How much does air duct cleaning cost?
Ashburn, VA

How much does air duct cleaning cost?

Ashburn, VA

How much does air duct cleaning cost?

$25 – $45Average cost per vent
$300 – $700Average total cost to clean air ducts

Get free estimates for your project or view our cost guide below:

$25 – $45 Average cost per vent

$300 – $700 Average total cost to clean air ducts


Get free estimates for your project or view our cost guide below:
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Sarah Noel
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Sarah Noel
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Air duct cleaning cost

Air duct cleaning costs $300 to $700 on average or up to $1,000 for larger homes or ducts with more contamination. Duct and vent cleaning costs $25 to $45 per vent or $0.15 to $0.25 per square foot. Air duct sanitizing costs $70 to $150 more to prevent mold growth.

  • An air duct inspection costs $80 to $180.

  • Cleaning the HVAC system costs $60 to $370 more for a furnace or AC unit.

Air duct cleaning cost - chart
Air duct cleaning cost - chart
Air duct cleaning cost
National average cost $500
Minimum cost $200
Maximum cost $1,000
Average range $300 to $700

*Based on 1,934 project costs reported by HomeGuide members.

  • Air duct cleaning takes 2 to 4 hours on average.

  • Pros suggest cleaning ductwork every 3 to 7 years to improve system efficiency.

  • Air duct cleaning should include cleaning the supply and return air ducts, grills, plenum, register vent covers, and the furnace or AC blower.

  • Prices depend on the ductwork size, number of vents, contamination level, climatic region, and vent accessibility.

Get free estimates from air duct cleaning services near you.

Average cost of air duct cleaning

The average cost of duct cleaning is $300 to $700 per system. Duct cleaners either charge per system, per vent, or per square footage of the home.

Average cost of air duct cleaning
Pricing type Average cost
Per system $300 – $700
Per vent $25 – $45
Per square foot $0.15 – $0.25

Air duct cleaning - before and after
Air duct cleaning - before and after

Vent cleaning cost

Vent cleaning costs $25 to $45 per supply vent and $40 to $75 per return vent. Duct cleaners often charge by the total number of ducts inside the home.

Vent cleaning cost - chart
Vent cleaning cost - chart
Vent cleaning cost
Number of vents Average cost
5 – 10 $125 – $450
10 – 15 $250 – $675
15 – 20 $375 – $900

Duct cleaning cost per square foot

Air duct cleaning costs $0.15 to $0.25 per square foot of living space. Cleaning ducts for a typical 1,500- to 2,500-square-foot home costs $225 to $625 on average.

Average duct cleaning cost per square foot - chart
Average duct cleaning cost per square foot - chart
Duct cleaning cost per square foot
Home size (square feet) Average cost
1,000 – 1,500 $150 – $375
1,500 – 2,000 $225 – $500
2,000 – 2,500 $300 – $625
2,500 – 3,000 $375 – $750
3,000 – 3,500 $450 – $875
3,500 – 4,000 $525 – $1,000

Air duct cleaning prices and factors

Air duct cleaning prices depend on the home’s size, HVAC system size, ductwork size, number of vents, contamination level, climatic region, and vent accessibility.

Additional air duct cleaning price factors
Add-on services Average prices
Mold inspection & testing $200 – $650
Mold removal $450 – $6,000
Sanitizing $70 – $150
Air duct inspection $80 – $180
Dryer vent cleaning $80 – $185

Professional ductwork cleaning before and after
Professional ductwork cleaning before and after

Additional cost factors include:

  • Ductwork condition – Repairing ductwork costs $200 to $700 on average. Air duct replacement costs $25 to $55 per linear foot.

  • Infestations Pest control costs $250 to $400 on average to remove rats, mice, and other rodents.

  • Air filters – Costs for buying and changing new filters vary significantly according to HVAC system type & size.

  • Ductwork type – Various tools and cleaning methods apply for flex, rigid, or foam-board ducts.

  • Ductwork configuration – Custom ductwork or hard-to-access areas like crawlspaces or attics increase labor.

  • Job extent – Cleaning out additional HVAC items such as heat exchangers, coils, drain pans, and fans costs more.

Residential home vs. commercial air duct cleaning cost

Commercial air duct cleaning costs $75 to $150 per hour, or 30% to 60% more than residential duct cleaning. Labor time increases in commercial buildings with hard-to-access custom ductwork, larger HVAC systems, and higher system usage.

Air duct sanitizing and mold removal cost

Mold removal in air ducts cost
Service Average cost
Mold inspection & testing $200 – $650
Mold removal $2,000 – $10,000
Sanitizing $70 – $150

Air duct inspection cost

An air duct inspection costs $80 to $180 on average. Inspections typically use a video camera inside the ductwork to check for damage, pests, insulation issues, mold, debris, and dust buildup.

Dryer vent cleaning

Dryer vent cleaning costs $80 to $185 on average, or $40 to $100 extra with whole-house duct cleaning. Cleaning a roof-exit dryer vent costs $165 to $250. Cleaning dryer vents makes the dryer last longer and run more efficiently with less fire risk.

Dryer vent cleaning
Vent location Average cost
Basement / first floor vent $80 – $150
Second floor vent $110 – $185
Roof vent $150 – $250

Ductwork and vent cleaning cost by location

The following table shows average ductwork cleaning costs by location:

Get free estimates from air duct cleaning services near you.
Ductwork and vent cleaning cost by location
City, State Average cost
Atlanta, GA $325 – $775
Boston, MA $400 – $950
Bridgeport, CT $325 – $750
Chicago, IL $350 – $800
Columbus, OH $325 – $750
Denver, CO $325 – $750
Detroit, MI $325 – $750
Houston, TX $375 – $875
Honolulu, HI $350 – $850
Indianapolis, IN $300 – $725
Jacksonville, FL $300 – $700
Los Angeles, CA $325 – $750
Minneapolis, MN $350 – $800
Nashville, TN $300 – $725
Newark, NJ $325 – $775
New York, NY $400 – $925
Oklahoma City, OK $300 – $700
Philadelphia, PA $325 – $775
Phoenix, AZ $300 – $725
Portland, OR $325 – $775
Seattle, WA $325 – $775
Tulsa, OK $300 – $700
Washington, D.C. $325 – $775

HVAC duct cleaning costs by service

HVAC duct cleaning services cost $200 to $800 on average. Stanley Steemer and Sears charge per vent, while COIT, Duct Doctor, and Zerorez charge a flat rate per HVAC system.

HVAC duct cleaning cost by company
Company Average cost
Stanley Steemer $400 – $650
COIT $400 – $600
Zerorez $350 – $500
Duct Doctor $500 – $700
Servpro $200 – $800
Sears $200 – $500
Four Seasons $600 – $750

Stanley Steemer duct cleaning cost

Stanley Steemer air duct cleaning costs $400 to $650 on average. Stanley Steemer dryer vent cleaning costs $50 to $150.

Stanley Steemer has NADCA-certified technicians that use HEPA-filtered vacuums to clean the ductwork, furnace evaporator coil, and blower and vent covers.

Stanley Steemer air duct cleaning cost
Service Average cost
Duct cleaning (10 – 15 vents) $400 – $525
Duct cleaning (15 – 20 vents) $525 – $650
Dryer vent cleaning $50 – $150

Sears air duct cleaning cost

Sears duct cleaning costs $200 to $500 on average, depending on the number of vents. Dryer vent cleaning costs $90 when combined with duct cleaning or $190 as a standalone service. Sears offers free system inspections and uses HEPA-filtered vacuums.

Sears duct and vent cleaning cos
Service Average cost
Duct cleaning (up to 10 vents) $100 – $300
Duct cleaning (up to 14 vents) $140 – $350
Duct cleaning (up to 18 vents) $180 – $400
Duct cleaning (up to 20 vents) $200 – $450
Dryer vent cleaning $90 – $190

COIT duct cleaning prices

COIT duct cleaning prices are $400 to $600 on average. Dryer vent cleaning costs $140 to $160. COIT follows NADCA standards and offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee to reclean, fix, or refund purchases.

COIT duct cleaning prices
Service Average cost
Duct cleaning $400 – $600
Dryer vent cleaning $140 – $160

Zerorez air duct cleaning cost

Zerorez air duct cleaning costs $350 to $500 on average. Dryer vent cleaning costs $100 to $150 per vent, depending on if it’s a standalone service or combined with duct cleaning.

Zerorez uses a powerful whip-line cleaning system and provides camera footage before and after cleaning.

Zerorez duct cleaning prices
Service Average cost
Duct cleaning (per attached HVAC unit) $350 – $500
Dryer vent cleaning (per vent) $100 – $150

Duct Doctor cost

Duct doctor costs $500 to $700 on average for ductwork cleaning, depending on the number of HVAC units. Dryer vent cleaning costs $160 to $180 per vent. Duct doctor offers residential and commercial duct cleaning services with NADCA certified technicians.

Duct doctor cost
Service Average cost
Duct cleaning $500 – $700
Dryer vent cleaning $160 – $180

Servpro air duct cleaning cost

Servpro air duct cleaning costs $200 to $800 on average. Servpro offers both residential and commercial cleaning services nationwide, including professional mold removal and water damage restoration.

Four Seasons air duct cleaning cost

Four Seasons air duct cleaning costs $600 to $750 per system on average. All their duct cleaners are NADCA certified, use a 3-stage HEPA-filtration vacuum system, and have upfront pricing with free in-home estimates.

Four Seasons serves Chicago and Indiana and offers 24/7 service.

Furnace and AC cleaning costs

Extra duct cleaning costs apply depending on how many central air conditioning units or furnaces an HVAC system has.

HVAC cleaning costs - chart
HVAC cleaning costs - chart
Furnace and AC cleaning costs
HVAC part Average cost to clean
Furnace $60 – $200
Heat pump $80 – $300
Air handler $70 – $175
AC condenser & evaporator coils $80 – $370

Heating system cleaning cost

Furnace and heating system cleaning costs $70 to $300, depending on the fuel type. Heat pump cleaning costs $80 to $300 on average.

  • Pros recommended cleaning central heating systems annually.

  • A tune-up includes vacuuming the internal housing, cleaning the blower, and changing filters.

Heating system cleaning cost
Service Average cost
Furnace cleaning $70 – $300
Heat pump cleaning $80 – $300

*Prices don’t include cleaning attached ducts.

Air handler cleaning cost

Air handler cleaning costs $75 to $400 on average. Servicing the air handler typically involves cleaning coils, blower parts, duct connections, flushing out the condensation drain pan, and changing the filters. Additional charges apply for hard-to-reach air handlers in attics.

Condenser and evaporator coil cleaning cost

Cleaning condenser and evaporator coils costs $80 to $370 extra, depending on the AC unit’s size and accessibility. Contractors typically offer discounts when combining coil cleaning with duct cleaning.

Benefits of cleaning AC coils:

Get free estimates from air duct cleaning services near you.
  • Extend the lifespan of the parts.

  • Prevent mold growth on the evaporator coils.

  • Lower utility bills by improving the unit’s energy efficiency.

Replacing an evaporator coil costs $675 to $1,300, while replacing a condenser coil costs $1,900 to $2,900.

Is air duct cleaning worth it?

Air duct cleaning is worth it to save 10% to 30% on utility bills when maintenance includes changing filters, servicing all attached HVAC units, and eliminating contaminant sources.

Cleaning air ducts also helps HVAC systems last longer and purify air better to reduce allergy symptoms.

What is duct cleaning?

Air duct cleaning removes all dirt, debris, pollutants, and hazardous materials from the entire ductwork ventilation system and all its heating and cooling system components.

Duct cleaning service using a high-powered vacuum and soft brush
Duct cleaning service using a high-powered vacuum and soft brush

Professionals clean air ducts through these steps:

  1. Inspecting ducts to check for hazardous materials

  2. Spreading out drop cloths to protect home areas near vents while cleaning

  3. Attaching a high-powered HEPA-filtered vacuum and blower to ducts

  4. Dislodging debris inside the ducts

  5. Extracting all dust and debris through the vacuum hose into an outside truck

  6. Cleaning all supply and return vents

How often should you clean air ducts?

  • The National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA) advises cleaning air ducts every 3 to 5 years.

  • Other HVAC pros suggest cleaning every 5 to 7 years with well-sealed ducts.

Cleaning frequency depends on duct conditions, climate, system usage, number of residents, and if people have respiratory issues.

Is air duct cleaning necessary?

Air duct cleaning is necessary and not a waste of money when excess dust or debris blocks the airflow, or when mold, mildew, or pest infestations are inside ducts. Cleaning ducts also effectively helps remove smells in homes with pets or smokers.

How long does air duct cleaning take?

Air duct cleaning takes 2 to 4 hours on average for a 2-person crew to clean one complete system. Larger or older homes take 3 to 6 hours.

Cleaning times increase for homes with pets, complex HVAC systems, or contamination issues with mold, pests, or asbestos.

Do you tip vent cleaners?

You don’t need to tip vent cleaners, and some company policies don’t allow HVAC cleaners to accept tips. Most people offer workers drinks and restroom access. If the duct cleaning company performed an outstanding service, they appreciate a $10 to $20 tip.

How to tell if air ducts need cleaning

Air ducts need cleaning if these signs appear:

  • Mold growth around vent covers

  • Excess dust in the home

  • Visible dust blowing out of the vents

  • Rodent droppings or chewed areas around ducts

  • Abnormally high utility bills

  • Air filters clog up in less than a month

  • Debris and dust collect near supply vents or in registers

  • Inconsistent airflow in each vent

  • Increased respiratory problems

  • Unusual sounds when the HVAC blower runs

  • Dust buildup on the furnace blower fan, furnace motor, or AC coils

  • Musty smells in air vents

Does duct cleaning reduce household dust?

Duct cleaning does reduce household dust, but only if it came from leaky ductwork without air filters. Dust inside well-sealed and filtered air ducts shouldn’t enter home interiors. The EPA hasn’t proven that duct cleaning reduces health problems.

Reduce household dust effectively by:

  • Installing a whole-house air purifier costs $400 to $4,000.

  • Using a vacuum with a high-efficiency particulate air filter, or HEPA filter

  • Installing high-quality HVAC air filters on return vents

  • Fixing all leaky ducts that take in attic or basement dust

  • Putting screens on open windows and doors

Can air duct cleaning cause damage?

Air duct cleaning causes damages and lowers air quality when cleaners don’t use proper tools or methods.

Damages caused by poor cleaning include:

  • Tearing holes in flex-duct walls

  • Loose duct connections that leak air

  • Mold growth inside ducts from using wet sponges

  • Releasing pollen, dust, and allergens into the home's air

  • Ripping off insulation inside ducts

  • Broken seals around vent openings

  • Fiberglass fibers from damaged liner spreading to contaminate indoor air

Can you clean air ducts yourself?

A licensed professional with high-power vacuums, rotary brushes, and other special equipment is necessary to clean air ducts thoroughly. Improper DIY duct cleaning damages the ducts, insulation, lining, and all connections in the HVAC system.

Decrease the need for duct cleanings by:

  • Vacuuming around registers, duct openings, vent grills, and furnaces regularly

  • Changing fiberglass air duct filters every 1 to 3 months

  • Replacing pleated air filters every 3 to 6 months

  • Removing metal vent covers for cleaning every 3 to 6 months

  • Using a home air-purifier system

  • Keeping air vents open as much as possible

  • Checking ducts for leaks annually

  • Cleaning AC coils annually

  • Sealing ducts during renovations to keep out dust

Getting air duct cleaning cost estimates

Hiring a professional air duct cleaning service is necessary to prevent duct damage and improper cleaning that can worsen things.

Use this checklist when getting air duct cleaning cost estimates:

  • Compare three or more bids from experienced vent cleaners.

  • Choose air vent cleaning companies satisfying these licensing requirements:

  • Select licensed, insured, and bonded air duct cleaning service providers.

  • Review their ratings on HomeGuide and Google.

  • Verify the estimates include material, labor, and equipment costs.

  • Never pay in full upfront.

  • Beware of scams or cheap and quick bids that signal low-quality cleaning.

Cheap air duct cleaning scams

Warning signs of a duct-cleaning scam:

  • Cheap air duct cleaning ads of $49 to $99 for a whole house, with hidden add-on costs

  • False “EPA-certified” claims when the EPA doesn’t certify anyone

  • Guarantees to finish cleaning within 1 to 2 hours

  • Charging extra for mold removal without showing evidence of mold

  • Contractors without licensing proof or NADCA certification

Questions to ask duct cleaners

  • How long have you been cleaning ducts?

  • Can I see a list of your references?

  • Do you inspect ducts with a video camera to show conditions before and after cleaning?

  • Does your initial inspection include checking for asbestos and mold?

  • Will you make additional duct-access points besides register and grate openings? If so, how will you seal them after cleaning?

  • Do you use a vacuum designed specifically for ductwork cleaning?

  • How do you ensure that your equipment doesn’t damage ducts?

  • Will you use a vacuum truck to collect all debris outside?

  • How will you clean debris caked onto the interior duct walls?

  • Do you use disinfectants after cleaning, and are they non-toxic?

  • Can you use drop cloths and plastic guards to keep my home clean?

  • Do you offer a labor guarantee, and what does it include?

  • Can I see proof of your liability insurance, licenses, and bond guarantees?

  • What extra costs may apply?

  • Do you charge per vent or offer flat rates?

  • Are all cleanup costs and debris disposals included in my estimate?

  • Will you clean my entire ductwork system, the furnace, AC vents, and registers?

  • When can you start and how long will the job take?

  • How do you handle unexpected delays?

  • Do you maintain negative pressure in ducts to prevent spreading dust in my home?

  • Will you encapsulate mold or asbestos inside ducts?

  • Can you provide a copy of the contract before starting?