Your home’s HVAC system should provide year-round comfort and air that is clean and free of as many pollutants as possible. If you recently moved into your home and are unsure if or when the previous owner had the air ducts cleaned, or if you are concerned about your home’s interior air quality, it may be time to have your air ducts cleaned.
This guide will walk you through air duct cleaning, including the process, cleaning frequency, things to avoid, and estimated project costs.
What Is Air Duct Cleaning?
Air duct cleaning refers to the process of clearing your home’s HVAC of dust and other contaminants. An HVAC professional can perform this service for you. Alternatively, there are specialized duct cleaning companies that provide this service.
The term “duct cleaning” is somewhat misleading because the cleaning process should include not just your home’s air ducts but all components of the heating and cooling system:
- Registers
- Returns
- Grilles
- Diffusers
- Heat exchanger
- Heating and cooling coils
- Drip pans
- Fan motor and housing
- Air handling unit housing
Failure to clean all system parts may not only release even more pollutants into your home but affect the integrity and performance of the entire heating and cooling system. For this reason, air duct cleaning is a home project best left to a qualified service professional.
How Much Does Air Duct Cleaning Cost?
The average cost to have air ducts cleaned is $450 to $1,000. A certified professional HVAC installer or air duct cleaning technician should complete the work. Their costs may vary, and they may charge for the service based on the size of your home’s heating and cooling system or its number of vents.
Cost by Home Size
Air duct cleaning service providers may charge on the size or square footage of your home. The average cost per square foot ranges from $0.15 to $0.25. Keep in mind the technician will take both your home’s square footage and ductwork into consideration when providing a project quote.
| Home Size | Air Duct Cleaning Cost |
|---|---|
| 1,500 square feet | $225–$375 |
| 2,000 square feet | $300–$500 |
| 2,500 square feet | $375–$625 |
| 3,000 square feet | $450–$750 |
Cost per Number of Vents
A common method service technicians price out their services is by your home’s total number of vents or registers. The average cost per vent is $20 to $40, so the more vents your home has, the more expensive the cleaning cost. Some companies may also add a flat fee or transportation costs, so be sure to get a few competitive quotes and read the fine print carefully.
| Number of Vents or Registers | Air Duct Cleaning Cost |
|---|---|
| 8 | $160–$320 |
| 12 | $240–$480 |
| 16 | $320–$640 |
| 20 | $400–$800 |
What Factors Affect Duct Cleaning Costs?
Your home’s HVAC system and the condition of your air ducts are the two main considerations that impact how much cleaning will cost. Breaking it down further, the following factors will affect the price you pay:
- Home size. The larger your home, the more ductwork that’s needed to move warm and cool air to each room. It will require more time to complete the cleaning process, adding to your labor costs.
- The number of vents. The higher the number of vents in your home, the higher the cleaning cost. See the section above for average costs by home size and per square foot.
- Type of ductwork. Most residential ducting material is made from sheet metal, fiberglass, or fiberboard. Ducting type will often dedicate the equipment and cleaning method required for cleaning, which may affect the project cost.
- Condition of ductwork. The level of contamination found in ducting will also affect the price. If the technician finds other contaminants like bacteria, mold, animal dander, and mildew during the inspection, you may have to pay additional fees for their removal.
- Accessibility. While cleaning professionals should make every effort to access air ducts through existing openings, sometimes cutting small access holes is required, depending on the HVAC system. Service technicians will repair these additional openings, but it will affect your final project cost.
- Pest infestation. If evidence of rodent or insect infestation is found, you may incur additional fees for pest control services and additional cleaning. Approximate costs range from $200 to $500.
- Mold remediation. If the presence of mold is discovered during your air duct cleaning inspection, the average cost for treatment and removal is $1,500 to $6,000.
When Should You Clean Your Air Ducts?
A clean HVAC system and ductwork maintain healthier air quality and keep your home’s heating and cooling systems working optimally. Potentially harmful contaminants can build up in your ducts and system over time, and the only way to remove them is through regular maintenance.
There is no one-size-fits-all recommendation about how often you should have your air ducts cleaned. For example, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends having your ducts cleaned on an as-needed basis. Between three and five years is the consensus among industry experts, though you may opt to have them cleaned more frequently if there are people with allergies or autoimmune disorders in your household, you live with a smoker, you have pets, or you do a lot of home improvement projects that release dust and debris indoors.
Here are some telltale signs your air ducts and HVAC system may need cleaning:
- Heavy dust buildup on and around vents
- Reduced airflow and not enough heating or cooling
- Unseasonably high energy bills
- Noticeable mold growth on grills
- Musty odors coming from vents
- Rodent or insect infestation
- Increased allergy symptoms
Can You Clean Your Air Ducts Yourself?
Duct cleaning technicians carry all the proper tools and equipment to complete the cleaning process thoroughly and safely. Their industrial-strength vacuums have the necessary power to remove dust, debris, and contaminants from deep inside your home’s ductwork. Improper or inadequate suction and collection can result in loosened contaminants entering your home.
Technicians also have the expertise to fully clean all components of your cooling and heating systems to ensure it continues working optimally. They also have the know-how to avoid damaging your system to prevent costly repairs or a replacement. And if they need additional access points to complete the cleaning, technicians can cover and repair them properly to maintain their performance.
What Is NADCA Certification?
The National Air Duct Cleaning Association (NADCA) sets the industry’s standards for safe and proper HVAC system cleaning and ethical business practices. Choosing a NADCA member to clean your home’s air ducts offers you and your home additional protection. Members receive special certification and receive ongoing education, training, and support for residential and commercial HVAC inspection, cleaning, and restoration. Member technicians are also required to carry liability insurance and agree to follow the association’s code of ethics, offering you peace of mind in knowing a qualified professional is doing the work.
What to Expect During an Air Duct Cleaning
As mentioned above, your home’s size, type of ductwork, condition, and contamination level will determine the cleaning method and how long it will take to complete. Generally, most professional air duct cleanings involve the following steps:
Inspection
Your air duct cleaning technician will evaluate your home air ducts to determine the level of contamination and cleaning method. Some technicians may use special cameras to access deeper areas of ducting to make their assessments.
Collection
The technician prepares your home by attaching a high-powered vacuum device to the air handler and inserting the hose into the duct. All registers are sealed to create the most suction and prevent contaminants from blowing into your home. The technician turns on the vacuum to create negative pressure inside the system, removing dust and debris.
Your home’s HVAC system features supply-side and return-side ducts that move air into and out of your home, respectively. The sides are separate and each one requires cleaning in the same fashion.
Agitation
During the collection process and while the vacuum is on, your technician will uncover each register one at a time and clean thoroughly with a variety of brushes and tools as needed.
System Cleaning
Once the first two steps are complete, the technician will clean the remainder of your heating and cooling systems components. They will also repair any access holes they cut and any broken ductwork noted during the inspection.
Additional Treatments
Depending on the level and type of contamination found in your air ducts, the technician may also recommend applying chemical treatments to eliminate microbials.
Common Duct Cleaning Scams
Unfortunately, the residential air duct cleaning business is riddled with scams. Watch out for the “blow-and-go” companies that are out to make a quick buck (or this case, several hundred of your hard-earned dollars). Or they may overcharge for their services or offer expensive and unneeded add-on services. Worse still, some unscrupulous companies have been known to perform these additional services without a homeowner’s permission and then present them with an expensive invoice.
These uncertified and often untrained companies may offer a lower price or a savings coupon, but homeowners are often left with indoor air quality that is worse than before they started. For your protection, use a NADCA-certified member technician. Verify your desired service company is certified by visiting the NADCA website.
Find an Air Duct Cleaning Professional
While cleaning home air ducts is a straightforward process, you should have a certified professional and NADCA member handle the project. They will ensure all system components are cleaned to industry standards so your home’s interior air quality is healthier and contaminant free. Get started with Modernize and receive competitive quotes from air duct cleaning technicians in your area.
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