Air quality is a serious factor in determining your overall health, and it’s a problem plaguing the entire world. Did you know that, according to the WHO, 99% of the world regularly breathes low-quality air?
For this reason and more, it’s important to do what you can to improve your home’s air quality. A great first step is to clean your air ducts, which many homeowners neglect due to cost.
Fortunately, it’s not as bad as you may think. Let’s talk about the average cost of air duct cleaning and why it’s such a critical expense.
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Factors in Air Duct Cleaning Costs
The cost of air duct cleaning can vary widely based on several factors. Here are a few to consider before choosing air duct cleaning services.
The Size of Your Air Ducts
The size and complexity of your duct system will play a role in the final bill. You wouldn’t expect commercial air ducts to cost the same as a 1000-square-foot home, would you?
The size and scale of the project will certainly help determine the final cost of the project. Essentially, one small vent will cost less to clean than a large network of air ducts.
DIY or Professional Projects
To be clear, we are not suggesting that you should clean your own air ducts. If you don’t know what you’re doing, this can lead to several hazards. However, if you do it yourself, you could potentially do it for as little as $10 to $50 for the supplies you need.
Again, this comes with some risks. If you do it wrong, it could pose an immediate fire and safety hazard. Don’t do anything on your ducts that you’ve never been trained to do.
Duration of Buildup
Unsurprisingly, if you’ve put off cleaning your air ducts for too long, this can lead to a higher bill. If they are extremely dirty, this poses health and safety hazards to the crew while also taking longer to clean.
While the EPA only recommends cleaning air ducts as needed, you may not have access to them. Therefore, we recommend cleaning your air ducts every three years at the minimum, but ideally every two years for the best health and safety results and the lowest costs.
Other Factors
The intensity of the labor involved in your air duct maintenance will also play a role in determining the cost. For example, extremely dirty air ducts can lead to longer jobs, and most HVAC companies will charge by the hour.
The company you hire, your location, and even the time of year can play a role in the costs. Consequently, we recommend shopping around (between licensed HVAC professionals) and choosing a maintenance team during the warmer months of the year for the lowest costs.
Also, if your air ducts are in a location that’s difficult or dangerous to access (slanted roof, tight crawl space, etc.), this could also raise the price. However, as we’ll discuss, the cost of waiting is even greater.
Average Cost of Air Duct Cleaning
Again, cleaning your air ducts can vary in costs quite dramatically. Assuming you hire a professional HVAC maintenance team, you should expect to pay anywhere from $270 to $1000 for routine cleaning.
Now, if you have a small air vent that only travels for a few feet, then you’ll likely only pay the company’s minimum rate. In this case, it could be as low as $150 or $175.
However, this is a money saver, not a money sink. The cost of not cleaning your air ducts is much higher. Let’s talk about why.
Average Cost of Not Cleaning Your Air Ducts
Finally, putting off the cleaning of your air ducts will cost more. That’s because if you don’t clean them, it can pose health and safety hazards, as well as lead to much higher air duct replacement costs.
Health and Safety Risks
Dirty air ducts directly impact the health and safety of your home or building. The quality of your air ducts determines the quality of the air you and your family breathe. Some people and pets are more susceptible to this than others, which can lead to serious health problems if left unchecked.
Also, dirty air ducts can pose fire hazards in your home, which could be considered negligence by some insurance companies. In this case, you could be held liable for the damages, which can reach unimaginable amounts.
Therefore, not cleaning your air ducts can lead to extremely high costs, and they aren’t only monetary. Just like getting your oil changed in your car, duct cleaning is a critical part of home maintenance.
Replacement Costs
If you don’t clean your air ducts on time, the buildup can damage them. When left to persist, you may need to replace your air ducts, which can cost anywhere from $1900 to $6000 for an average home. Again, if they’re in a difficult location or if you require special services, that price can still rise.
So, make sure to get your air ducts cleaned as soon as possible, and keep up with this important maintenance task once every couple of years for the best results.
Schedule a Cleaning Today
Now that you know the average cost of air duct cleaning, find the right team for your project today. The longer you wait, the more expensive it becomes, and the more dangerous your home becomes. Schedule your maintenance as soon as possible and keep the company’s number on hand for next year!
Why wait? Get the services you need today and stay up to date with our latest tips for homeowners!
