Q & A

Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on Thumbtack.

How often should you get your air ducts cleaned?

How often you should clean your air ducts depends on your situation. If you or someone in the home has asthma or is acutely allergic to certain airborne materials or pollen, regular duct cleaning may be helpful. The Environmental Protection Agency doesn’t have an official position on the necessity of air duct cleaning unless the ducts have been contaminated by rodents, insects or mold, or you are aware of particles blowing out through the vents. The EPA recommends you have your air ducts cleaned on an as-needed basis. The National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) suggests having air ducts cleaned every three to five years.

Be cautious with companies that offer “whole house air duct cleaning,” urges the NADCA. The company may be using unscrupulous tactics to upsell you once they get started. Before any work begins, always clarify in writing what the job entails and what the cost will be. To protect yourself against fraud, read customer reviews and verify that your HVAC cleaning service has applicable licenses and certifications.

Do you need to clean your air ducts?

Air duct cleaning is done by heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) professionals. The pros use industrial-strength, truck-mounted vacuums and powerful brushes and hoses to clean inside the metal ducts that make up your forced air heating and cooling system. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends duct cleaning if there is “substantial visible mold growth inside hard surface ducts, ducts that are infested with vermin such as rodents or insects, or ducts that are clogged with excessive amounts of dust and debris and/or particles are actually released into the home from your supply registers.”

You should also have air ducts cleaned after recent water contamination or water damage to prevent mold; after renovations or remodeling to ensure debris and dust didn’t settle in the vents and ducts; if you are having problems with allergies or asthma; or when you are moving into a newly purchased home, especially if the previous owners smoked or had pets. The National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) recommends getting your air ducts cleaned every three to five years, or every two to three years in regions where homeowners use their air conditioning and heater for many months of the year, while the EPA suggests homeowners have duct cleaning done as needed.

How long does it take to get your ducts cleaned?

The amount of time air duct cleaning takes can depend on how extensive your duct system is, how old your air ducts are, and whether they have ever been cleaned. On average, expect a standard size home (between 2,000 and 3,000 square feet) to take 2-5 hours for one to two technicians to clean. Here are the proper protocol and equipment you should expect from a professional duct cleaning service, as recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency:

All doors and access ports opened to ensure the entire duct system is inspected and cleaned.
Thorough system inspection prior to cleaning to identify possible asbestos-containing materials. If asbestos is present, specially trained and equipped contractors must do the removal.
Use of approved vacuum equipment that exhausts particles outside of your house. If the vacuum exhausts inside your home, it must be HEPA equipment.
Furnishings and carpet covered and protected.
Soft-bristled brushes only on fiberglass duct board and sheet metal ducts internally lined with fiberglass.
Ductwork properly protected.
Adherence to guidelines and practices set down by the National Air Duct Cleaners Association.

How much does it cost to replace air ducts in a house?

If your air ducts have been damaged, you’ll need to replace them. The national average air duct replacement cost is $150-$280, which may not include materials. Factors such as duct material, labor, location of ducts and linear feet of ductwork will all affect your final costs. Labor costs will vary based on how accessible the ducts are and what material your ducts are made of. The least expensive duct material is a flexible, non-metallic ducting that costs approximately $1-$2 per linear foot. Flexible aluminum is generally more expensive and stronger than non-metallic ducting. Stainless steel ducting is the strongest, the least flexible (meaning installing it typically has higher labor rates), and usually the most expensive. An average price for air duct replacement could range between $35 and $55 per linear foot, including basic materials and labor. A typical single-family home has 6-10 duct runs; replacing or installing one duct run could average $150-$250 for labor.

How much does it cost to have your air ducts cleaned?

If you’re concerned about dust, allergens or mold, it may be time to have your air ducts cleaned. The national average cost for air duct cleaning ranges from $190 to $250. Air duct cleaning costs will vary based on a number of factors such as your location in the country, the age and condition of your air ducts, the number of linear feet to be cleaned, and any repairs your ducts may need. HVAC cleaning companies should clearly outline what is included in their services and at what rate, so always make sure you understand and have a written agreement before work begins. Here are some examples of average air duct cleaning costs:

Tiered pricing for different levels of service:

Standard cleaning: $100, which may include truck-mounted industrial vacuums, high-pressure air wands and air snakes to clean all supply and return vents, branch lines, and main trunk lines.
Advanced cleaning: $200, which may include standard cleaning services, plus rotobrush or viper clean sweep in the main trunk lines.
Ultimate cleaning: $400, which may include advanced cleaning, plus insertion of a viper microline into all vents to force debris down the branch lines and into the main trunk lines, to be handled by the viper clean sweep. Typically, all ductwork surface is contacted, before-and-after photos are provided, and the furnace is cleaned.

A flat rate for unlimited vents: $289.
Additional fees for larger houses: $20 for each additional 500 square feet over 2,500.

Billie H.

Verified review

Chris and his crew worked out great and I would use them again. Nice and thorough, looked at all ducting and other brands of units and the Train was the best deal for my app.

DIana B.

Heavenly Service Smart 72 did a great job of identifying the best solution for our needs. The installed the furnace and ductwork in one day and tied up loose ends the following work day. Javier, Robert, and Ty were all very pleasant, polite, hard-working, skilled, as well as respectful of us and our property. They were a joy to work with. I highly recommend them.

Jose V.

My review in only for his customer service and overview of his work scope. Sherm came out to my house to give me a bid on a new HVCA and duct replacement. It was very nice to meet Sherm, he was very professional, and exposed to me all the work that was needed. His price seemed fair for the work he was doing. Te reason I may decide not to go with Sherm is because I want to take advantage of SMUD rebates being offered, being that my house is all electric Smud will double the rebates. Overall my experience was good. Thanks you fot taking the time to comeout to my place Sherm.

Carp H.

The air conditioner in our house had no air flow. We believed the vents were clogged and needed cleaning. Squeaky Clean sent Damien within a week. He arrived and quickly assessed our situation and provided a quote. He then informed us that we would be better off hiring an HVAC technician, and reviewed the other services his company provides before leaving. The HVAC technician left today and air flow has been restored to our home. Damien was honest, direct, took the time to explain the situation, and was very friendly and understanding. I look forward to doing business with Squeaky Clean again soon.

Michael G.

CHS easily installed/connected my existing range hood duct to the new hood I installed. I was having trouble connecting the two due to the very short distance and the difference in pipe sizes. They were in and out within an hour. Should have done this about 3 months ago. Thank you!!!

Brenda A.

Wow !!! Hands down the best air duct cleaning company around. I recently bought my house and noticed the ac wasn’t working in one of the rooms. Joseph came out and seen there was a major problem with one of the vents. He gave me an amazing deal with taping all the vents cleaning them out and giving me a new uv ray filter and it’s made such a difference in the air and my ac is working great. If you book for a cleaning every three months he gives you an additional credit. ?

Joshua S.

Domenick has been at my house the past three weekends working on my ducts under my house. One of the days he nearly worked 12 hours non stop. I was very impressed by the quality of his work. My HVAC system is now running in better shape then it ever has. He also pointed out a few problems with other projects under my house I was so impressed with his work on my ducts I hired him to repair those as well. To tell you the truth I almost wish I had more work for him so I knew that everything would get done quickly and correctly. Btw he was also the lowest quote I got from over 10 companies for my project. I know I will use him again if I need any other work.

Nick K.

John is the owner and does great quality work. He came out on a Sunday to fix my dryer vent. He also fixed my range hood vent for no extra charge. I appreciated the quality of his work that I hired him to install a full American Standard HVAC system in my house. If you are looking for a quality HVAC specialist that will go the extra mile then don't look any further, John is the guy to hire!

Vlad N.

Comfort Expert Heating & Air Conditioning 90+ Comfort Expert Heating & Air Conditioning 5.0 (9) HVAC contractor in Antelope, California OVERVIEW POSTS REVIEWS PHOTOS ABOUT 1 of 5 CALL DIRECTIONS SAVE WEBSITE Comfort Expert Heating & Air Conditioning Comfort Expert Heating & Air Conditioning on Google Make sure you are ready for HOT SUMMER DAYS !!! Your HVAC duct flex properly sealed and properly insulated! 4 hours ago New roof gas package system installed 5 days ago New roof gas package is getting installed 5 days ago View all 8339 Ruge Ct, Antelope, CA 95843 Map of comfortexpertair com Closed ⋅ Opens 7AM Make appointment · comfortexpertair.com (916) 719-7003 Suggest an edit QUESTIONS & ANSWERS Be the first to ask a question Street View90+ Photos Add a photo REVIEW SUMMARY 5 ★ 4 ★ 3 ★ 2 ★ 1 ★ 5.0 9 reviews "Quick response time, fast service, or a brand new system with the best price." "Place where you can relax after your hard work!!" "Comfort Expert is hands down the best HVAC company in Sacramento." More Google reviews RATE AND REVIEW WEB RESULTS Comfort Expert Heating & Air Conditioning - 45 Photos - Heating ... https://www.yelp.com › biz › comfort-ex... 9 reviews of Comfort Expert Heating & Air Conditioning "Thanks Alex, great service, I'm happy with good Repair that you have provided, my heater was not working, after ... Comfort Expert Heating & Air Conditioning | Antelope, CA ... https://www.homeadvisor.com › rated.Co... Comfort Expert Heating & Air Conditioning | HomeAdvisor prescreened Heating Contractors in Antelope, CA. Comfort Expert Air https://www.comfortexpertair.com Comfort Expert Heating and air conditioning. Sacramento best price HVAC heating and air conditioning install service repair maintenance replacement. 2 of 5 3 of 5 GOOGLE REVIEW SUMMARY 5 ★ 4 ★ 3 ★ 2 ★ 1 ★ 5.0 9 reviews "Quick response time, fast service, or a brand new system with the best price." "Place where you can relax after your hard work!!" "Comfort Expert is hands down the best HVAC company in Sacramento." RATE AND REVIEW ON GOOGLE GOOGLE REVIEWS Most helpful Vlad N. Vlad N. 2 reviews 5 hours ago This is without a doubt the best company you can hire. Search no more - go with them! I feel very proud that these guys are serving our community! They installed my unit over a month ago, and it works great! The real pleasure was to talk to Alex who is smart, patient and kind and has an internal upbeat that calls for respect. He gave me all options, inspected my system and came to install the new heater on the following day. The other member of his team was very courteous and polite, they both worked very hard, and completed the work on the same day. They left my garage clean and looking new. I am so happy that I found these guys and would recommend them to anyone. They offered better deals than any other company I spoke to, and they did the job perfectly for years to come. Thank you Alex! Thank you, Comfort Expert Heating & Air Conditioning! Great company!

Gina F.

I signed into Thumbtack Tues. around 5 P.M. Within 5 min. SOS contacted me stating they would be available to do the work I needed done and even offered to pick up the parts on the next day. SOS was punctual, quick, efficent, and went well beyond the call of duty. He supplied me with the parts I needed, installed them in my furnace and had it up and running in no time! I would highly recommend SOS if you are having heating issues or if you just want to have your ducts cleaned. They even installed a carbon monoxide detector for me at no charge! Awesome service!!

Ed V.

First of all Armand showed up ahead of schedule appointment, which I liked. He got right to work installing roof vents. Armand was very professional and courteous while completly his work in a timely manner. When the job wws finished, he cleaned up the work area. I would highly recommend him to other people . Job well done.

Candice P.

I am more than satisfied with Scott's Chiminey! He was fast at responding with a quote and scheduled my cleaning within a couple of days. When he arrived he was extremely polite and friendly. He even educated my 4 year old with a few fun facts about the history of Chiminey sweeping. Gregory was very knowledgeable and experienced with his profession. He informed me of maintenance that was needed without the pressure of being nickel and dimed. I was not left with a mess to clean up afterwards. He gave me plenty of tips on how to get the most heat from our fireplace. Scott's Chiminey has definitely earned our business!

About

911 Remediation is a leading company in the water damage restoration, mold remediation, air duct cleaning and fire damage restoration services We specialize in restoration & remediation while making sure residential and commercial properties are well cared for by preventing health hazards the occupants. 911 Remediation is fully certified restoration company and have over ten years of experience with restoration and remediation. Our professionalism shines through the projects we have completed in the past, and continue with today. Water damage repairs, Mold abatement, Duct clean, Odor Removal, Water damage & Fire damage clean up are services we provide! Our services include: -Water damage restoration -Fire damage restoration -Water removal -Flood cleanup -Flood damage restoration -Mold removal -Mold inspection -Mold remediation -Air quality testing -Remove mildew -Vent cleaning -Air Duct Cleaning -Air conditioning cleaning -Furnace cleaning -Laundry exhaust system cleaning -Heating and cooling systems cleaning -Air filters inspection -Fix smoke damage

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How often should you get your air ducts cleaned?

Do you need to clean your air ducts?

How long does it take to get your ducts cleaned?

How much does it cost to replace air ducts in a house?

How much does it cost to have your air ducts cleaned?