Whole-home duct cleaning
Dryer vent cleaning
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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.
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Before
AfterHow Much Does HVAC Cleaning Cost in Los Angeles?
HVAC cleaning in Los Angeles typically costs between $385 and $720 for a full-system air duct cleaning of a single-family home, with most homeowners paying around $480 to $560. The price depends on the number of vents, the size of your system, and whether you add dryer vent cleaning (usually $95 to $165 on its own). At Kestrel Air Duct Los Angeles, the written price is in your hands before a single vent is touched, so the number we quote is the number you pay.
Key Takeaways
- Full HVAC/air duct cleaning in Los Angeles: $385 – $720, with most homes falling between $480 – $560.
- Dryer vent cleaning as an add-on or standalone service: $95 – $165.
- Larger homes (3,000+ sq ft) or systems with 15+ vents can push the total to $750 – $950.
- Every Kestrel job includes a written price before work begins and a 365-Day Done Right Promise in writing.
- Free estimates are available. Call (213) 733-0665 and a live person answers.
HVAC Cleaning Cost Breakdown (2026)
Here’s what HVAC cleaning costs look like across Los Angeles in 2026, broken down by the scope of the job. These are the numbers we see every week in LA county homes, from West Adams to Studio City to Long Beach.
| Service | Typical LA Price Range | What’s Included |
|---|---|---|
| Full HVAC / air duct cleaning (single system, up to 10 vents) | $385 – $520 | Supply and return ducts, main trunk line, blower compartment, vent covers |
| Full HVAC / air duct cleaning (larger home, 11 – 18 vents) | $520 – $720 | Everything above plus additional registers and longer duct runs |
| Homes over 3,000 sq ft or with multiple HVAC systems | $750 – $950 | Two systems or extensive ductwork; assessed at the free estimate |
| Dryer vent cleaning (standalone) | $95 – $165 | Full lint removal from dryer to exterior vent cap, lint trap bypass included |
| Dryer vent cleaning (added to duct cleaning) | $75 – $120 | Same work, bundled pricing on the same visit |
| Furnace/air handler cleaning only | $150 – $250 | Blower wheel, motor housing, evaporator coil surface, condensate pan |
These figures reflect the Los Angeles market as of 2026. They’re not national averages from a home improvement blog. They’re the actual ranges we quote for homes across the LA basin.
What’s Included in a Kestrel HVAC Cleaning
Before we get into what drives the price, it helps to know what the work actually is. Our technicians use negative-air extraction, which means a Nikro negative-pressure unit creates a vacuum on the duct system while Rotobrush rotary brush systems dislodge debris from the duct walls. In plain terms: the brush knocks the dust and film loose, and the vacuum pulls it out of the house rather than letting it drift into your living room. Abatement Technologies HEPA filtration runs during the job to keep loosened particles out of the air you’re breathing while we work.
What Affects HVAC Cleaning Pricing in Los Angeles
No two LA homes are identical, and neither are two duct systems. Here’s what moves the number on your written estimate.
- Number of vents and returns. A 1960s ranch in the San Fernando Valley with 8 registers costs less than a two-story 1990s build in Woodland Hills with 14 registers and two returns. Each vent adds labor and time.
- Access to the air handler. In many LA homes, the furnace or air handler sits in a closet, up in an attic behind a narrow door, or on the roof. Tight access means slower work. Roof-mounted units common in older LA apartment conversions often add time.
- Age and condition of the ductwork. Flex duct installed 25 years ago in a hot LA attic can be brittle. Older metal ducts in 1950s and 1960s LA homes are often sturdy but coated in decades of dust. Heavily fouled ducts take longer to clean properly.
- Pets. Homes with two dogs in Santa Monica or a long-haired cat in Pasadena consistently show heavier dander and hair build-up in the return plenum and registers. More debris means more passes with the rotary brush.
- Recent remodeling or wildfire ash exposure. LA’s wildfire seasons and Santa Ana wind events can push fine ash and soot into duct systems, especially in foothill communities like La Cañada, Tujunga, and Altadena. Post-remodel drywall dust is another common driver. Both require more thorough extraction.
- Do you add dryer vent cleaning? If the technician is already at the house, adding dryer vent service costs $75 to $120 more. Call it in as a standalone, and it’s $95 to $165.
How the Cost of HVAC Cleaning Compares to Skipping It
It’s fair to ask whether cleaning the ducts is worth the cost. The honest answer depends on what’s in them. In Los Angeles, where many homes run AC ten months a year and windows stay closed, the system recirculates whatever sits in the ductwork.
A dirty blower wheel and a clogged evaporator coil force the system to work harder to move the same amount of air. That shows up on your LADWP bill during July and August when the unit runs nonstop. Forcing air through a loaded filter and a fouled coil also shortens the life of the blower motor. A blower motor replacement in LA runs between $650 and $1,200 installed. Duct cleaning that prevents that failure starts looking like a reasonable line item.
Dryer vents carry a separate risk. Lint accumulation in the dryer vent line is a leading cause of dryer fires in Southern California homes. The cost of a dryer vent clean, $95 to $165, is small compared to what a fire in the laundry room costs.
For most LA homeowners, we recommend HVAC cleaning every 3 to 5 years, and dryer vent cleaning every 12 to 18 months. Homes with pets, high dust, or recent renovation work should move to the shorter end of that range.
How to Save on HVAC Cleaning
Saving money on duct cleaning doesn’t mean finding the cheapest company in town. The cheapest quote often comes with a van breaking down, a price revision at the door, or a job that skips the parts you can’t see. Savings should come from doing it right once.
Here’s how to keep your cost at the lower end of the range without cutting corners.
- Get the dryer vent done at the same visit. If your dryer vent hasn’t been cleaned in over a year, bundling saves $20 to $45 versus booking it separately.
- Know your vent count before you call. Walk the house and count your registers and returns. Having that number ready means the estimate we give over the phone is closer to the written price we hand you.
- Keep your filter changed. A home running a clean filter (changed every 60 – 90 days in LA) keeps the system cleaner between professional cleanings. We stock Honeywell, Aprilaire, and Guardsman filtration products for customers who want to keep their air quality up between visits.
- Seal leaks and clean vents between services. Keep your supply registers free of furniture, vacuum the visible register surfaces monthly, and don’t let dust pile up around return grilles. Less surface debris means a faster cleaning.
- Call for a free estimate. Every Kestrel job starts with a free estimate and a written price. There’s no cost to find out what your home needs. The number we give you is the number on the invoice, and it doesn’t change at the door. Call (213) 733-0665 and a live person answers, any time of day.
Is It Cheaper to Clean or Replace Ductwork?
Cleaning is almost always cheaper. Full duct replacement in Los Angeles runs $3,500 to $9,000 depending on the size of the home and the difficulty of running new duct. Replacement only makes sense when ducts are crushed, torn, or so degraded that cleaning can’t restore airflow. Most LA duct systems, even older ones, just need a thorough cleaning. If we find damage during the job, we’ll show you and give you a straight answer about whether cleaning is still the right call. We won’t sell you a replacement you don’t need, and we won’t clean a system that won’t hold up.
If you’re trying to decide between repair and replacement, start with a detailed inspection. That’s part of the free estimate. You’ll know what you’re working with before you spend a dollar.
How Long Does HVAC Cleaning Take?
Most single-family homes in LA take 3 to 5 hours, including setup and a walkthrough of the job. Larger homes or systems with heavy build-up may take most of a day. We give you an arrival window before the appointment, and our technicians work through it start to finish in one visit. The written price you receive before work begins doesn’t change based on how long the job takes. If it runs long, that’s our job to manage, not your bill to absorb.
What to Look For in an HVAC Cleaning Company in Los Angeles
Los Angeles has plenty of companies that will “clean” ducts. Not all of them do the same work. Here’s what distinguishes a real duct cleaning from a service that just waves a shop vac around.
- Written price before work starts. If a company won’t put the price in writing before the job begins, that’s a red flag. At Kestrel, the written price is in your hands before a single vent is touched. It’s part of the Kingswell Guarantee, the standard that’s been applied to every job since 2004.
- Professional-grade equipment. A shop vac and a brush from the hardware store won’t clean the full length of a duct run. Real duct cleaning requires negative-pressure extraction and rotary brush agitation. We run Rotobrush rotary brush systems, Nikro negative-pressure units, and Abatement Technologies HEPA filtration. Each has one job: dislodge debris, pull it out of the house, and keep it out of the living space.
- A real guarantee in writing. A vague “satisfaction guarantee” doesn’t help when the problem shows up six weeks later. Our 365-Day Done Right Promise is different. If the work falls short within the guarantee period, we return and make it right at no charge. The promise is in writing, on every job, from the start. That’s the standard the Kingswell Way sets: say the price, show up in the window we gave, leave the place cleaner, put the guarantee in writing, and come back if it fails.
FAQs – HVAC Cleaning Cost
How much does HVAC cleaning cost in Los Angeles in 2026?
HVAC duct cleaning in Los Angeles costs $385 to $720 for most single-family homes, with the average job landing between $480 and $560. Larger homes, multiple systems, or heavy pet and dust build-up can push the total to $750 – $950. Call (213) 733-0665 for a free estimate with a written price before any work starts.
How much does dryer vent cleaning cost in Los Angeles?
Dryer vent cleaning in Los Angeles runs $95 to $165 as a standalone service. When added to a full HVAC cleaning on the same visit, it ranges from $75 to $120. For exact pricing on your home, call (213) 733-0665 and we’ll give you a written number over the phone, no obligation.
Can you clean HVAC ducts the same day in Los Angeles?
Yes, same-day and next-day availability is common for our LA customers, though it depends on the route and the day. Call (213) 733-0665 and a live person will tell you exactly when we can be there. Every appointment comes with a defined arrival window, and we show up when we said we would.
Is HVAC cleaning worth the cost?
For most LA homes, yes. A clean duct system improves airflow, reduces dust re-circulation, and lowers the strain on your AC during the long cooling season. A blower motor replacement runs $650 to $1,200 in LA, and a clean system extends the life of that motor. Dryer vent cleaning is also worth it for fire safety alone. For a detailed assessment of your system, call (213) 733-0665 for a free estimate.
How often should I clean my HVAC system in Los Angeles?
Most LA homes need HVAC duct cleaning every 3 to 5 years and dryer vent cleaning every 12 to 18 months. Homes with pets, smokers, recent remodeling, or wildfire-adjacent exposure should lean toward every 3 years. We can assess your system at the free estimate and recommend a schedule based on what we actually find in your ducts. Call (213) 733-0665 to schedule.
Why LA Homeowners Choose Kestrel Air Duct Los Angeles
Kestrel Air Duct Cleaning is named for the kestrel, the small falcon that hangs perfectly still in moving air. That’s the principle behind the work: calm, precise, and controlled. We’ve operated under the Kingswell Guarantee since 2004, and that guarantee hasn’t softened. Every job gets a written price before work begins, a defined arrival window, a clean job site when we leave, and a written guarantee on the work. If the work fails within the guarantee period, we return and make it right at no charge. That’s the 365-Day Done Right Promise, and it’s in writing on every single job.
Our technicians are background-checked and uniformed. They run professional-grade equipment: Rotobrush rotary brush systems to agitate debris at the duct wall, Nikro negative-pressure units to extract it from the system, and Abatement Technologies HEPA filtration to keep loosened particles out of your breathing space. The Kingswell Way values code governs every visit: say the price, show up in the window we gave, leave the place cleaner, put the guarantee in writing, and come back if it fails.
We offer two services: air duct cleaning and dryer vent cleaning. That focus means we do them well. If you want filtration and indoor air quality products for between visits, we carry Honeywell, Aprilaire, and Guardsman options.
Get a Free HVAC Cleaning Estimate in Los Angeles
If your ducts haven’t been cleaned in years, or your dryer vent hasn’t been touched since you moved in, we’ll give you a straight answer about what it costs and whether it’s needed. No pressure, no door-step revisions. Call (213) 733-0665 and a live person answers, 24/7. We’ll schedule a free estimate, give you a written price before any work begins, and back the job with the 365-Day Done Right Promise in writing. That’s the way we’ve done it since 2004.
Learn more about our process on our HVAC Cleaning in Los Angeles page or head back to the home page to explore our services.
Written by Dale Whitmore, Owner at Kestrel Air Duct Los Angeles, serving Los Angeles since 2004.
Pricing reflects the Los Angeles market as of 2026. Kestrel Air Duct Los Angeles offers free estimates – call (213) 733-0665.
What Our Customers Say
"Thorough job and the price was exactly what they quoted. Took a little longer than they estimated, about an extra hour, but they didn't rush and they cleaned up after. No dust left on the floor."
- Nina Castellano"Bought an older home and the previous owners had pets everywhere. After Kestrel did the ducts the stale smell was just gone. On time, quick, and they showed me the filter they pulled."
- Preston Ngata"Booked them because our old HVAC guy mentioned the ducts were filthy. Quote on the phone matched the invoice to the dollar. Polite crew, laid down mats, in and out in about two hours."
- Hannah Kim