The average national cost to clean ducts & vents is $341, with most homeowners spending between $242 and $440. This data is based on actual project costs as reported by HomeAdvisor members.Did you know that cleaning your ducts and vents can help airflow and increase energy efficiency? According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), air duct and vent cleaning can increase energy efficiency and indoor air quality. While the cost to clean ducts and vents might sound high, the benefits to homeowners–especially those sensitive to allergens–is worth considering.When a professional cleaner comes into your home to clean air ducts and vents, that means they will clean all the different elements in the HVAC system, including the supply and return air ducts, grilles, diffusers, exchangers, heating & cooling coils, drip pans, fans and the air handling unit.When these aren't properly maintained, they can build up dust, pollen and even mold. This means when the air conditioner or heater turns on, the spores are released into the air for you to ingest.

While some are less harmful, people who have allergies or sensitivity to certain spores will react negatively. Plus, mold is just dangerous for anyone to ingest and should be avoided by regular duct and vent cleaning.In most modern homes with up-to-date heating and air conditioning systems, filters are changed regularly through the year, so you may not even need to have your ducts and vents cleaned. However, keep your eyes open for the accumulation of dust, dirt and mold. If you see it despite regularly changing your filters it could be an indication you need your ducts cleaned.One of the best ways to know if your ducts or vents need to be cleaned is to just check them. Your eyes will be able to check for indications of mold, dust or pollen buildup in the ducts and vents. You might also be able to smell the presence of mold, which would be a clear indicator there is some in the ducts or vents. Ductwork will have some buildup of dust, since the return registrars pull air back in. However this doesn't mean your ducts have too much debris, and you can easily clean them with a duster or vacuum.

If you do have children or spouses who suffer from allergies or reactions to the air turning on, it might be an indication there is something in the ducts and vents making them react. They should speak with their doctors and then get a heating and cooling professional out if it is recommended that airborne pathogens are the cause of their reaction.Here are some clear signs that you might need ducts or vents cleaned:Compare Quotes on Duct & Vent CleaningA do-it-yourself approach will only really scratch the surface, as it is hard to reach some of the ventilation running underneath the floor or into the wall. Although it may help in clearing some of the dust and debris, you really need a professional cleaner to guarantee your system is truly cleaned out. A proper duct and ventilation cleaning procedure uses a powerful vacuum system with multi-brush attachments designed to loosen debris and feed it into the suction. Particles are then blown outside of the house or passed through a HEPA filter inside.

If you want to get some of the dust and debris out of your ventilation system, you can mix household cleaners like bleach with water, dip a cloth in the mix and then the clean out the system. best way to clean vinyl awningsThis will remove a layer of the spores, which could increase the quality of air a bit and help with the flow of air throughout the house until an A/C duct cleaning pro can come out.average cost of vent cleaningProfessional air duct and vent cleaning involves getting the dust and debris outside, so they use outdoor ventilation equipment. pro clean duct and carpet serviceIt is so important that homeowners make sure the professional is using good equipment then, as they could otherwise spread the spores into the home and further agitate sensitive family members.

In the case of mold, a cleaner will only be able to tell you it is there, followed by needing an additional mold professional to come out and test or remove the mold. Air duct cleaning industries do not require state licensing, so make sure to check for a company with references.Removing dust and debris from ventilation might require the professional getting down on the floor if you have floor vents, so be sure to speak with them about your furniture and other valuables near the vents to avoid any damages or problems.Your duct system can be treated with a sealant. These sealants prevent dirt and dust from getting sent back into the air. Sanitizer chemicals can also be added to prevent the growth of mold and other allergens. This is a possible solution for saving on fewer A/C duct cleanings in the future.Hire a Duct Cleaning Pro TodayDo I need to have my dryer duct work cleaned professionally or should I just buy an attachment for my vacuum cleaner?In most homes today, a clothing dryer is a common appliance used on a regular basis.

The vent of a dryer collects debris, fluff and hair that accumulates when the clothing spins around in the machine. It should be emptied after each load, but unfortunately, not everyone makes a habit of doing so. The debris can build up over time and even clog the dryer's vent. Believe it or not, thousands of home fires each year are started due to the dryer vent. When debris begins to clog the dryer vent, the exhaust gases produced by the dryer begin to back up and create a potential fire hazard. This can turn an otherwise helpful appliance into a disaster waiting to happen. Aside from the biggest risk of a home fire, clogged dryer vents can lead to short-circuiting and major electrical problems, overheating in the home and increased energy bills as the dryer has to work harder and harder with each spin cycle in order to dry clothes. In a nutshell, the biggest cause of a clogged dryer vent is a lack of maintenance. It is impossible to escape the fact that as water evaporates in the dryer, lint with detach from the spinning clothes and become trapped in the vent.

Along with emptying the smaller lint trap included with most modern dryers, homeowners need to be vigilant about checking the length of the exhaust vent on a regular basis, or approximately once each year even when no problems are apparent. Another major cause of clogged dryer vents is placing the dryer far from the exterior wall. This creates a longer vent to take hot air outside of the home, and a longer vent simply means more opportunities for a clog. Plus, a long and winding vent exhaust pipe can be crushed up against a wall when going around a corner, which leads to major blocks and potential buildup. In some cases, birds and animals can even create nests within the dryer vent, which is a major contributing factor to a big clog. One of the biggest reasons to clean a dryer vent is to increase the efficiency of the dryer itself. When a dryer's vent is partially blocked or even fully clogged, it has to work harder than ever to remove moisture from clothes, create heat and dry the items in the spin cycle.

Running a dryer for an extended period of time is a major waste of money, and it can add up quickly for a person's monthly utility bills. In addition, the extra heat generated by the dryer with extra use and overcompensation may result in higher temperatures throughout the house, especially if the exhaust vent pipe runs through more than one room before exiting the building. A higher indoor temperature means that during the summer, the air conditioning system has to work harder as well. Dryer vent clogs can therefore lead to a waste of valuable energy resources, making them a problem for an eco-friendly home as well as additional costs for energy each month for the homeowner. It is important to clean dryer vents before they get to the point where they could be a fire hazard. Some of the signs that a dryer vent needs to be cleaned include the following: Clothing comes out of the dryer much hotter than normalThe drying cycle takes longer, or clothes are damp after a normal cycleThe laundry room feels much hotter than normal The lint filter fills up quickly or appears unusualUtility bills rise without an explanation Clothes from the dryer take on a musty smellDryer sheets smell odd or break down more than usual during the cycle

All of the signs listed above signify that a dryer vent absolutely needs to be cleaned. Many homeowners opt to clean their dryer vents themselves, which can be done by unplugging the dryer from the wall outlet, removing the vent exhaust pipe from the dryer, vacuuming or pulling out debris from both the dryer and pipe, visually inspecting the interior of the vent pipe and checking the exterior of the home for any blockages where the exhaust vents outside. However, this can be a time consuming process, and it is not always effective. A better idea may be to call a professional. Rather than just calling a handyman, it is worth looking for a dryer exhaust technician that is certified by the Chimney Safety Institute of America. These professionals are familiar with the biggest fire risks and can help you prevent clogs as well as eliminate any existing ones. On average, a professional dryer vent cleaning will cost anywhere from $90 to $160, depending on the severity of the clog. Thankfully, there are several steps that homeowners can take to prevent debris from ever clogging the dryer vent in the first place.