I did something REALLY stupid!! Make me feel better!!

[harleyquinn]

I got my air ducts cleaned, and I let them totally rip me off. DH is furious with me (mostly because I did it on a whim without really talking to him about it). I spent $500 on something the EPA does not recommend!! What possessed me to think this was a good idea?? I have allergies, and we have two cats, and I feel like there is alwasys dust all over everything, no matter how much I clean. We've only had this house for 1.5 years, so I have no idea if it's ever been done before, but after searching today and finding the EPA's site, they don't recommend air duct cleaning unless the system is clogged, you have pests, or you have mold.

I'M SO STUPID!!!! I could've bought so much with that money!!

Can anyone make me feel better? Please!

 

[MagicKingdom05]

I would just chalk it up to a lesson learned, because beating yourself up about it won't do any good, because it's over with and there isn't anything you can do about it now.

 

[kristen821]

Why doesn't the Epa recommend it? I thought it spose to be done every year. Not that I have ever done it.

 

[harleyquinn]

Lemme get the link. The EPA says that there has been no proof whatsoever that it helps anything in anyway, not heating costs or air purity...

http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/airduct.html

I'm doing the "lesson learned" thing! I told DH that I don't even want to be in the house when any of that type of thing needs taken care of, and he can take my car to the mechanic too!

At least we had the money--and the ducts we're pretty filthy--I still think they were really bad. The house is over 50 years old, and I doubt they've been done--though we do have a newer furnace. Plus the guy found roots in one of the ducts from the ivy we ripped out from the front of the brick house. So I know we did the right thing getting rid of the ivy.

Coulda been worse I guess. But I could've bought like everything I've been holding myself back from buying with that money!

 

[NJBlackBerry]

We had our ducts cleaned a few years ago and they took out bags and bags of junk from the cleaning. I don't really care what the EPA says (I have little respect for Government Agencies) and I don't for one minute think it is the wrong thing to do. All I know is all that junk is no longer in our ductwork.

One difference - our house is 30 years old and I have no idea if the ducts were ever cleaned before. I don't think you did anything wrong or stupid.

 

[chrissyk]

You know, I had the ducts cleaned in our old house a few years ago, right after we had hardwood installed. It was the sand-down type of wood, so I thought that we should try to get the dust out of the ducts afterwards. I swear that we got ripped off too! I don't think that the company did much for the money. They wouldn't give us any discounts, but they they did a neighbor's house for like half of what they charged us! I was so ticked I think that duct cleaning is a rip-off in general now.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Buy a HEPA air filtration system for your air duct and this should reduce your dust problem.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I've also heard that it is not recommened. Of course try telling that to the duct cleaning people who call and want my business. They act like they've never heard that! Five hundred dollars is a lot of money to spend, but if you've learned a lesson about checking things out before you spend money they it's actually a fairly cheap lesson. Just chalk it up to a lesson learned and let it go!

 

[thegales]

My attempt to make you feel better...

The article was written in 1997, and had a price range of $450 - $1,000. With inflation, you got a bargain by only paying $500.

 

[harleyquinn]

We had our ducts cleaned a few years ago and they took out bags and bags of junk from the cleaning. I don't really care what the EPA says (I have little respect for Government Agencies) and I don't for one minute think it is the wrong thing to do. All I know is all that junk is no longer in our ductwork.

One difference - our house is 30 years old and I have no idea if the ducts were ever cleaned before. I don't think you did anything wrong or stupid.

Thanks! I found some sites that do recommend it (and aren't in the business of doing them). We'll see if my allergies get any better. And on the bright side, I'll probably never have to do it again as I don't plan on being in the house forever--and if I am, at least I'll know the last time they were cleaned.

The thing that really bugs me (okay one of them) is that I usually research the heck out of anything I'm considering doing (I'm a librarian, it's in my blood), but I didn't do anything this time...

 

[harleyquinn]

My attempt to make you feel better...

The article was written in 1997, and had a price range of $450 - $1,000. With inflation, you got a bargain by only paying $500.

lol That's great! Thanks!
I should've looked at the date. That helps!

 

[DawnCt1]

Well you won't have to get them done again for a long, long time. And now you know that you can research anything on the internet BEFORE you spend the money and not afterwards....which I am sure you will do in the future. I would also like to add, in response to high pressure sales people; "If its a good deal today, it will be a good deal tomorrow, after you sleep on it".

 

[harleyquinn]

I would also like to add, in response to high pressure sales people; "If its a good deal today, it will be a good deal tomorrow, after you sleep on it".

Great motto! I just can't so no to those things. that's why I will just avoid them at all costs!