Whole-home duct cleaning
Dryer vent cleaning
Camera inspection
Sanitizing & deodorizingWhole-system duct and dryer vent check with before-and-after photos - you see exactly what came out of your vents
That "$99 whole-house special" is a bait ad - the real number appears once they are in your hallway, or the "clean" is a shop-vac at the register. We photograph the inside of your ducts before and after instead.
Trusted Air Duct Cleaning for Boulder Homeowners
Most duct cleaning complaints trace back to one thing: the wrong machine. A shop vac with a hose taped to the register pulls loose dust off the grille and leaves the settled layer inside the trunk line exactly where it was. We bring Rotobrush contact-cleaning tools and Nikro negative-air HEPA equipment to every job, and we run them in the right order so what gets loosened also gets captured. Our technicians have up to 9 years of experience, and they inspect before they clean. If a run is crushed, disconnected or torn, we tell you rather than clean around it. Same-day air duct cleaning in Boulder is available depending on the schedule, and we answer 24/7 at (877) 550-7147. The price is set per system from the written estimate, agreed before anyone starts work.
Air Duct Cleaning Services
Air Duct Cleaning Services at Boulder Duct Cleaning cover the full supply and return network, not just the registers you can reach. You need it when the return grille is dark with dust, when a renovation has pushed drywall powder through the house, or when allergies get worse the moment the furnace kicks on. Boulder sits in a high-desert climate with long dry stretches and a spring pollen load that comes in through open windows; that fine dust settles in the duct walls and gets recirculated every time the blower runs. We work the whole system, then photograph the before and after inside the runs so you can see what changed.
We attach the negative-air machine to the main trunk and keep the house under consistent vacuum while the contact tool works each branch line, so loosened material travels out rather than into the room. After cleaning, we can apply a Guardsman protective treatment across the interior surfaces. Typical whole-system cleaning in Boulder runs $290 to $450 depending on the number of runs and the amount of build-up, and the written estimate sets the final price.
Negative-Air Capture at the Source
Dust that gets brushed loose and not captured simply relocates to the living room. Our Nikro negative-air machine holds the duct under suction for the entire cleaning, and HEPA filtration on the exhaust keeps fine particulates from cycling back into the supply air. That setup is what separates a real cleaning from a register wipe-down.
System-Wide Scope, Not Just Grilles
We count and clean every branch, supply and return we can access, including the trunk line and the plenum at the air handler. A handful of visible registers is not the system, and cleaning a fraction of the runs is where most cut-rate quotes fall short. If a run is inaccessible or damaged, we note it and give you options before we finish.
Styles & brands we work with
- Whole-home duct cleaning
- Dryer vent cleaning
- Camera inspection
- Sanitizing & deodorizing
HVAC Duct Cleaning
HVAC Duct Cleaning focuses on the ductwork tied to your heating and cooling equipment, which is where the return air, the blower and the coil all interact. It matters when the system has run for years without service, when you’ve had a remodel, or when you notice dust streaking out of the supply diffusers. The equipment matters too: a furnace and coil pulling dirty return air will clog faster, and the ducts feed that problem on every cycle. For deeper background on how we approach the full job, see our Boulder duct cleaning overview.
We work the return side first because that is where most debris collects on the way to the blower, then move through the supply branches with the contact tool. Working against the airflow direction the way the system actually runs gets more of the settled layer out. HVAC duct cleaning in Boulder typically runs $290 to $450 for a full residential system, with the written estimate fixing the final number before work begins.
Returns and Supply Plenum
The return trunk carries the dustiest air in the house, so it gets the most attention. We clean the return runs and the plenum above the air handler, where fine dust packs against the metal and clings. Skipping it means the blower redistributes that layer within days.
Working With Your Air Handler
We clean around the heat exchanger and coil without disturbing the equipment itself; cleaning a furnace or an evaporator coil is a separate job for an HVAC technician, and we say so when we see it needs doing. That keeps the scope honest. You get a duct cleaning, not a disguised upsell.
Vent Cleaning
Vent Cleaning covers the registers, diffusers and branch runs that deliver conditioned air to each room, and the return grilles that pull it back. You’ll know it’s due when a vent blows visible dust motes when it first turns on, when the grille face wipes black onto a rag, or when one room always smells stale. In Boulder’s climate, dust from the foothills, pollen and dry winter air all find their way into the branch lines. Our air duct cleaning page covers the full-system version of this work.
Each register and diffuser comes off, gets cleaned, and the branch behind it is worked with the contact tool under continuous negative pressure. Vents are put back and sealed properly. Vent cleaning in Boulder typically runs $290 to $450 as part of a whole-system job, since we don’t price per vent; a per-register price is exactly how a cheap quote turns into a large invoice mid-job.
Grilles, Diffusers and Boots
The boot is the short transition between the branch duct and the ceiling or floor opening, and it traps a surprising amount of debris. We clean inside the boot and the grille face, then check that the diffuser opens and closes freely. Little things like a stuck damper are worth knowing about.
Airflow Through Each Branch
After cleaning, we check that each branch delivers air as it should. A run that’s weak after cleaning usually points to a disconnected joint or a crushed flexible line rather than dirt, and that’s a repair question, not a cleaning one. We flag it and explain what the fix involves.
Ductwork Cleaning
Ductwork Cleaning addresses the entire network as a system: trunk lines, branch runs, plenum, all of it, including the hard pipe and flexible sections that rarely get looked at. You need it when the build-up is heavy, after construction dust has been drawn through the system, or when visible dust is escaping at joints because pressure is pushing it through gaps. Older flexible duct in particular develops small tears that act as leaks.
We inspect accessible ductwork before we clean, run the negative-air machine, then work the interior with Rotobrush contact tools. Where ductwork is torn or disconnected, we can repair it as a separate service rather than clean around a known problem. Ductwork cleaning in Boulder typically runs $290 to $450 for a whole-house system, and if a repair is needed we quote it separately so you can decide. See air duct cleaning for a neighboring service area if you’re outside Boulder.
Flexible Versus Hard Pipe
Flexible duct needs a softer touch than sheet-metal pipe; the interior liner tears if someone runs a stiff brush through it at the wrong angle. We match the tool to the material and slow down on flex. Damaged flex that’s already compromised gets reported, not hidden.
Joints, Seams and Leaks
Dust leaking out at a joint is a sign the connection has lost its seal, and it means the system is losing air before it reaches the room. We check accessible joints and seams during cleaning. If we find a gap that needs sealing or a run that needs reconnecting, we’ll show you and let you decide on the repair.
Air Duct Inspection
Air Duct Inspection is a documented look at the inside of the ductwork to establish what’s actually there, and it’s what we do before quoting any cleaning or repair. It’s the right first step when you’ve been told the ducts are a disaster, when you’re buying a home and want to know the state of the system, or when nobody has looked inside in years. In Boulder’s dry climate, duct interior surfaces accumulate a lot of fine silt, and only a look can confirm how much.
We use lighting and a camera to document the accessible supply and return runs, note gaps, tears, disconnected joints or material deterioration, and show you what we find. Inspection is included when you book a cleaning. Where it stands alone, it’s covered in the same $290 to $450 estimate range, and the written estimate sets the price before any work is scheduled.
Camera Documentation
A camera in the run shows the actual condition, not a guess from standing at the register. We photograph what we find so you see the same thing the technician sees. It also gives you a record of the before and after when the cleaning is finished.
Reading What We Find
Not every duct we inspect needs cleaning; sometimes it’s a loose joint or a disconnected branch causing the symptom. An inspection tells you which problem you have. We’ll tell you plainly if cleaning isn’t the answer.
Residential Air Duct Cleaning
Residential Air Duct Cleaning in Boulder is built around the reality of local housing: a mix of older homes with sheet-metal ductwork and newer builds with long flexible runs, both breathing the same dry, dusty air. It’s for you when the house has that persistent musty smell on start-up, when someone in the household has allergies that get worse indoors, or when you’ve just finished a renovation. We clean the full system and we can also clean and service a Honeywell or Aprilaire whole-home filtration unit that sits in the return, since those filters only do their job when the duct behind them is clean.
A typical residential job runs $290 to $450 per system, with the written estimate setting the final price. No per-vent fees, no surprise additions once the technician is in the door. You get before-and-after photos of your own ducts, so you know the work happened.
Systems Built for Filtration Add-Ons
Homes running Honeywell or Aprilaire filtration need the ductwork and the filter cabinet treated as one system. If the cabinet is packed with debris, changing the filter alone won’t fix the air quality. We clean around and through those components so the filtration can actually perform.
Trigger Points for Booking
Recent renovation, a new baby, a pet-shedding household, or a system that’s simply never been cleaned. If two or more of these apply, it’s worth booking an inspection and getting a documented look at the run interiors. You’ll know what you’re dealing with before you spend anything.
Commercial Air Duct Cleaning
Commercial Air Duct Cleaning is for property managers and small-venue operators who need documented results, not a verbal promise. It matters when the space has occupancy complaints, when the equipment runs long shift cycles and moves more air, or when you need documentation for a facilities record. Boulder has a mix of small offices, restaurants and professional suites, and each presents different duct layouts and different access challenges. We schedule to minimize disruption and photograph before-and-after conditions the same way we do for a house.
We bring the Abatement Technologies equipment for larger-volume work and contamination-level scenarios; those tools are built for utility and restoration settings and handle a bigger load than the average residential setup. Commercial duct cleaning is quoted per site after inspection, within a typical $290 to $450 per-system range for smaller systems, with larger facilities quoted individually. The written estimate sets the final price.
Working Around Business Hours
Access, after-close scheduling and keeping staff out of the work zone all get planned before the day arrives. We confirm the sequence with you so the space is usable when the cleaning finishes. No surprises on the day of the job.
Documentation for Facilities Records
Photos and a written summary of what was cleaned and inspected are what property managers need for a maintenance file. We provide that. If there’s a warranty requirement or an insurer asking for proof of service, the documentation covers it.
Brands We Service
We service Rotobrush contact-cleaning systems because that’s what we use, and we know how the tool behaves on flex versus hard pipe and where the liner is most likely to tear. We service Nikro negative-air HEPA equipment on every job, keeping it sealed and holding suction throughout the clean. Guardsman protective treatments are part of the full-service scope when a homeowner wants an added layer after cleaning, and we apply them according to their instructions.
On the filtration side, we work with Honeywell and Aprilaire whole-home systems and have the working knowledge to clean the ductwork and the filter cabinet together as one system. Abatement Technologies equipment is available where the situation calls for the higher-capacity approach. Whether you have Honeywell or any other make, we can help.
See the difference
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterSigns You Need a Pro Right Now
- Dust puffing out of vents on startup. When the blower kicks on and visible dust blows into the room, the branch lines are loaded. It means the system is moving debris into your air every time it cycles.
- A persistent musty smell indoors. Odor coming from the vents (not from a damp basement) points to biological growth or accumulated debris in the ducts. Addressing the source is the only fix that lasts.
- Visible dust streaks around registers. Dark trails on the ceiling or wall around a supply grille mean air is escaping through a poor seal. Sealing or repairing the connection is part of the fix.
- Recent renovation or construction dust. Drywall dust and sawdust get drawn into the return within minutes of sanding. Cleaning afterward is the way to keep it out of the living space.
- Allergies that worsen indoors. If symptoms track with the heating or cooling season rather than the outdoors, the ductwork is a likely source worth investigating.
Our Process, Step by Step
- 1
Inspect and document. We look inside the accessible runs, note buildup, tears, gaps and disconnected joints, and photograph the condition before anything is moved. You see what we see.
- 2
Set up negative air. The Nikro negative-air HEPA unit goes on the trunk line and we confirm the seal holds. From this point the entire duct system is under suction.
- 3
Clean with contact tools. Working from the air handler outward, we run the Rotobrush contact tool through each branch and the trunk, loosening the settled layer while the negative air captures it. The tool matches the duct material.
- 4
Treat and reassemble. Registers and diffusers go back on. A Guardsman protective treatment is available if you want it applied. Every access point gets sealed as we work.
- 5
Verify and photograph. We re-inspect the cleaned runs, photograph the result and walk you through what we found, including any repair needs we identified along the way. No invoice surprises.
How Much Does Air Duct Cleaning Cost in Boulder?
Most full-system residential air duct cleaning in Boulder runs $290 to $450, with the number driven by how many branch runs the house has, how accessible the trunk line is, and how heavy the build-up turns out to be. A straightforward single-furnace home with eight to twelve runs typically lands near the middle of that range; a larger system with multiple return trunks or a long flexible network runs higher. Duct repair, when needed, is quoted separately as its own scope. We don’t publish a coupon number and we don’t price per vent, because a per-vent quote invites the bait-and-switch where the final invoice dwarfs the advertised figure. Instead, we inspect first and write a flat price for the whole system.
What affects the price: number and length of runs, the type of ductwork (hard pipe versus flexible), whether you have a Honeywell or Aprilaire filtration cabinet that needs cleaning as part of the job, and whether the inspection turns up damage that needs a repair quote. What doesn’t affect it: the time of day, whether it’s a scheduled job or a same-day booking. Same-day work costs the same as any other day; the written estimate is the price. To avoid overpaying, insist on an on-site inspection and a written flat price before any cleaning begins, ask what equipment will be used (a real job needs negative air, not a vacuum hose), and ask for before-and-after photos. Every free estimate we give includes the inspection, the written price and the scope in plain terms. Call (877) 550-7147 for the estimate.
Our Service Area Near Boulder
We serve Boulder and the surrounding Front Range communities, including Longmont, Westminster, Arvada, Thornton, Lakewood, Evergreen, Estes Park, Ken Caryl and Platteville. Drive times vary by location and traffic, and we confirm your slot when you book. If you’re outside Boulder, our air duct cleaning page covers the Longmont side of the service area, and nearby work is scheduled the same way as any Boulder job. Call to check availability for your address.
Serving Boulder, CO – Our Local Coverage Area
We serve Boulder and nearby communities. Use the map below to see the area we cover. If you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
Frequently Asked Questions About Air Duct Cleaning in Boulder
Air duct cleaning is the process of removing accumulated dust, debris and biological material from the interior surfaces of a home’s supply and return ductwork, using a negative-air machine combined with a mechanical contact tool. It’s not a register wipe-down. The goal is the settled layer on the trunk and branch walls, which is what recirculates into your living space. Call (877) 550-7147 for a free estimate.
A typical residential system takes two to four hours depending on the number of runs and the amount of build-up. Larger homes or commercial spaces take longer, and we confirm the expected window when we book. The inspection comes first, so you’ll know the scope before the technician starts. Call (877) 550-7147 to schedule an estimate.
Residential whole-system cleaning in Boulder typically runs $290 to $450, and the written estimate sets the final price. Larger systems, heavy build-up and commercial work are quoted per site after inspection. There are no per-vent fees and no surprise line items added on the day. Call (877) 550-7147 for an exact quote; estimates are free.
Yes. We use Rotobrush contact-cleaning tools and Nikro negative-air HEPA equipment on every job, and our technicians know how those tools behave on both sheet-metal and flexible duct. We can also service Honeywell and Aprilaire whole-home filtration components as part of the cleaning when your system has them. If you have Abatement-level equipment needs, we can discuss the scope. Call (877) 550-7147.
Same-day air duct cleaning in Boulder is often possible depending on the schedule. We answer 24/7 at (877) 550-7147. Fast dispatch from 7am to 7pm, Sunday through Friday. A call outside dispatch hours is booked into the next opening, Sunday through Friday, 7am to 7pm.
We confirm the specific warranty terms for your job in writing before work starts, so you know what’s covered and what isn’t. Ask about it when you get your free estimate and we’ll put it in the paperwork. There’s no vague “satisfaction” language standing in for a written term. Call (877) 550-7147 with questions.
Clear access to the air handler, the return grille and each supply register a day before the visit. Move furniture away from floor vents if you can, and put pets in a room we won’t be working in. Beyond that, the technician handles the rest, including setup and cleanup. Call (877) 550-7147 if you have questions about access.
Schedule Your Air Duct Cleaning Service in Boulder Today
If you’re ready to know what’s actually inside your ductwork, book a free estimate. We inspect, show you the findings and write a flat price for the whole system before any work starts. We answer 24/7 at (877) 550-7147, with fast dispatch from 7am to 7pm, Sunday through Friday. There’s no obligation to book after the estimate. See the equipment for yourself and decide from there.
Written by the team at Boulder Duct Cleaning.