Duct cleaning
Duct cleaning that removes the source, not just the dust you can see
A register wiped with a rag does nothing about the ten years of dust lining the runs behind it. Real cleaning agitates the whole duct interior while a HEPA vacuum pulls the debris out, and it documents what came out.
Straight answer
How often should ducts be cleaned, and what does it cost?
Every three to five years for most Valley homes, and sooner after a remodel, rodent activity, water intrusion or visible dust blowing from supply registers. A thorough source-removal cleaning for a typical Phoenix-area home runs $450 to $1,200 depending on run count, system size and attic accessibility.
Be skeptical of steeply discounted duct cleaning offers. Those prices almost always cover a quick vacuum at the registers rather than the full runs, returns and plenum, which is where the actual build-up sits.
What our duct cleaning includes
- System inspection first to identify disconnected runs, damaged flex duct or leaks that should be fixed before cleaning.
- Containment and HEPA vacuuming at the main trunk so loosened debris is captured rather than spread through the house.
- Rotating brush and air whip agitation through each supply and return run, reaching the full length of the duct.
- Register, grille and return cleaning with removal and washing, which most quick services skip entirely.
- Blower compartment and coil access cleaning so the air handler is not redistributing what we just removed.
- Before and after photos of representative runs, plus notes on any duct repair that would keep the system cleaner.
Honest limits
What duct cleaning will and will not fix
- It helps with dust reservoirs after remodels, rodent or insect activity, smoke residue and years of settled debris.
- It helps less with ongoing allergy symptoms if the ducts leak, because attic dust keeps entering the supply air.
- It does not fix a system that is short on airflow. That is a duct sizing or return problem, and a static pressure test identifies it.
- It does not replace filtration. A correctly sized filter is what keeps the system clean after the cleaning.
If cleaning alone will not solve your problem, we say so and price the actual fix instead.
See ductwork sealing and repair
Questions
Duct cleaning questions
Every three to five years for most Valley homes, and sooner after a remodel, a rodent or insect problem, water intrusion, or if dust is visibly blowing from your registers. A house that stays closed ten months a year collects dust quickly.
Typically $450 to $1,200 for a full source-removal cleaning, depending on run count, system size and attic access. Very cheap advertised prices usually cover only register vacuuming, not the runs, returns and plenum.
It helps when ducts are the source, which is common after remodels or rodent activity. Cleaning removes the reservoir, while filtration and sealed ducts keep it from returning. If ducts stay leaky, attic dust comes back within a season.
Agitating the full duct interior with rotating brushes and air whips while a HEPA vacuum pulls loosened debris out at the same time, then cleaning registers, returns and the plenum. Register-only vacuuming removes very little of the real build-up.
Dusty house, dusty ducts
Book a source-removal cleaning with photos of what comes out, then keep it clean with proper filtration.