What does an HVAC/furnace duct cleaning cost?
Air duct cleaning has become popular over the years due to indoor air quality being of importance to homeowners and business owners. So how much does duct cleaning cost and how often should you clean your air ducts? Are you maintaining the proper home systems to improve indoor air quality? Below we will answer these questions.
Duct cleaning cost
Duct cleaning cost on average $30 to $40 per vent, this includes both supply vents and return vents. So lets say you have 10 vents in the home, you should expect to pay between $300 to $400 to have the air duct cleaned.
This may sound like a lot of money but considering ductwork in residential homes are cleaned about every 3-5 years, that is about $100 or so dollars a year to improve the air quality in your home. Cleaning your ductwork will also help prevent dust buildup that can be pulled into the evaporator coil causing you HVAC unit to work much harder to pull the amount of air needed across the coil to cool your home. A small fee to consider the amount a new unit will cost.
Duct cleaning company vs handyman
We have all seen the deal to clean air ducts for $49 or $99. This is not true air duct cleaning, this is someone vacuuming the vents and registers, not the actual ductwork. Many companies charge $200 a system to sanitize the ductwork and vacuum the vents. For obvious reasons the price is going to be cheaper for someone with a shop vac vs a company that has not only invested in the training and licensure but the high cost equipment to perform the duct cleaning properly.
Negative air pressure and brushes/air whips to remove and collect dust and debris from the entire duct system is the most efficient way to clean ductwork. Once the ductwork is cleaned it is then ready for sanitation which helps remove odors and kills and prevents a percentage of microbial growth.
Choosing duct cleaning vs price
Choosing a duct cleaning company strictly on price could be a mistake. When researching a company that cleans air ducts, keep in mind that cleaning quality is equally if not more important. We recommend getting three quotes for air duct cleaning services. If you have any questions, it is important to ask these questions while consulting with the duct cleaning companies.
How often should you clean your ducts
Most reputable air duct cleaning companies follow the NADCA cleaning standards. NADCA stands for National Air Duct Cleaners Association, NADCA holds the highest standards for air duct cleaning companies. The NADCA standards require residential homes to have their air ducts inspected once every two years. Air ducts are typically cleaned every 3 to 5 years.
When should you clean your AC ducts?
Air ducts are cleaned for many reasons but they are all relative to improving indoor air quality. Someone with allergies may find relief by having the dust and debris removed from the duct system. Often contractors suggest that duct cleaning is necessary after the construction or renovation of a home. Even when contractors are careful, drywall dust and other debris find their way into ductwork and are circulated through the HVAC unit and ductwork.
Duct repairs
There are times when ducts need repair or replacement. When a clothes washer overflows, water can run into a floor vent, possibly causing mold. If odors start coming from the vent, call a mold specialist to investigate. Bugs and rodents like mice can get through holes in ductwork. Tears in ductwork should be replaced, cleaning the air ducts will prevent rodents or bugs from getting into the ductwork.
