Air Duct Cleaning Costs

Air duct cleaning is a great way to improve air quality and remove excess dust and debris from the lengths of ductwork running through the home. Although scientific studies have not been done to prove its effectiveness, experts agree that cleaning your ducts does have some merit and is worth the investment.

The biggest factor in determining the cost of air duct cleaning is the length and type of ducts in the home. Easily accessible, larger ducts will be simpler to clean and therefore may cost less than smaller ducts or systems with inaccessible vents. Another factor that may impact the cost of cleaning is whether or not mold is found in the ducts. You should always work with a National Air Duct Cleaners Association-certified cleaner for best results.

Air duct cleaning: medium-sized AC duct system.

Other considerations and costs

• If you have excessive dirt buildup or your vents require extensive cleaning, you may be charged a higher fee per vent for the additional time and materials.
• If an air duct cleaner tells you that you have mold, you need to call a mold professional immediately. Do not let the cleaner attempt to diagnose and repair mold problems. Some companies do this to scam people out of money, while others just don’t have the necessary skills. Have a separate mold inspection performed and have the removal done by a certified mold specialist. Once that is resolved, you can have the duct cleaning completed.
• If you have a larger home, you may pay up to 75% more for a mold inspection due to the size and scope of the work.&
• There is going to be a premium charge on most services that involve difficult-to-access equipment, such as in the case of a poorly-designed furnace installation or vents that aren’t out in the open.

DIY considerations

• Home improvement stores sell the tools and equipment that you need to perform DIY vent cleaning. However, if you are not knowledgeable about HVAC systems, it might be best to leave this to a professional.
• If you already have a shop vacuum with attachments, it will cost you nothing to clean your own air ducts. While it may not be as effective as a professional job, it can do in a pinch or when you need a quick refresh between professional cleanings.

References

• Craftsman Estimator Costbook, complete series year 2019.
• Latest prices found on Home Depot and other vendor Web sites.
• Literature review of DIY Web sites.