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Do you need a license to clean air ducts in Florida?
March 11, 20244 min read
The licensing picture is less clear-cut than most homeowners assume. What matters is knowing exactly what to ask for and how to check it.
It is a sensible thing to check before letting anyone work on your system, and the answer is more nuanced than a yes or no. Whether a license to clean air ducts in Florida is required depends heavily on what the company is actually going to do once it is there.
Do you need a license to clean ducts in Florida?
Yes, you need a license to clean air ducts in Florida
If you are cleaning HVAC air ducts for compensation as a business, you need a license to operate in the state of Florida. As a homeowner, if you want to attempt to clean your own ducts a license is not required. To have the air ducts cleaned properly you may consider hiring a licensed air duct cleaning company.
Why hire a licensed air duct cleaning company?
Hiring a licensed air duct cleaning company is a no brainer. We recommend researching a couple companies in your area and their process in which they clean air ducts. There are a number of benefits that come along with choosing a professional air duct cleaning company:
Proper equipment
Using the proper equipment can make all the difference when it comes to cleaning your ducts. A vacuum simply will not do the job, no matter how frequently you have cleaned your ducts. Not only does air duct cleaning require much more powerful negative air, you will want a negative air machine with HEPA filters to prevent the dust and debris that are sucked out of your vents to be redistributed back into your home.
Proper certifications
How do you know, when you clean your own ducts, that you have actually thoroughly cleaned them? You might be able to clean what you see from your registers, but how do you know there is not a buildup dirt deeper in your ducts. The National Air Duct Cleaners Association holds the highest standards for air duct cleaning companies. In order to become a member of NADCA a member of the organization must first have the proper licensing in their state. Once the licensing has been verified the company must have a representative pass the Air Systems Cleaning Specialist certification test. This is a test that is proctored similar to the tests that are required to gain licensure in the state of Florida.
Experience
Just like you wouldn’t ask the dentist to maintain your pool, you shouldn’t ask a handyman to clean your air ducts. Duct cleaning is no different. If you have ducts that need to be cleaned, hiring a licensed air duct cleaning contractor that has years of experience is the best way to ensure that your ducts are cleaned properly. They will know the techniques and have the equipment required to actually provide you with clean ducts that stay clean longer.
See more related article’s: Does Air Duct Cleaning Help With Indoor Odor Removal?
Checking for a license to clean air ducts in Florida
The important distinction is between cleaning and HVAC work. Cleaning ducts is one thing; opening up, modifying, repairing or replacing any part of the air conditioning system is contracting work, and that requires a properly licensed HVAC contractor. Plenty of jobs start as the first and turn into the second, so it is worth knowing where a company stops.
Rather than relying on what a website claims, verify it. Florida licences can be checked directly through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, and any legitimate company will give you its licence number without hesitation. Then ask for three more things: a current certificate of general liability insurance, workers compensation cover for the people who will be in your home, and NADCA certification, which is the industry standard for duct cleaning method specifically.
It is also worth asking who will actually be in the house. Some firms subcontract the work out, which means the credentials you checked may not belong to the people who turn up. Ask whether the technicians are employed directly, whether they are background-checked, and whether the same crew handles the job from start to finish. A company that runs its own crews will answer immediately.
A company that hesitates on any of those has told you what you need to know. Ours are available on request — read more about the company, see what we are set up to do, or ask us directly and we will send the paperwork over.
Questions we get asked about this
Answered by the crew who do the work.
What should I verify before hiring a duct cleaning company in Florida?
Their licence number and its current status through the state, a certificate of general liability insurance, workers compensation cover, and whether their technicians hold NADCA certification. Ask for all four in writing.
What is NADCA certification and does it matter?
The National Air Duct Cleaners Association sets the industry standard for cleaning method and technician training. It is voluntary, which is exactly why it is a useful signal — companies pursue it because they intend to work to that standard.
Where does duct cleaning end and licensed HVAC work begin?
Broadly, at the point where the system is being altered rather than cleaned. Repairs, replacements, refrigerant work and modifications are contracting work and need an appropriately licensed contractor.
Why does insurance matter so much for this job?
Because the work involves your air handler, your attic and ladders in your house. If something is damaged or someone is injured and the company has no cover, that exposure lands on you as the homeowner.
How do I check a Florida licence myself?
Through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation licence search, using the company name or licence number. It takes a couple of minutes and tells you the status and any disciplinary history.
Want this looked at rather than read about?
Free estimates across six Central Florida counties, and a written price before any work starts.
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