How Much Does It Cost to Get Air Ducts Cleaned?

Regularly getting your home’s air ducts cleaned is a must, and many people certainly add them to their general housekeeping and cleaning lists. However, not everyone can clean their air ducts independently since it involves a lot of work. That is why some people enlist the help of air duct cleaning experts for a fee.

How much does it cost to get air ducts cleaned? It usually costs $360, but it usually costs much higher, depending on the situation of your air ducts and whether it requires additional services and cleaning methods.

Let this article tell you how much you need to pay an air duct cleaning expert for their service in cleaning out your air ducts. I will also tell you why you need to have your air ducts cleaned, and I will also throw in a few maintenance tips for your air ducts to last much cleaner for longer.

The Cost for Air Duct Cleaning

Since the expense is a big factor in having your air ducts cleaned, you need to know how much it costs. Usually, an average cost for air duct cleaning is around $360, with an additional fee for vents over 25 feet. The price will vary depending on the company that will clean out your air ducts and how often they have performed such a service before.

How often will you have to pay the price? When someone tells you that it is a one-time fee, it means they will clean your air ducts every year or so. If you want to breathe cleaner air in your home, be prepared to shell out more money on top of the original fee. You may have to pay around $100 or so every year after the first air duct cleaning service.

Why Do You Need to Clean Your Air Ducts Regularly?

Having your air ducts cleaned is important because it ensures you get fresh and clean air inside your home. If you do not do this, foreign objects will pollute the air you breathe with contaminants and allergens, leading to health problems. Some of the most common problems include dry skin, asthma, allergies, and even lung cancer.

In addition, cleaning your air ducts ensures that you get rid of dust and other contaminants. You can prevent a lot of household cleaning if you get rid of the things that make your house dirty in the first place, such as dirt from your air ducts.

Cleaning Your Air Ducts Yourself vs. Cleaning by Experts

If you want to do it yourself, you will need to rent a high-quality air duct cleaning machine from your local hardware store. However, you must keep in mind that the safety precautions for this kind of equipment are different from other kinds of machines. For example, you have to wear a mask and a pair of gloves when using a fan or an air blower because it has blades that spin at a very high speed.

If you want to hire an air duct cleaning company, you should be prepared to pay more because they already have the equipment, and it is readily available for their use. In addition, most of these companies also offer other services such as dryer vent cleaning and furnace inspection, so you can save money from getting these services individually.

Hence, it is safe to say that having someone clean your air ducts for a fee is much better rather than doing things on your own because it saves you time, money, and effort while ensuring that your air ducts are cleaned inside out, from top to bottom.

Helpful Maintenance Tips for Keeping Your Air Ducts Cleaner Longer

You can also do some of the following things to make your air ducts cleaner for longer. Most importantly, you should change your filters every three months or sooner if they are dirty already. If you have pets in your home, then you should choose an electronic air cleaner instead of a traditional filter because it can trap dander and fur inside more effectively.

Another important thing is to check the vent cover on your dryer and make sure nothing is blocking it or getting into it. You can use a piece of aluminum foil and tape it over the cover if you need extra protection against lint and pet fur. However, make sure not to forget to take out the aluminum foil before running your clothes through the dryer.

Also, you must pay attention to the company’s cleaning methods you are hiring. If they use certain chemicals for their process, you should opt for a more modern and environmentally-friendly alternative instead. For example, rather than using bleach to sanitize air ducts, you can use ultraviolet light or even just hot water to do the job instead.

In addition, you can also use a disinfectant to clean the air ducts themselves, as well as your home’s other surfaces. Using natural products such as tea tree oil and orange peels is a good option because they have antibacterial properties that kill mold and mildew buildup in your house.

You should remember that you should not mix different cleaning solutions because they can create dangerous chemical reactions that can hurt your health instead of cleansing your home.

In particular, if you want to get the best service from a professional air duct cleaner, then you should ask them about their air duct cleaning process and what kinds of precautions they are taking when doing it. You have a right to know how your air ducts are cleaned and what kinds of chemicals they will be using.

Finally, turn on your heater once in a while during winter, so any dust accumulated will be distributed throughout your home. This way, you do not have just one area where dust accumulates with time, making that place dirtier than the rest of the ducts.

Cleaning your air ducts should be done at least once a year, preferably before winter starts. You can get more benefits for your money and effort if you contract the services of a professional air duct cleaning company instead of doing it yourself.

Final Thoughts

Cleaning your air ducts is important, and if you do not know how to do it properly, you might as well ask someone to do it for you to save yourself from the hassle and waste of time and money should you push in trying to clean on your own. Having your air ducts cleaned by professionals can also maintain your air ducts’ good health and longevity.