FAQs

Think of the duct system as a river with several tributaries. These tributaries are called “supply ducts.” Supply ducts average between 5’ – 15’ in length. The larger the home means more supply ducts, not longer ones. By inserting the RamAir duct hose, say, 20’ down a supply line that’s 10’ long, you’re cleaning 10’ of the main trunk-line in addition to the entire supply line. By the time you are done cleaning all the supply ducts, the main trunk-line will be “over-cleaned.”

Typical charges for duct cleaning across the country are pretty consistent.
There are 3 things that are cleaned, they are charged accordingly:
$45 – $65 — Air Handler
$35/ea. — Return ducts (aka: cold air returns)
$25/ea. – Supply ducts
Given an average 2,000 sqft house with 2 return ducts and 14 supply ducts, this would equate to $465.
It normally takes about an hour and a half to do a home this size… equating to $310 per hour.
It’s not uncommon to perform 3, 5 or more of these jobs per day… which would result in up to $1,500+ per day! (At our privately owned duct cleaning company Guarantee Cleaning Services, Inc. in Bend, OR, we normally bring in this amount per van, in addition to what we profit from carpet and area rug cleaning.)

The RamAir system’s design is so advanced and effective, the time required to perform a duct cleaning is a fraction of that required by competing systems. What takes 4-6 hours with heavy, clumsy rotary brush systems can be done in 1-2 hours with the RamAir System. This major increase in efficiency means less sweat from your pores and more money in your account!

Training:

Training for use of the RamAir system is included with your purchase, in the form of an instructional DVD and hard copy manual. Since operation of the RamAir system is so unbelievably simple and easy, training is quick but thorough. You’ll probably spend ½ hour reviewing the materials, and you’ll be comfortable performing your first duct cleaning right out of the gate. We recommend watching the DVD, reviewing the manual and then cleaning the ducts in your own or a friend/family member’s home first. If you do have questions at any time, our tech support line is open to all RamAir users, and response is usually immediate.

Certification:

Unless you’re dismantling the HVAC system (this includes cutting holes in the ductwork as is required with the use of some other duct cleaning systems), certification is not required by any state in the United States to professionally clean ducts. RamAir International is a member in good standing with the NADCA (National Air Duct Cleaner’s Association), and our system meets/exceeds all of NADCA’s standards.

There are two universally accepted methods to clean air ducts. One method is called contact cleaning, which agitates the ducts and collects the debris at the point of contact inside the ducts. The other method is negative air cleaning or the “push-pull method“. This method of duct cleaning involves putting the air system under negative pressure, agitating the debris inside the ducts and collecting it in one place. Both methods are recognized and accepted by the National Air Duct Cleaner’s Association.

RamAir is unique in that it applies both methods at the same time. While nearly all other duct cleaning systems require that the air handler (furnace) fan is turned off during the cleaning, the RamAir system utilizes this powerful airflow in it’s cleaning. While the air handler is pushing air at up to 2,500+* through the duct, our blasting ball scours the sides of the duct as it directs the loosened dust/debris toward the register opening. As the dust and debris exits the duct opening, it is visible to the client and technician through the ClearView Vacuum Box right before it enters the vacuum system. Since much of the air movement is supplied by the air handler and air compressor, the vacuum source can vary from a high-quality shop vac to a truck-mounted vacuum (such as those used in the carpet cleaning industry). If you really want to “wow” your clients with unparalleled professionalism, RamAir’s newly designed Cyclonic PowerVac System combines the convenience of a portable with the power of a truckmount in a lightweight (48 pounds!), extremely powerful (141” of lift) machine. No other portable machine on the market can compare to the CPS’s power, easy maneuverability and professional looks.

The most important factor in an air compressor is the tank capacity. You want to be sure to have enough air available to sustain the 25-30 seconds of blasting required for each duct between recharge times. The compressor used exclusively by Guarantee Duct Cleaning, Inc. (owned and operated by RamAir Founder/President David Hart) is the DeWalt D55168. With 225 PSI and a 15 gallon capacity holding tank, it has more than enough power and capacity to do the job right, has large wheels and is compact, taking up very little space in your vehicle.

The 18”x 8” footprint of our vacuum box is large enough to cover nearly all supply duct openings in residential homes.

For cleaning return ducts and commercial ducts that are too large for the Vacuum Box, our 24” x 24” Vacuum Plate is ideal.

This is another area in which the RamAir system really shines! By turning the dryer on and accessing the outside dryer duct port, the lint is extracted outside the home, thereby getting the job done quickly (less than 5 minutes) and without any mess inside the home.

With over 15,000 homes catching fire annually in the US from clogged dryer ducts, dryer duct cleaning is in high demand, and brings in an average of $90 – $120 per appointment.