Air duct cleaning is a somewhat complicated process if you do not have the equipment or expertise to get the job done properly. In the simplest terms, the process involves attaching an industrial strength vacuum to your air duct system and sealing off the various registers around your home to create what is called negative pressure.

Then, rotating brushes and air compression tools are used to free the dust from one duct at a time so it can be collected by the vacuum. This process must be repeated for both the supply side, which pumps treated air throughout your home, and the return side, which returns the air to the air handler.

Having your air ducts cleaned every few years is crucial to your household health because the dust, dirt, debris and even airborne pathogens that get trapped there will continue to circulate throughout your home. This diminishes your indoor air quality and can result in health problems like allergies, asthma and even certain respiratory conditions.

To schedule an air duct inspection and cleaning, complete the form at the bottom of the page or call United Home Services.

The duration of the job depends almost entirely on how extensive the ductwork system is (typically determined by the size of the home) and how dirty the ducts are. 

A small to moderate sized home that has had a duct cleaning performed in the past 3-5 years can take as little as an hour or two. With larger homes and those that have not had an air duct cleaning in a long time, it may take up to an entire day to clean the entire system properly.

The cost of having your HVAC duct system cleaned varies depending on the size of your home and how extensive the system is. Some larger homes even have two separate A/C systems, which will impact the overall cost. With that said, smaller homes typically range between $150 and $350 whereas larger homes with more complex systems tend to fall more in the $7-800 range.

To receive an accurate estimate for your particular home, call us or send us a message via the contact form below.

Contaminants will gather at different speeds depending on usage and location, so United Home Services suggests having your ducts inspected or cleaned every three to five years. However, in areas where there is a significant amount of pollen like Connecticut or Pennsylvania, your household would benefit from having your ducts cleaned every 2 years. The Environmental Protection Agency suggests that homeowners have their ducts inspected by a professional HVAC technician to determine whether or not they are in need of a cleaning.

By law, landlords are not required to have air duct cleaning performed nor are they responsible for reimbursing a tenant who wants to have this service performed themselves. However, the definite answer to this question can be found by going through your leasing agreement. 

Even in cases in which air duct cleaning is not the landlord’s responsibility, many are reasonable enough to compromise with their tenants and split the cost if an HVAC professional deems a cleaning as necessary. If you are interested in having your ducts cleaned but don’t want to get stuck with the bill, you should contact your landlord first and come to an agreement about who will pay for the service and how much each party will be responsible for.