Service illustration · not a completed customer projectTHE WORK, EXPLAINED
Start with the condition.
Understand the scope.
Ask which accessible system components will be assessed and how observed conditions and access limits will be recorded. EPA recommends considering cleaning in response to specific conditions rather than as a routine service. Keep any cleaning or replacement proposal separate from the assessment findings.
What may be involved
- supply ducts
- return ducts
- registers
- air handler
Ask the provider to distinguish existing parts to inspect, proposed replacements, and tools, materials or reports included in the service. Confirm the work and exclusions after assessment; this list does not mean that every item will be supplied or replaced.
LOCAL RESEARCH / Windhover
Local exposure
Orange County's storm-repair guidance states that window and exterior door replacements always require a permit, that mechanical repairs including air-conditioning replacement or major ductwork repairs need one, and that replacing broken glass in an existing frame without changing its size or type does not. It also warns that unlicensed contractors may try to take advantage of residents after a storm and that work done without a permit may not be covered by homeowners' insurance. Worth reading before arranging duct and air-handler work on storm damage in Windhover, and worth telling the insurer about in advance.
Source ↗Local context
The EPA does not recommend that air ducts be cleaned routinely, but only as needed, and names three situations where cleaning may be appropriate: substantial visible mold growth inside hard-surface ducts or on other components, ducts infested with vermin, and ducts clogged with excessive dust and debris where particles are actually released into the home. The EPA also notes that no chemical biocides are currently registered for use in internally-insulated air duct systems, and does not recommend routine use of sealants to encapsulate contaminants. Ask which of those conditions was observed before agreeing to any work.
Source ↗Planning your work
The City of Orlando's permitting pages state that the State of Florida requires a permit for most projects, even small ones, and that a project valued above $5,000 needs a Notice of Commencement filed with the Orange County Comptroller before work starts. For duct and air-handler work, ask which permit type the scope falls under before anything is ordered. Windhover sits inside Orange County, and some addresses near the city line are unincorporated and permitted by the county instead — confirm which building department covers the address. This is the authority's published guidance, not a determination about a particular property.
Source ↗Area-wide context does not establish the condition of your property or equipment.
Before the visit
Building age and weather cannot establish duct contamination. The system itself needs to be inspected.
