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Air Duct, Dryer Vent, Attic & Mold FAQs

Straight answers to the questions homeowners from Charleston ask us most, from what duct cleaning costs to what to do after a storm.

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Table of Contents

About R&E Home Solutions

A family-owned Charleston-based air duct cleaning business serving the Lowcountry since 2012, led by Gal Alhadef. 

NADCA is the National Air Duct Cleaners Association. We’ve been members since 2020, and our lead technician is individually certified as an Air Systems Cleaning Specialist. That means our work follows a documented industry standard, and you can verify it on NADCA’s website.

Yes. We’re licensed and insured in South Carolina, IICRC certified, and BBB accredited with an A+ rating. Technicians are trained on our equipment and process and are background checked.

We guarantee your ducts are thoroughly cleaned at the time of service. Annual maintenance plan customers also receive the 3-year mold-recurrence warranty described above.

We respond to most inquiries within 30 minutes during business hours.

Booking & What to Expect

For standard cleanings, we recommend booking a few days to a week ahead, depending on the season. For emergencies like storm damage or a sudden mold concern, we offer same-day and after-hours visits.

Yes. Every job starts with an inspection, and we give you a clear estimate before any work begins. If your system doesn’t need work yet, we’ll tell you that.

Someone needs to be there for the initial walkthrough and the final review, so we can show you what we found and what changed. You don’t need to be present for the work in between.

No need to touch your system; we handle that during setup. For mold work, please clear access to the affected area and keep children and pets away from it, and avoid disturbing the mold before we arrive.

We’re based on James Island and serve Charleston, West Ashley, James Island, Johns Island, Folly Beach, Mount Pleasant, Daniel Island, Isle of Palms, Sullivan’s Island, North Charleston, Goose Creek, Summerville, Kiawah Island, Seabrook Island, and Ravenel. Not sure if you’re covered? Call us.

Yes. We have a 24/7 emergency line for water damage and sudden mold concerns. 

We respond to most inquiries within 30 minutes during business hours.

Pricing & Insurance

There’s no single flat price. Larger homes and systems with heavy dust or mold buildup land toward the higher end, while smaller, well-maintained homes land toward the lower end. You get the final price after the inspection.

Four things: the size of your home, the number of vents, how long it’s been since the last cleaning, and what we find inside (mold, pest activity, or heavy debris need extra treatment).

No. If something changes once we’re inside your system, we stop, show you what we found, and explain your options and pricing before doing anything more.

Sometimes. Mold and water damage may be covered when a sudden, covered event caused them, such as a burst pipe or storm. We document the damage with photos and video to support your claim, but coverage depends on your policy, so check with your insurer.

Air Duct Cleaning Service

Common signs are visible dust puffing from vents, a musty smell when the AC runs, worsening allergies, rising energy bills, uneven airflow between rooms, a recent renovation, pets in the home, or three or more years since the last cleaning. Charleston’s humidity makes these problems develop faster.

Most homes do well with a cleaning every 3 to 5 years, which is the general NADCA guideline. With pets, allergies, smokers, or recent renovation, once a year is a safer bet. The best answer comes from an inspection.

Most single-system homes take 2 to 4 hours. Larger homes with multiple systems take longer, and your technician will give you a time estimate after the inspection. A typical crew is 2 to 3 people.

Supply ducts, return ducts, vent covers, registers and grilles, diffusers, the blower motor and assembly, and the air handler housing. We start with the supply side, since that’s the air you breathe every day.

We use a rotary brush with a HEPA-filtered vacuum to dislodge and extract debris, and a negative-air-pressure system for ducts that need agitation-free cleaning. We choose the method based on what we find at inspection. Before cleaning, we cover floors and furniture and seal the system so dust stays contained.

There’s some noise while we’re actively cleaning, similar to a vacuum, but you can still work or be home. We protect your floors and furniture and clean up the work area when we finish.

It can help with dust, pollen, and confirmed mold, but it isn’t a guaranteed fix for every allergy or asthma symptom. We’ll tell you honestly what we find and whether cleaning is likely to make a difference.

Heavily clogged ducts can make your system work harder, and clearing that buildup lets air flow the way the system was designed. Savings vary by home, so we don’t promise a specific percentage. Leaky or damaged ducts often matter more for your bills than dust, and we check for both.

No. Mold in ductwork often can’t be seen. Air and surface sample testing, analyzed by a lab, is how we confirm it and compare results against normal levels.

Fast return of dust usually points to leaky ducts, a dirty or poorly fitting filter, or a source like construction dust or pets. If it keeps happening, ask us to check for duct leaks.

We stop, show you what we found, and explain your options before any additional work or price change.

Dryer Vent Cleaning

A clogged vent makes your dryer work harder and creates a fire risk. Cleaning it also helps your dryer run efficiently and last longer.

Clothes taking more than one cycle to dry, a hot laundry room, a musty or burning smell, or lint collecting around the dryer door or outside vent. One customer’s dryer was taking four hours per load before we cleared the vent.

At least once a year is a good rule for most households, and more often with heavy laundry loads, pets, or a long vent run.

Most dryer vent cleanings are quick, typically around an hour. Yes, we can bundle it with air duct cleaning in the same visit since our team is already on site.

HVAC Cleaning

Duct cleaning covers the air pathways in your home. HVAC cleaning goes further, to the system itself: inspection, testing where needed, deep cleaning and sanitizing of the components, and a final check. Many homes benefit from both.

HVAC cleaning should happen after the repair. We inspect first, complete any needed repairs or replacements, then clean so you’re left with better airflow.

You can handle visible parts like grilles and filters. The mechanical components need professional care, and a professional cleaning also lets us check the system for mold, repairs, or replacement needs.

Sudden allergy or asthma symptoms, a foul odor throughout the house, higher energy bills, water leaks or condensation, uneven temperatures, or visible growth.

Duct Repair & Replacement

Repair when damage is limited to one or two spots and the rest of the system is sound. Replace when ducts are failing throughout, crushed, moisture-damaged or moldy, or the wrong size for your system. An inspection gives you both options side by side.

Flex duct lasts about 10 to 20 years, sheet metal about 20 to 30, and fiberglass duct board about 15 to 25. In Charleston’s humidity, ducts in crawlspaces and attics often age faster. Get them inspected once they reach 15 years.

Most repairs take a few hours or less, and sealing several leaks can take half a day to a full day. Replacement usually takes one to three days depending on home size, access, and how much duct is involved.

Not always, but have them evaluated first. Old, leaky, or undersized ducts can limit a new system’s performance and shorten its life, and ducts are easiest and cheapest to work on while the equipment is being swapped.

Usually not for age or gradual wear. It may help when a sudden covered event, such as a storm, burst pipe, or fire, caused the damage.

Attic Cleaning & Insulation

Removing dust, debris, and contaminants from the space, and checking for pests, moisture, and signs of mold. A clean attic helps air quality and protects your insulation and energy efficiency.

We recommend a professional attic cleaning at least every two years.

An average-size attic typically takes about one day. Larger or dirtier attics take longer.

Black staining on wood surfaces is a key sign, and an attic that feels excessively hot or stuffy can mean poor ventilation. Both mean the problem has gone beyond simple moisture, so call us for an inspection.

It depends on what the inspection shows. Insulation that’s damp, compressed, or contaminated by pests or mold usually needs replacing, while clean, dry insulation can stay. See our attic insulation service.  

Attic cleaning removes the debris and droppings that attract and hide pests, and we’ll point out entry points or damage we see.

Mold Inspection & Remediation

A musty odor, discolored walls or ceilings, persistent coughing or allergies, condensation on windows, and warping drywall or flooring. You often can’t see mold, which is why testing matters.

We talk through your home’s history and any recent water damage, then walk the property, including under sinks, in attics, and in crawlspaces. We use moisture meters, infrared cameras, and air and surface sampling, with an outdoor control sample for comparison. A typical inspection takes a couple of hours.

Samples go to a third-party lab, and results usually come back within 24 hours, though they can occasionally take longer. You then receive a full report with photos, lab findings, and our recommended action plan.

For small areas under about 10 square feet, careful self-cleaning can be reasonable and we’ll give you honest guidance. For anything larger, hidden, or toxic like black mold, we recommend full professional remediation.

Inspection, containment to isolate the area, HEPA air filtration, mold removal, cleanup and sanitizing to prevent regrowth, and final testing to confirm the space is safe.

All common indoor types, including Cladosporium, Aspergillus (common in HVAC systems), Penicillium, and Stachybotrys (black mold), which thrives on wet drywall and insulation. Color alone doesn’t tell you the type; lab testing does.

It depends on the size of the affected area, the materials involved, and containment needs. Your estimate includes all labor, equipment, and cleanup materials. 

It depends on the scope. We plan this with you in advance and note any temporary relocation in your written plan. Pets and children should stay away from the work area.

Remediation treats surfaces to prevent regrowth, but mold returns if the moisture source isn’t fixed, so we help you identify the cause. Customers on our annual maintenance plan get a 3-year mold-recurrence warranty: if mold returns to a properly maintained system, we re-clean it at no charge.

Leaky roofs or windows, flooding, plumbing leaks, poor ventilation, and high indoor humidity. Condensation near HVAC units and vents is a common hotspot here.

Mold can begin growing in ductwork within 24 to 48 hours after heavy rain or flooding, especially in crawlspace homes. Acting quickly keeps the problem smaller and cheaper.