Factors That Impact Air Duct Cleaning Prices
The average U.S. homeowner might spend $100 to clean a dryer vent or $1,000 to clean a two-furnace home. Costs vary depending on:
VentsÂ
Vent cleaning costs $25 to $50 per vent, or $35 per vent on average. To estimate your project, count your ducts and multiply by $35, as each of your vents connects back to the central system via ducts.
Expect quotes to follow one of these four pricing structures:
Flat fee plus per vent
Per vent
Trip fee plus per vent
Per square foot
Number of Furnaces and AC Units
The number of furnaces you have increases costs. Expect to pay $400 on average for each additional furnace and ductwork setup. Although this isn’t common, you’ll usually find more than one furnace in homes with additions where the original furnace just wasn’t up to the task of heating the addition too.
Rats & Mice
If you've got a rodent infestation, you'll need to hire a local exterminator before cleaning the ducts. Rat extermination costs $150 to $500on top of duct cleaning.Â
Rats and mice can carry a number of pathogens—hantavirus and leptospirosis are potentially harmful if transferred to humans. If you suspect you have a pest infestation, call a professional right away.
Accessibility
Most homes have basements or utility rooms that provide easy access to your central air handler. But if you have hard-to-reach areas, such as tight crawl spaces or attics, you might end up paying a little more. How much more varies by project, location, and the contractor you hire.
Mold and Mildew
Add another $600 to $2,000 to account for professional mold remediation costs if you have signs of mold and mildew in the vents. Removing these elements involves added time, special equipment, and even special chemicals.
Custom-Designed Ducts
You’ll pay 25% to 30% more to clean custom ducts compared to their stock counterparts if they cause the job to take longer. Stock parts make the job predictable. But if your home had a tricky layout or you added features to address poor energy efficiency, your pro might charge more to clean custom ductwork.
Level of Contamination
It makes sense that the higher the level of contamination in the ductwork, the longer it takes to clean, and the more you'll pay. Aside from dust, removing pollen, dander, dust mites, bacteria, rodent waste, mold, and mildew might increase your final costs.
Size and Type of Ductwork
The longer the vent, the more it costs to clean. Many contractors charge by the square foot— particularly for non-standard setups and larger properties. The cost per square foot is between $0.15 and $0.25. The standard price for cleaning ducts in a 1,500-square-foot property averages $225 to $375.Â
Foamboard and fiberglass ducts cost less to clean because they don't require special equipment. Most pros can clean debris in these vents using a vacuum, air hose, or power brush. Rigid vents are easier to clean, too, unlike flex ducts, which require specialist equipment.
Asbestos Removal
If your contractor spots asbestos in the duct system, you'll need to hire a local asbestos removal pro to get rid of it for you. Asbestos is dangerous, particularly if airborne, so having it in your ducts is a serious health risk. Asbestos removal costs $5 to $20 per square foot.
Repairs
If your pro finds damage to your system during cleaning, you'll need to pay for repair or replacement.Â
Dryer Vent Cleaning
Cleaning a dryer vent costs $100 to $170. If you include it with a ductwork service, you'll probably spend $100 or less. Clogged vents decrease energy efficiency and are a fire risk.