Charlotte Metro · Mecklenburg County
Air Duct Cleaning in Charlotte, NC
Air duct cleaning removes built-up dust and debris from the supply and return ducts that carry heated and cooled air through your home, with the dirt collected instead of blown into your rooms. The EPA suggests cleaning when there’s a reason, like visible mold in hard ducts, rodents or insects, or debris coming out of the registers, rather than on a routine schedule, and most homes take several hours. Serving Charlotte and nearby Mecklenburg County towns.
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- Licensed & insured
- Upfront price before we start
- Photos of every job
The visit
What air duct cleaning in Charlotte includes
What’s included
- Supply ducts and the branch runs to each register
- Return ducts and return grilles
- Main trunk lines, not just the openings you can see
- Registers and grilles taken off and cleaned where they’re removable
- Floors and furniture protected along the work path
- Loosened dust and debris collected under continuous negative pressure, so it’s pulled out instead of pushed into your rooms
- Soft brushes used on duct board and flexible duct
- Any access openings we make closed back up and re-insulated before we leave
- Before-and-after photos, and a straight answer if we don’t think cleaning is worth it
What it doesn’t include
- We don’t seal, repair or modify ductwork.
- We don’t repair, service or diagnose heating and cooling equipment — call a licensed HVAC contractor for that.
- We don’t do mold remediation. If there’s mold, the moisture problem behind it has to be fixed first.
- We don’t sell duct cleaning as a health treatment. The EPA says it has never been shown to prevent health problems.
- We don’t spray or fog chemicals into ducts in place of cleaning them.
Price
Air Duct Cleaning cost in Charlotte
Air Duct Cleaning
Exact price by phone or text in minutes.
| One system, supply and return ventsIncludes the main trunk lines. | Call or text |
|---|---|
| Each additional system | Call or text |
| Vents beyond the included countPer vent. | Call or text |
Priced per system with returns and trunk lines included — not a “whole house” special that turns into a per-vent bill.
Signs
Signs you need air duct cleaning
Mold you can see inside hard ducts
Substantial visible mold growth inside sheet-metal ducts or other parts of the system is one of the EPA’s reasons to consider cleaning. The moisture behind it has to be fixed too, or it grows back.
Signs of rodents or insects
Ducts infested with vermin, such as rodents or insects, are another reason the EPA gives for cleaning.
Dust puffing out of the registers
If dust and debris come out of the supply registers, the EPA says your ducts may be clogged enough to clean.
After a renovation
Sanding, drywall work and demolition can send fine dust into open registers and returns, especially if the system ran during the work.
Water got into the ductwork
A leak, flood or condensation problem that wet the ducts is worth a look, since damp ducts are where mold gets started.
A home with an unknown history
You don’t know what the last owners left in the ducts. Ask us to look and show you photos before you decide anything.
How it works
How we do it
Look first and show you
We take off registers, look into the ducts we can reach and show you photos before any cleaning starts. If it doesn’t need cleaning, we tell you.
Protect your home
Floors and furniture along the work path get covered before equipment comes in.
Put the ducts under negative pressure
Proper cleaning keeps the ductwork under continuous suction, so loosened dust is pulled out rather than pushed into your rooms.
Loosen and collect
Brushes and other agitation tools work through the supply and return runs while the debris is collected.
Clean registers and close up
Registers and grilles are cleaned and put back, and any access openings are closed and re-insulated.
Show you the results
You get before-and-after photos of the ducts we cleaned.
When air duct cleaning is worth it: what the EPA says
The EPA’s guidance is more careful than most duct cleaning ads. It suggests considering cleaning when there is substantial visible mold growth inside hard-surface ducts or other parts of the system, when ducts are infested with vermin such as rodents or insects, or when ducts are clogged with so much dust and debris that particles come out of the supply registers.
It’s just as clear about what duct cleaning isn’t. Duct cleaning has never been shown to actually prevent health problems, and the EPA says there’s no evidence that a light amount of household dust in air ducts poses a risk to your health. It also warns against hiring anyone who makes sweeping health claims or recommends duct cleaning as a routine, every-few-years job.
That’s the standard we work to. We look first, show you photos, and tell you plainly whether cleaning makes sense for your home.
What proper duct cleaning involves
NADCA, the air duct cleaning trade association, describes proper cleaning as source removal. Tools such as brushes, air whips or compressed-air nozzles loosen debris from the duct surfaces while the system is held under continuous negative pressure, a vacuum, so fine particles are collected and removed from the home instead of released into it.
The EPA adds a practical checklist for any company you hire:
- Protect carpet and furniture during the work.
- Use vacuum equipment that exhausts outside the home, or HEPA vacuuming.
- Use soft-bristled brushes on fiberglass duct board and flexible duct.
- Close and re-insulate any access holes made to reach the ducts.
- Show you the contamination, so you can see why cleaning is worth it.
Sanitizers, fogging and mold treatments
Some companies spray or fog chemicals into ducts as part of a package. The EPA and NADCA both say chemical treatments should only be considered after the ducts have been mechanically cleaned, and only with products registered with the EPA for that use.
The EPA also notes that no products are currently registered as biocides for use on fiberglass duct board or fiberglass-lined ducts. If a company leads with a spray instead of cleaning, ask why.
Why a $99 whole-house special doesn’t add up
The EPA puts duct cleaning at roughly $450 to $1,000 per heating and cooling system, depending on the services, the size of the system, access and how dirty it is. NADCA gives the same range for an average-sized home. A coupon far below that usually covers part of the job, with the rest sold once someone is inside your house.
NADCA warns homeowners to be cautious of extremely low-cost whole-house specials that clean only limited parts of the system. Our guide to $99 duct cleaning explains how those offers usually work and what to ask before you book one.
Air ducts and dryer vents are different jobs
Air duct cleaning doesn’t include your dryer vent. The dryer vent is its own duct, and building code requires it to be independent of all other systems. Lint in a dryer vent is a fire risk, which makes it worth cleaning on its own schedule.
If you’d like both done, ask us to quote them together.
Duct cleaning has never been shown to actually prevent health problems.
The EPA suggests considering duct cleaning when there is substantial visible mold inside hard-surface ducts, when ducts are infested with vermin, or when they are clogged with so much dust and debris that particles come out of the supply registers.
Little evidence exists that cleaning only the ducts improves the efficiency of a heating and cooling system.
Proper cleaning loosens debris with agitation tools while the system is kept under continuous negative pressure, so fine particles are collected instead of released into the home.
Our guarantee
If anything we cleaned isn’t right, tell us within 30 days and we come back and make it right — no charge.
Request a quote
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Nearby
Air Duct Cleaning across the Charlotte Metro area
Cabarrus County
- Concord
- Kannapolis
- Harrisburg
Catawba County
- Hickory
Gaston County
- Gastonia
Iredell County
- Mooresville
- Statesville
Mecklenburg County
- Charlotte
- Huntersville
- Cornelius
- Matthews
- Mint Hill
Rowan County
- Salisbury
Union County
- Indian Trail
- Monroe
- Waxhaw
Questions
Air Duct Cleaning questions
Is air duct cleaning worth it?
It is when there’s a specific reason. The EPA suggests considering it when there’s substantial visible mold inside hard-surface ducts, when ducts are infested with rodents or insects, or when so much dust and debris has built up that it comes out of the supply registers. Our guide Is air duct cleaning worth it? goes through each one.
Source: U.S. EPA, Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned?
Is air duct cleaning a scam?
The service isn’t, but some offers are. NADCA warns about “blow-and-go” companies that advertise low prices, do minimal cleaning and then push extra services, and says being told you have mold without a proper look is a common red flag.
How often should air ducts be cleaned?
Only when they need it. The EPA doesn’t recommend cleaning ducts routinely, only as needed, and warns against companies that push duct cleaning as a regular, every-few-years job. If you’re not sure, ask us to look and show you photos first.
Source: U.S. EPA, Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned?
Does air duct cleaning help with dust?
Not the way most ads suggest. The EPA says studies don’t conclusively show that dust levels in homes rise because of dirty ducts, and that a light amount of household dust in ducts poses no known health risk. Duct cleaning has never been shown to prevent health problems, so we don’t sell it as a fix for allergies or asthma.
Source: U.S. EPA, Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned?
Does air duct cleaning lower energy bills?
Don’t count on it. The EPA says little evidence exists that cleaning only the ducts improves a system’s efficiency, so we don’t promise savings.
Source: U.S. EPA, Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned?
What if there’s mold in my air ducts?
Substantial mold you can see inside hard ducts is one of the EPA’s reasons to clean, but the moisture causing it has to be found and fixed first, or the mold comes back. We clean ducts; we don’t do mold remediation, and we’ll tell you if what we see needs a mold professional.
Source: U.S. EPA, Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned?
Should air ducts be sanitized or fogged?
Usually not. The EPA and NADCA both say chemical treatments should only be considered after the ducts are mechanically cleaned, and only with EPA-registered products. The EPA also notes no products are currently registered as biocides for fiberglass duct board or fiberglass-lined ducts.
Source: U.S. EPA, Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned?
What is source removal or negative air duct cleaning?
It’s the method NADCA describes for proper cleaning. Brushes, air whips or compressed-air nozzles loosen debris inside the ducts while the system is held under continuous negative pressure, so the loosened dust is pulled out and collected instead of blowing into your home.
Source: NADCA, Proper Cleaning Methods
How long does air duct cleaning take?
Most homes take several hours. NADCA notes the time depends on the size of the system and the home, access and how dirty the ducts are, and we’ll give you a time estimate when we quote.
Will air duct cleaning make a mess or damage my ducts?
It shouldn’t. The EPA says a duct cleaner should protect carpet and furniture, use vacuum equipment that exhausts outside or HEPA vacuuming, use soft-bristled brushes on fiberglass duct board, and close and re-insulate any access holes. Ask any company you’re considering, including us, how they handle each one.
Source: U.S. EPA, Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned?
Do air duct cleaners need NADCA certification?
No. NADCA membership and certification are voluntary, and the EPA doesn’t certify duct cleaning companies at all, so be wary of anyone who claims EPA approval. If a company says it’s a NADCA member, you can look it up in NADCA’s online directory.
Source: U.S. EPA, Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned?
How do I choose an air duct cleaning company?
Get written estimates from at least three companies, ask each to show you the contamination that makes cleaning worthwhile, and check references. The EPA also says to skip any company that makes sweeping health claims or recommends duct cleaning as a routine job.
Source: U.S. EPA, Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned?
Does air duct cleaning include dryer vent cleaning?
No. The dryer vent is a separate duct that runs from your dryer to the outside, and it isn’t part of your heating and cooling ductwork. Ask for dryer vent cleaning by name if you want both done.
Is air duct cleaning the same as cleaning the whole heating and cooling system?
Not always. NADCA describes a full system cleaning as including the coils, drain pan, blower, registers and more, not only the ducts. Ask any company, including us, to put in writing exactly which parts are being cleaned.
Source: NADCA, Proper Cleaning Methods
Related
Other things we clean
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Call or text us. Send a photo of your vent or your return grille and we’ll tell you what it takes.