Should a Duct Cleaning Company Be NADCA Certified?
NADCA stands for the National Air Duct Cleaners Association. NADCA offers training and certification specifically related to HVAC system cleaning, including the Air Systems Cleaning Specialist (ASCS) certification.
Many professional duct cleaning companies that take the industry seriously choose to pursue NADCA certification. A question many customers have, however, is whether NADCA certification is actually a licence recognized or required by the Province of Ontario.
That is what I want to address here.
First, do I think NADCA certification is irrelevant? Yes. I think NADCA is very relevant to the duct cleaning industry.
Is SDG Duct Cleaning currently NADCA certified? No.
So, if we believe NADCA is relevant, why don't we currently hold the certification?
To answer that question, we need to address the elephant in the room.
There Is No Provincial Licence for Duct Cleaners in Ontario
The fact is that there is currently no provincial trade licence specifically required to perform duct cleaning in Ontario.
Do I think there should be licensing for duct cleaners? On one level, I would say no. On another level, I can see a good argument for it.
Why no?
In practice, duct cleaning isn't brain surgery. At its core, we're cleaning accumulated dust and debris from a home's duct system. However, that doesn't mean someone cleaning an HVAC system shouldn't have a basic understanding of HVAC equipment, airflow and proper cleaning procedures.
This is one area where NADCA certification has value. It provides education on proper HVAC system cleaning procedures, standards and equipment. For someone entering the duct cleaning industry without previous HVAC or duct cleaning experience, that education can be very valuable.
The Problem of Duct Cleaning is Scams
On the other hand, some form of provincially recognized certification or licensing could potentially help address the reputation for scams that the duct cleaning industry has suffered from over the years.
Any legitimate duct cleaning company in Ontario that takes its work seriously is frustrated by scam duct cleaning operations.
If you think homeowners hate duct cleaning scams, I can almost guarantee you that legitimate duct cleaning companies hate them even more.
Scam operators have damaged the reputation of the industry.
Some form of provincially regulated standard could potentially help separate legitimate professional companies from these types of operations.
Until that happens—if it ever does—legitimate companies have to find other ways to demonstrate their experience and professionalism. NADCA certification can certainly be one of those ways.
What About HVAC Licensing?
So why doesn't SDG Duct Cleaning currently have NADCA certification?
While duct cleaning companies that do not have licensed HVAC technicians may rely more heavily on NADCA certification to demonstrate their training and credibility, SDG Duct Cleaning comes out of a HVAC back ground with HVAC licenses.
One of the qualifications our technicians hold is TSSA Gas Technician certification, a provincially regulated certification in Ontario.
What Is TSSA Certification?
TSSA stands for the Technical Standards and Safety Authority. In Ontario, technicians performing regulated natural gas and propane work must hold the appropriate TSSA certification for the work they are performing.
Obtaining this certification requires approved training and examinations covering the knowledge necessary to safely work on gas-fired HVAC equipment.
An important part of that training is airflow.
Gas technicians working on forced-air heating systems need to understand airflow, temperature rise, blower operation, return and supply air, duct systems, ventilation, combustion air and how airflow problems can affect the safe and proper operation of HVAC equipment.
While TSSA certification is not specifically a duct cleaning certification, the HVAC knowledge behind it is directly relevant to the systems we clean.
This is one of the main reasons SDG Duct Cleaning has not considered NADCA certification an immediate necessity for us. Our technicians already come from the HVAC trade with provincially regulated qualifications and years of hands-on experience working with HVAC systems.
That doesn't mean we don't value NADCA certification or that we won't pursue it in the future. We very well may, particularly as another way of continuing our education and demonstrating our commitment to professional duct cleaning. However, at this time, we believe that holding a provincially regulated TSSA certification provides greater value to our customers than NADCA certification alone.
How Does HVAC Training Relate to Duct Cleaning?
HVAC training involves understanding equipment operation, airflow, blowers, furnaces, air conditioners, evaporator coils, ventilation and how the different components of an HVAC system work together.
That knowledge transfers very well into duct cleaning because we understand the HVAC system that the ductwork is connected to.
It also gives us a realistic understanding of what duct cleaning can and cannot accomplish.
NADCA training, by comparison, focuses specifically on HVAC system cleaning standards, procedures, cleaning methods and equipment.
TSSA and other HVAC qualifications focus on the operation, servicing and safety of HVAC equipment and systems, including the airflow principles involved in their proper operation.
That's why when we say “HVAC Technicians — Not Just Duct Cleaners,” it's more than a slogan. It describes the professional HVAC background we bring to every duct cleaning we perform.
Should a Duct Cleaning Company Without HVAC Qualifications Have NADCA Certification?
If a duct cleaning company doesn't have an experienced HVAC technician on staff, I would strongly recommend pursuing NADCA certification.
It provides a recognized standard for learning proper HVAC system cleaning procedures and helps demonstrate that the company has invested in professional training rather than simply purchasing duct cleaning equipment and starting a business.
SDG Duct Cleaning's Experience
SDG Duct Cleaning brings experience from both the duct cleaning and HVAC industries.
Our lead technician, Matt, has been working in the HVAC industry for nearly 20 years, with experience in heating, air conditioning, HVAC maintenance and professional duct cleaning.
For homeowners, our advice is simple: don't judge a duct cleaning company by one logo or certification alone. Look at its training, experience, cleaning process, equipment, reputation and whether the people working in your home understand the HVAC system they're cleaning.
