Last updated: April 23, 2026
Whole-home duct cleaning in San Diego County runs $450 to $1,200, with most single-family homes landing at $450 to $700. Larger homes or houses with two HVAC systems run toward the higher end. Every cleaning follows NADCA standards and includes a camera inspection so you can see what came out of your ducts.
San Diego's cost swing depends on which decade your neighborhood was built. A North Park Craftsman with no existing ductwork usually means a ductless heat pump retrofit, since running full ducting through a 1920s bungalow's low attic space is impractical and expensive. Clairemont and Linda Vista's 1950s-60s tract homes usually keep central ductwork but need duct sealing or replacement to stop 25 to 40 percent air loss. Permits run through the City of San Diego and generally land between $250 and $500, with Downtown and Hillcrest condo projects adding HOA coordination steps.
Central San Diego's older housing stock means decades of buildup in original ductwork, and flex runs from the 1950s through 1970s often leak as much as they carry. A cleaning that turns up sealing or replacement needs costs more than a straightforward vacuum-and-brush job.
| Item | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Whole-home NADCA duct cleaning | $450 - $700 | Typical single-family home, one HVAC system |
| Larger home or two-system duct cleaning | $700 - $1,200 | Homes over roughly 2,500 square feet or with a second system |
| Dryer vent cleaning add-on | $129 | Bundled with a duct cleaning visit at a lower rate than a standalone call |
| Sanitizing or antimicrobial fog treatment | $100 - $250 added | For homes with pet odor, mold concerns, or recent water damage |
| Camera inspection | Included | Before-and-after footage so you can see the actual condition of your ducts |
| Register and return vent cover cleaning | Included | Every accessible vent cover is cleaned as part of the standard visit |
| Rodent or pest contamination remediation | $200 - $500 added | Quoted only when the inspection finds evidence in the duct runs |
| Duct sealing (separate service) | $1,000 - $4,000 | Fixes air loss, not the same service as cleaning, quoted separately |
Ranges reflect San Diego and Central San Diego. Your exact figure depends on the factors below. We quote flat-rate before starting.
Bundling a dryer vent cleaning with a duct cleaning visit costs less than booking them separately. Duct cleaning doesn't currently carry SDG&E or TECH Clean California rebates the way new equipment does, but keeping ducts clean does protect the efficiency of a system that may qualify for rebates when it's eventually replaced. We tell you honestly if your ducts look clean enough that a cleaning wouldn't do much, rather than selling a service you don't need.
Most pre-1950 San Diego homes without existing ductwork are better served by a ductless mini-split heat pump than a retrofit ducted system. A two to three zone system for a 1,200 to 1,800 square foot Craftsman typically runs $11,000 to $18,000, well below the $25,000-plus a full ducted retrofit can hit once you account for ceiling and soffit work.
Central San Diego's older housing stock means decades of buildup in original ductwork, and flex runs from the 1950s through 1970s often leak as much as they carry. A cleaning that turns up sealing or replacement needs costs more than a straightforward vacuum-and-brush job.
Most single-family homes run $450 to $700 for a full NADCA-standard cleaning. Larger homes or houses with two HVAC systems run $700 to $1,200. A dryer vent add-on is $129 when bundled with the visit.
It depends on the home. Visible dust, a musty smell from the vents, recent renovation work, or a home that's never had it done are all good reasons. A camera inspection during the estimate shows you the actual condition before you commit to the service.
A dryer vent cleaning bundled with the main service is $129, well under the cost of booking it as a separate call. It's also one of the more overlooked fire-safety items in a home.
No, duct cleaning is a maintenance service and doesn't currently qualify for SDG&E or TECH Clean California rebates, which are built for new equipment. Keeping ducts clean does help protect the efficiency of whatever system you have now or install later.
Flat-rate pricing, confirmed before any work starts. Same-day scheduling on most calls.