Air Duct Cleaning Prices Around Dulles, by Job
| Job | Typical price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Whole-system cleaning, single-family home | $500–$800 per system | Every supply and return, blower, coil and drain pan |
| Townhome or condo | $190–$650 | One smaller system, fewer runs |
| Priced by opening | $25–$50 per vent | Individual supplies or returns |
| Camera inspection | $0–$125 | Often free with a booked cleaning |
| Dryer vent cleaning | $135–$360 | Dryer exhaust run to the outside hood |
| Duct mold removal | $1,223–$3,757 | U.S. range per Angi, before any duct replacement |
A house with one system for the main floors and a second for the upper floor pays for two cleanings. The whole house cleaning page explains how two-system homes are scoped and timed.
What Changes the Price of Air Duct Cleaning
NADCA lists the factors that move a quote: the type of ductwork, the size of the system, the number of systems, square footage, access to the ducts and equipment, how dirty the system is, location and how many technicians the job needs.
- Vent count: more supplies and returns mean more runs to clean
- Access: an air handler in a tight attic or crawl space takes longer to reach
- Duct type: flexible duct needs gentler tools than sheet metal
- Contamination: renovation debris, pet hair or nesting material adds time
Why Dulles Prices Sit Above the National Average
| Source | Range | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| NerdWallet (2026) | $270–$500, $389 average | U.S. national |
| NADCA Breathing Clean | $450–$1,000 | Average-sized home |
| Northern Virginia market | $500–$800 per system | Single-family, whole system |
Local quotes land above the national figures, and many homes here run two systems, which doubles the job. NerdWallet also reports hourly pricing of $90 to $125 per hour, with a typical job taking three to eight hours.
What a $99 Whole-House Special Leaves Out
NADCA warns homeowners about extremely low-cost whole-house specials. These offers often cover only part of the system and skip the air handler, blower, coils, registers or the access openings the job needs. The real price arrives once the crew is inside. The duct cleaning scams guide lists the seven warning signs.
Add-Ons and When They're Worth Paying For
| Add-on | Worth it when | Skip it when |
|---|---|---|
| Camera inspection | You want proof before and after | Never; it costs little or nothing |
| Sanitizer or fogging | A specific problem remains after cleaning, product named in writing | Sold as routine; NADCA says no product disinfects 100 percent |
| Duct sealing | Leaks pull in attic or crawl space dust | Ducts are tight and inside the living space |
| Dryer vent cleaning | Drying takes two cycles or the run is long | The vent was cleaned recently and dries normally |
How to Read an Air Duct Cleaning Quote
Count the Openings
The quote names how many supplies and returns it covers, and the count matches your house.
Find the Equipment Line
The blower, coil and drain pan appear by name, not under "system cleaning".
Check the Method
The crew holds the system under negative pressure, as NADCA's cleaning methods describe.
Confirm the Total
The EPA advises a written agreement with the total cost and scope before work starts.
Not sure the ducts need cleaning at all? A camera inspection answers that first.