How Much Does it Cost to Clean Your Ducts?

Getting your air ducts cleaned is a pivotal part of maintaining a healthy and happy home. But we’re sure you have some questions about how much it’s going to cost you. We’re going to break down the average cost of air duct cleaning and what affects the price.

What is the Average Cost of Cleaning Air Ducts?

The average cost of professional cleaning your air ducts is $370, which is an average between the two figures, $270 and $490. However, it is essential to note this figure can climb to as high as $1000 as possibly even higher. 

What Affects the Price of Air Duct Cleaning?

The costs of cleaning your air ducts, a crucial task in your summer maintenance schedule, will depend on a variety of factors. Here are some of the main factors that could affect the final bill.

Where You Live

The average price of professional duct cleaning services can vary from state to state. You have to take that into account when you’re making your decision. Don’t be shocked if your friend, three states over, was charged a few hundred dollars less than you. The likely reason is that their average cost is simply lower than in your state.

Take a look at these examples of pricing differences between different cities in different states. 

• Des Moines, IA = $340 – $420
• Washington, DC = $230 – $420
• Phoenix, AZ = $320 – $480
• Oklahoma City, OK = $200 – $400
• Jacksonville, FL = $260 – $510
• Atlanta, GA = $230 – $460
• Denver, CO = $240 – $400  
• Virginia Beach VA = $240 – $400 + 

Occupants, Pets, and Habits

There are a few personal elements that come into play when professional duct cleaners work out your bill. For example, they consider how many pets you have and lifestyle choices such as smoking.

The Number of Vents in Your Home

In some cases, vent cleaning cost breakdowns can be delivered as price per vent. Usually, this would be between $25 and $50 per vent, but this can vary. This fee method isn’t incredibly common as most companies just charge flat rates.

If you’re looking for an idea of how much it might cost you, just take a look at the average amount of $35, count the vents you have, and add it up. 

Rodents

The existence of rodents in your air ducts is, unfortunately, going to add to the costs of the job overall. However, it’s also unavoidable, as the EPA noted that droppings could aid breathing problems. As a result, you’ll need to hire an exterminator, which can put you out anywhere between $150 and $500. 

Accessibility to Ducts and Vents

If your home was built in a way that doesn’t allow for easy access to vents and ducts, you might find yourself with an additional fee for the extra labor required. The duct cleaning company that you hire should make you aware of this when they come and do their inspection, so it shouldn’t be a surprise by the end of the process. 

Mold or Mildew Removal

If you’ve confirmed that mold or mildew is growing in your home, then the EPA recommends you get your ducts cleaned immediately. Mold removal, however, can add to the price tag exponentially. It can cost anywhere between $600 and $2000. It’s important to note that stopping mold growth in its tracks will save you money in the long run. 

Custom Ducts

When your ducts are customized, it can become more difficult to source replacement parts if necessary. As a result, you might find yourself paying more for certain aspects of your duct clean-up job. 

If your professional duct cleaners need a larger crew to work on custom vents, ducts, etc., then expect to pay about 25–30% more. 

FAQ

Here are a few of the frequently asked questions we get about duct cleaning.

How long does it typically take to have your ducts cleaned?

There are so many variables that make up the answer to this question. It is everything that we’ve mentioned above and more. Some professional duct cleaning companies might have better equipment or a larger workforce behind them to do the job faster. 

Regardless, when they conduct the home inspection and evaluation, they should be able to provide a reasonable time frame.

When I decide it’s time to hire a professional, what should I look for?

Reputation. The air duct cleaning industry is shockingly underregulated. You need to look for reviews and testimony from some friends and family. They may even have some recommendations. 

Another thing you should do is to familiarize yourself with the National Air Duct Cleaners Association. Understand the standards and communicate with whomever you hire about following these standards and sharing with you their progress and follow-through on the guidelines. 

Should I be doing other projects simultaneously?

If you’re hiring professionals, make the most of the time you have with them to maybe reduce the costs. Making them come back separately for things such as HVAC upgrades, preventative maintenance, and other equipment updates is silly when you can get it all done in one job and then follow through with maintenance over time.

Is all of this really worth it?

It isn’t just worth it; it’s necessary. There are serious health risks to not following through on proper air duct and HVAC cleaning. You can cause respiratory issues in children, and even worse, you can breathe in toxic or generally unhealthy bacteria and microorganisms. 

You need to ensure you take your air duct system seriously, as it controls the air you breathe. Don’t take the matter lightly.

If you’ve been searching online for ‘HVAC Services near me,’ or ‘duct cleaning Virginia Beach,’ ‘Duct cleaning Norfolk,’ ‘Duct cleaning Chesapeake,’ or anywhere else in Virginia, then your search is over!

Universal Duct Cleaning is here to help clean your air ducts, replace your HVAC filters, and more! We service Air Ducts across Virginia, including areas like Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport, William’s Berg, and Portsmouth. So get in touch with us today, and let’s get your Air ducts in order.