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Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate, Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker (Fred Griffin Real Estate)

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Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Oh, Hell NO chemicals.  

I get my dryer ducts and HVAC ducts cleaned every two years. 

The company I have hired for my home and recommend to my clients does not use chemicals.  They use a high-powered swirling brush.  They take before and after photos showing the vents are cleaned. 

Jan 11, 2023 10:19 AM
Rainmaker
679,404
Diana Dahlberg
1 Month Realty - Pleasant Prairie, WI
Real Estate in Kenosha, WI since 1994 262-308-3563

Best to talk to the company who did the work.  However, I am not a fan of ANY chemicals in the air!  We are already surrounded by enough ... just too many toxins ...

Jan 11, 2023 10:20 AM
Ambassador
3,125,819
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

An anti-fungal is made with chemicals. Homeowner should have asked exactly what was in the formula to avoid any adverse reactions.

Jan 11, 2023 03:14 PM
Rainmaker
2,781,173
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

You don't use a fresh air system for any other purpose. Imagine we hooked up a room freshener to it? You would choke on the air while smelling away! The way to treat vents etc., is soap and water WITH an upgraded, catch-all A/C filter after that. It catches, virus, dust, allergens, microbes, smoke plus several more. Salty people in the business know these things

Jan 11, 2023 10:27 AM
Rainmaker
901,535
Carla Freund
Keller Williams Preferred Realty - Raleigh, NC
NC Real Estate Transition & Relocation 919-602-848

I have friends/clients who get their ductwork cleaned. I know some Airbnb people did it often during the pandemic. I haven't checked into the chemicals nor have I heard about any adverse reactions.

Jan 11, 2023 10:10 AM
Ambassador
3,587,960
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

No duct cleaning and no way with some chemical based product.  We did have them insulated but there was no smell or chemicals involved in that and it cut down our cooling bill by quite a bit. We change our filters often!

Jan 11, 2023 08:10 PM
Rainmaker
1,052,211
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

Duct cleaning YES big yes. I've had mine cleaned a few times over the years.

MAKE SURE THEY INCLUDE DRYER VENT!

In 2014 I had dryer running, and started to leave house to run an errand. I walked past and smelled something burning. Nothing on except the dryer. I opened dryer door and SMOKE.
The dryer vent had accumulated enough lint and dog hair over just a few years to clog the vent and it came this close to starting a fire.

I'm a religious lint-clearer but it never gets 'it all' esp with critters.

I was surprised as the ducts had been cleaned like 3x since we built the house. Found out that without specifically requesting dryer vent cleaning, they don't include it. I never noticed what they did and did not clean so I assumed they did the dryer vent too. Lesson learned and I'm about to have it done again this month.

I have no idea about antifungal spraying . . . I would not want that.

Jan 11, 2023 02:48 PM
Rainmaker
711,852
Lynnea Miller
Bend Premier Real Estate - Bend, OR
Premier Real Estate Service in Central Oregon

Cleaning - yet. Chemicals - no!

Jan 11, 2023 10:50 AM
Rainmaker
1,543,662
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego

Homeowner needs to talk to the company, not your drama to deal with, maybe guide them. DO NOT EXCEED YOUR LICENSE!

I'm 100% with Lynnea Miller 

Jan 11, 2023 07:28 PM
Rainmaker
1,746,165
Georgie Hunter R(S) 58089
Hawai'i Life Real Estate Brokers - Haiku, HI
Maui Real Estate sales and lifestyle info

This is an interesting question as I don't have an HVAC, and so glad I don't have to think about how to clean the ducts.  But I do have to clean window screens a lot since they're always open.

Jan 11, 2023 06:06 PM
Ambassador
3,164,294
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

I had mine cleaned when I replaced HVAC this year, no smell, just clean.  I also vacuum them as far as the hose will reach regularly and use a GOOD filter and change it frequently (every 3 weeks)

Jan 11, 2023 02:56 PM
Rainmaker
5,216,398
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

No chemicals for me, thank-you! I have had my dryer duct regularly cleaned but have never had my HVAC ducts done.

Jan 12, 2023 03:43 AM
Rainmaker
1,844,291
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

I've had them cleaned a few times & only once had them sanitized. No adverse smells & I didn't have to leave the house. Why didn't this guy ask when they were their doing it?

Jan 11, 2023 10:52 AM
Rainer
378,517
Don Baker
Lane Realty - Eatonton, GA
Lake Sinclair Specialist

we had cleaning, insulation added and even a vent added where we felt we needed an extra when we replaced our 20 year old unit this past summer.  I was expecting lower bills, but inflation in energy costs saw that didn't happen.

Jan 12, 2023 09:04 AM
Rainmaker
821,101
Eileen Burns 954.483.3912
Trans State Commercial Realty Inc. - Fort Lauderdale, FL
FLorida Real Estate Connector

Recommend cleaning every two years.  You may direct your customer to the following associations for further assistance: 

(National Air Duct Cleaners Association)

(Indoor Air Quality Association)

Jan 12, 2023 06:09 AM
Ambassador
6,393,179
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Never felt the need to spray poison in the ducts.

Jan 12, 2023 12:36 AM
Rainmaker
1,090,637
Diana Zaccaro Broker Associate
ZOOM Realty Group - Cocoa Beach, FL
"The Accidental Blogger" Cocoa Beach, Florida

I may have a suspicious nature but, if it's not broke why "fix" it? If I call someone to fix our heater and they say the ducts should be cleaned, that is a red flag to me. How would they know that from fixing the heater?

Was the company that fixed the heater the same one that cleaned the ducts? If so, were they licensed and insured for duct cleaning? 

Did they actually clean the ducts or just spray the anti-fungal and consider that cleaning? Your friend needs to tell the company he wants an MSDS for the chemical that was used and it's unfortunate that he did not ask upfront what they were using and what it contains.

Suggest that he look up the company online for any complaints and also check BBB. I found the info below on the EPA site and he should read it paying special attention to the section on chemical treatment (Page 14 I think).

EPA booklet on duct cleaning

 

 

Jan 11, 2023 08:21 PM
Rainmaker
763,883
Tony Lewis
Summit Real Estate Group - Valencia, CA
Summit Real Estate Group Valencia & Aliso Viejo

I've never had my cleaned or recommended clients to have theirs cleaned.  It's not a problem until it's a problem.

Jan 11, 2023 10:25 AM
Rainmaker
911,338
Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

Not a fan of chemicals. I'd leave the fan running until the smell is gone.

Jan 12, 2023 10:27 AM
Rainer
417,221
Caroline Gerardo
Licensed in 20 states - Newport Beach, CA
C. G. Barbeau the Loan Lady nmls 324982

No idea what chemical they used. Did they think they had mold?

I've had a company that uses and air compressor and wire brush like a chimney sweeper. Dust, hair, stuff can get in there. I wouldn't want any chemical added.

Jan 12, 2023 09:49 AM
Rainmaker
539,468
Jerry Lucas
ABC Legal Docs LLC - Colorado Springs, CO
Notary Training, Consulting. Colorado Springs, CO

Our climate is very dry in Colorado so there is no moisture for stuff to grow in a heating duct. Maybe cactus?  Dryer vent has moisture. 
I change the furnace filter often to remove dirt and dust.

Good reminder to review MSDS info for any chemicals used by a contractor or homeowner for cleaning, garden, lawn care, pesticides, painting, automotive, hobbies, etc.  Store chemicals safely.

You can buy a whole-house in-duct Ultra-Violet C (UVC) germicidal air cleaner for $100 on Amazon.  No chemicals needed, like a bug zapper...

Jan 12, 2023 08:59 AM
Rainmaker
5,868,538
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

I would absolutely want to know if they spray a chemical into the ducts!

Jan 12, 2023 06:09 AM
Rainmaker
1,556,633
Gary Frimann, CRS, GRI, SRES
Eagle Ridge Realty / Signature Homes & Estates - Gilroy, CA
REALTOR and Broker

I've never heard of, or even knew of anyone having the chemical treatment.

Jan 12, 2023 01:29 PM
Rainmaker
1,502,998
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

I can't recall anyone spraying chemicals with duct cleaning.

Jan 12, 2023 09:17 AM