurance and a warranty. The $99 ads are lead bait — the FTC and NADCA both document the pattern of quoting a teaser and then "finding" a $1,000+ problem inside. Our routine cleaning starts at $299.99 per HVAC unit, in writing, before work starts.
Are the national franchises bad?
No — most are legitimate. You're typically paying brand overhead, and quality depends on the local franchisee and their crew. Our difference is documented proof: published prices, public insurance documents, camera footage of your own ducts, and a 6-month written warranty.
How do I check any duct cleaner before booking?
Ask three things: a certificate of insurance, before/after camera footage as part of the job, and the total price in writing before work begins. Then read their Google reviews for the techs' actual names appearing repeatedly — crews that survive on quality get named.
Do you really match competitor quotes?
Yes — bring any competitor's written quote for the same scope of work and we match it. Written is the key word: the $99 phone quote isn't a quote, it's a fishing lure.
Judge us the same way.
Free video inspection, flat written quote, documents public. Call (484) 367-5944 — and ask us the one-question test.
