“How much does air duct cleaning cost?” is the first question most Charleston homeowners ask us, usually before anything else. It’s a fair question, and it’s the hardest one to answer over the phone. Air duct cleaning has no standard price, and two homes of the same size can get very different quotes, because the cost depends on your ductwork and on what a technician finds inside it.
We wrote this guide so you don’t have to wait for an inspection to get a sense of the numbers. It gives national price ranges as a starting point, explains what moves a quote up or down, and shows how to compare estimates fairly. Your actual price is set after an inspection, because the only way to know the job is to see it.
Written by: the R&E Home Solutions team
Reviewed by: Gal Alhadef, Owner
R&E Home Solutions is a family-owned company based on James Island, serving Charleston-area homes for more than 15 years. We’ve been a NADCA member since 2020, and our lead technician is individually certified as an Air Systems Cleaning Specialist (ASCS), so our cleaning process follows a documented industry standard. We are licensed and insured in South Carolina, BBB accredited, and have worked with more than 1,000 customers across the Lowcountry.
We’ve marked the sources in this guide so you know what’s what. National prices come from Angi’s cost data, health guidance comes from the EPA, and the local observations come from our own inspections.
Key Takeaway
- Nationally, air duct cleaning averages about $389. Most homeowners pay $271 to $509, and the full range runs from $150 to $800.
- Larger homes, more vents, multiple systems, hard-to-reach ducts, and heavy buildup raise the price.
- Mold, pests, and damaged ducts are separate problems with separate costs.
- Charleston jobs can differ from national figures because of humidity, crawlspaces, and storm history.
- A very low advertised price usually leaves out part of the work.
What Affects Air Duct Cleaning Cost
Size of Your Home
Companies that price by square footage typically charge about $0.15 to $0.30 per square foot, since larger homes tend to have more ductwork. Size is usually the biggest single factor.
| Home Size | Typical National Range |
| 1,200 sq ft | $180 to $360 |
| 1,500 sq ft | $225 to $450 |
| 2,000 sq ft | $300 to $600 |
| 3,000 sq ft | $450 to $900 |
Number of Vents
Some companies count vents instead. Most charge $25 to $50 per vent, with about $35 as a common figure, so a home with 12 vents lands around $300 to $600.
Square footage and vent count are two ways of estimating the same job, so don’t add them together. Each vent, register, and grille is cleaned individually, and return vents tend to collect more debris and can take longer.
Hourly Labor
Some companies price by time instead, usually $90 to $125 per hour. Nationally, most jobs take three to eight hours depending on home size, duct type, and access.
Number of HVAC Systems
Each system has its own ducts. A home with two systems, or separate zones, is closer to two jobs than one.
Type of Ductwork
Rigid metal ducts can be cleaned with brushes and agitation tools. Flexible ducts have a delicate inner liner that can tear, so they need gentler tools and more care, which usually puts them at the higher end of the range. Badly damaged or contaminated flex duct is sometimes replaced instead of cleaned.
Access to Air Ducts
Ducts in an open basement are quick to reach. Ducts in a tight crawlspace, a low attic, or behind finished walls take longer and may add labor charges. Hot attics and crawlspaces are common in the Lowcountry, so access often affects the quote more than homeowners expect.
Time Since the Last Cleaning
Ducts cleaned a few years ago take less work than ducts that have never been cleaned. Heavy dust, pet hair, or construction debris may call for extra passes and added fees. Smoking, pets, and recent renovations make ducts dirty faster.
Contamination Found Inside
If we find mold, pest activity, or heavy debris, that needs treatment beyond a standard cleaning. The next section covers what that can cost.
Contamination Removal Costs
These problems are handled separately and can change your total.
| Service | National Range |
| Pest control treatment | $100 to $260 |
| Rodent removal | $200 to $1,200 |
| Mold and mildew removal | $1,100 to $3,400 |
| Asbestos removal | $5 to $20 per sq ft of affected material |
Mold. The mold figure covers mold remediation in general, not only ducts. If mold is visible or you can smell it, the priority is to find and fix the moisture source, then remove the mold, or it returns. Testing is most useful when mold is suspected but can’t be found, which is when our mold inspection and testing helps. Mold in fiberglass-lined ducts or duct board usually can’t be cleaned effectively, and those sections often need to be replaced. If mold is confirmed, mold remediation is a separate service from a routine cleaning.
Pests. Rodents and insects leave droppings, nesting material, and damage. They should be removed before cleaning starts.
Asbestos. This is uncommon but can appear in older duct materials. If it’s suspected, work stops until it’s tested and handled by licensed specialists. The per-square-foot price applies to the affected material, not your whole house.
What’s Included in a Standard Cleaning
At R&E Home Solutions, a standard visit covers:
- Supply ducts and return ducts
- Vent covers, registers, and grilles
- Diffusers
- Blower motor and assembly
- Air handler housing
These aren’t billed separately. Anything beyond them, such as coil cleaning, sanitizing, or duct repair, is explained and priced before any work begins.
Common Add-On Services
Add-ons depend on what your system needs. National ranges:
| Add-On | National Range |
| Video inspection | $70 to $130 |
| Furnace cleaning (filters, vent covers, related ducts) | $60 to $150 per furnace |
| Dryer vent cleaning | $100 to $170 (about $100 when bundled) |
| Duct repairs | $200 to $800 |
| Duct coating | $180 to $630 |
- Dryer vent cleaning is a separate system from your HVAC ducts. Clean vents improve drying and reduce fire risk, and many customers book it in the same visit.
- Duct repair and replacement matter because cleaning removes dirt but doesn’t fix leaks. Replacement is priced case by case, based on how much duct is involved and how hard it is to reach.
- HVAC cleaning covers components like the coil, which are beyond the duct cleaning itself.
- Coatings and sprays aren’t necessary in most homes, and the EPA doesn’t recommend routine use of sanitizers or sealants inside ducts. We recommend them only when there’s a specific reason, such as mold or a lingering odor, and we’ll explain why.
Why Homes in Charleston, SC Can Be Different
Charleston’s climate affects what technicians find inside ducts.
- Humidity is high for most of the year, so condensation and mold are more likely, especially in ducts running through crawlspaces and attics.
- Storms and flooding can leave moisture inside ductwork. After heavy rain or flood exposure, mold can start growing within 24 to 48 hours, particularly in crawlspace homes, so we treat post-storm calls as time-sensitive and document the damage with photos and video for insurance claims.
- A long pollen season adds dust and debris.
- Older homes, such as those in the Old Village and downtown, may have older duct materials, past water damage, or ducts that have never been cleaned.
None of this guarantees a problem. It does mean mold and moisture questions come up here more than in a drier climate, which is why some local jobs include work that national averages don’t reflect.
| Charleston home | Min | Max |
| Small (under 1,500 sq ft) | $250 | $450 |
| Medium (1,500 to 3,000 sq ft) | $350 | $650 |
| Large (over 3,000 sq ft or multiple systems) | $500 | $1,700 |
How an Air Duct Cleaning Process Works and How We Price It
We don’t publish flat prices, because they’d be guesses. Our air duct cleaning process is:
- Inspection. A technician checks your ducts, vents, and visible HVAC components for dust, buildup, moisture, and possible mold, and explains what they see.
- Estimate. You get a written estimate before any work begins. Estimates are free.
- Protection. We cover nearby floors and furniture and seal the system so loosened dust doesn’t end up in your living space.
- Cleaning. We use a rotary brush with a HEPA-filtered vacuum to loosen and extract debris, and negative air pressure where the ducts call for it. The method depends on what the inspection shows.
- Final check. We inspect the system again, clean up the work area, and show you before-and-after photos.
If something changes once we’re inside the system, such as mold behind a panel or damaged ducts, we stop, show you, and get your approval before doing additional work or changing the price. Most single-system homes take two to four hours, and larger homes with multiple systems take longer. Someone needs to be home for the initial walkthrough and the final review.
Watch Out for Very Low Prices
A “whole house for $99” offer is a known warning sign, and the EPA specifically cautions against it. These offers often cover only a few vents, then add charges once the crew is inside. Other red flags:
- Pressure to decide on the spot
- Promises that cleaning will cure allergies or other health problems
- Refusing to show you the dirt, mold, or damage before starting
- A quote that doesn’t say what’s included
How to Prepare and Save Money
You don’t need to do much to get ready, and a few steps keep the cost down:
- Move furniture away from vents and the HVAC unit, and make sure the system can be reached.
- Keep pets safely away from the noise and open doors.
- Change your air filter regularly, since a clean filter slows buildup.
- Fix moisture and leak problems early. Small problems cost less than large ones.
- Bundle services, such as dryer vent cleaning, into one visit.
- Skip add-ons you don’t need, and get quotes in writing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do the national ranges differ from my quote?
National figures blend many regions and home types. Your quote reflects your home’s size, vents, systems, access, and condition.
Is the estimate free?
Yes. We give a free, written estimate after the inspection and before any work begins.
Can I clean just a few vents?
You can, but it doesn’t address the system as a whole. Most professional cleanings cover the full connected system, which is also how quotes can be compared fairly.
Does homeowners insurance cover duct cleaning?
Routine cleaning is maintenance and usually isn’t covered. Insurance may help if contamination comes from a covered event, such as storm or water damage. We document findings with photos and video to support a claim.
What’s the best time of year to clean ducts?
Any time works. Many people choose spring or fall, before heavy heating or cooling use. In Charleston, booking ahead of the hottest months means your system is clean when it works hardest. Standard cleanings are usually booked a few days to a week out, and emergencies can often be handled the same day.
Does cleaning fix leaking ducts?
No. Leaks need sealing or repair, and one inspection can find both.
What does NADCA membership actually mean?
NADCA is the National Air Duct Cleaners Association. Our company has been a member since 2020, and our lead technician is individually certified as an Air Systems Cleaning Specialist. You can verify our listing on NADCA’s website.
Do you offer a warranty?
We guarantee your ducts are thoroughly cleaned at the time of service. Customers on our annual maintenance plan also receive a 3-year mold-recurrence warranty: if mold returns to a properly maintained system, we re-clean it at no charge.
