Whole-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.
Fast, Reliable Air Duct Cleaning Across Larkspur
Air duct cleaning in Larkspur typically runs $450 – $850 for a full residential system and $800 – $2,200 for commercial properties, with most jobs completed in a single visit. We dispatch crews from our San Francisco Bay Area office and serve Larkspur homes directly, from the historic bungalows downtown to the hillside ranches above Madrone Canyon. Call (361) 326-5060 for a written estimate before any work begins.
We’ve worked in Larkspur long enough to know the local duct problems aren’t the same as inland Marin. The coastal fog here doesn’t just dampen your morning commute, it condenses inside ductwork. Combined with oak pollen drawn in from the surrounding woodlands, that moisture creates a specific set of issues: rust flaking in older galvanized ducts, microbial growth in low-slope runs, and a musty reactivation every time the system kicks on after sitting idle. Our Air Duct Cleaning crews are trained to spot the difference between ordinary dust accumulation and the moisture-driven problems Larkspur’s climate produces.
Why Hollis Air Duct Cleaning Is Larkspur’s Preferred Air Duct Cleaning Company
Hollis Air Duct Cleaning has been part of the Garrison Partners family since 2004. We operate under The Garrison Standard, which means written prices, written guarantees, and a 365-Day Done Right Promise on every job. In Larkspur specifically, that standard matters because the work is often more involved than a simple brush-and-vacuum. Coastal moisture damage requires source removal, not surface treatment.
Roy Castellanos leads our operation, and his name is on the standard we hold to. Technicians arrive background-checked and uniformed. Phones are answered by a live person 24 hours a day, seven days a week. No voicemail loops. No callback queues. When you schedule a window, we arrive inside it. When we price the job, that price is written down before any equipment touches your system, and it does not move at the door.
We’ve built our reputation in Marin by doing what we said we would, then standing behind it for a full year. If the work fails within 365 days, we return and make it right at no charge, including a free second visit. That promise is in writing on every job, not spoken and forgotten.
Residential Air Duct Cleaning in Larkspur
Residential Air Duct Cleaning in Larkspur addresses the specific problems this coastal environment creates: moisture intrusion in duct runs, rust scale from decades of fog exposure, and pollen loads from the oak woodlands that surround the city. A typical full-system residential cleaning in Larkspur runs $450 – $850, depending on system size, accessibility, and whether video inspection reveals hidden contamination in return plenums or supply branches.
Most Larkspur homes fall into two categories. Downtown, we see bungalows and Victorians from the late 1800s to 1920s, often with retrofitted heating systems and ductwork that was never designed for modern airflow. In Madrone Canyon and Palm Hill, mid-century ranch homes sit with original galvanized ducts that have endured fifty-plus years of coastal condensation. Both need cleaning. The problems differ.
Supply and Return Duct Cleaning
Supply ducts push conditioned air into your rooms. Return ducts pull it back. In Larkspur’s damp climate, returns are often the dirtier side because they draw in humid, pollen-laden air from outside. We clean both with rotary brush agitation and negative-air collection so dislodged debris exits the system rather than resettling in your living space.
Full System Cleaning with Video Inspection
Before we start, we run a camera. After we finish, we run it again. The video shows you what was there and what remains. In hillside Larkspur homes, this step often reveals rust pitting or disconnected duct seams that explain why certain rooms never heat evenly. We note these findings in writing so you can address them separately if you choose.
Commercial Air Duct Cleaning in Larkspur
Commercial Air Duct Cleaning in Larkspur serves the restaurants, medical offices, retail spaces, and professional buildings along Magnolia Avenue and in the Larkspur Landing area. A typical commercial system cleaning runs $800 – $2,200, with larger multi-zone HVAC networks or kitchen exhaust-integrated systems at the higher end. We schedule this work to minimize disruption to your operating hours.
Commercial ductwork in Larkspur faces the same moisture load as residential, but with higher occupancy and more frequent system cycling. That combination accelerates biofilm growth in coil cabinets and blower compartments. We use Nikro negative-air machines to establish containment during cleaning, preventing cross-contamination between zones.
Post-Construction and Renovation Cleaning
Larkspur’s historic building stock means commercial renovations are common. Drywall dust, sawdust, and insulation fragments enter ducts during construction. We perform source removal after renovation completion, with HEPA filtration running continuously during the process. This isn’t a surface wipe. It’s full mechanical agitation and extraction.
Scheduled Maintenance Programs
Commercial clients in Larkspur can set recurring service intervals based on occupancy and system use. We document each visit with before-and-after photos, filter change records, and written condition reports. This documentation supports warranty claims and helps identify degradation before it becomes an emergency.
Trusted Brands We Service in Larkspur
Our equipment roster includes Rotobrush rotary brush systems for mechanical agitation inside duct runs, Nikro negative-air machines for containment and extraction, and filtration products from Honeywell, Aprilaire, and Abatement Technologies. We don’t use hardware-store vacuums with duct-tape attachments. The tools we bring are the same ones specified for commercial and healthcare environments, and we explain what each one does while we’re in your home or business. For Larkspur customers, this means parts and compatible filtration media are readily available through our supply chain, so if your system needs a filter upgrade or a sealed return box after cleaning, we can source and install it without extended wait times.
Common Air Duct Cleaning Problems We See in Larkspur Homes
- Rust flaking in galvanized hillside ducts. The fog belt around Madrone Canyon and Palm Hill condenses inside original metal ducts during summer months. When heating fires up in November, that rust scale breaks loose and blows through registers as dark, metallic particles. Camera inspection confirms the source.
- Musty reactivation after idle periods. Larkspur’s mild climate means many homeowners use heat only occasionally. Ducts that sit damp and stagnant grow microbial odor sources that reactivate with airflow. A fogging treatment masks this for days. Source removal fixes it.
- Oak pollen accumulation in return systems. Spring pollen from the surrounding woodlands enters through fresh-air intakes and return grilles. It adheres to damp duct walls and becomes a year-round allergen reservoir, not a seasonal event.
- Disconnected flex duct in retrofitted downtown homes. Older Victorians and bungalows with added HVAC often have poorly supported flex runs in crawl spaces. The weight of accumulated debris and moisture causes sags and disconnections that reduce airflow and draw in crawl-space air.
Pricing for Air Duct Cleaning in Larkspur, CA
| Service | Typical Range in Larkspur |
|---|---|
| Residential full-system cleaning (up to 12 vents) | $450 – $650 |
| Residential full-system cleaning (13 – 20 vents) | $650 – $850 |
| Video inspection with written report | $150 – $250 (often included with cleaning) |
| Dryer vent cleaning (add-on or standalone) | $125 – $225 |
| Commercial system cleaning (per HVAC unit) | $800 – $1,400 |
| Large commercial or multi-zone network | $1,400 – $2,200 |
These ranges reflect what we actually charge in the Larkspur market, not teaser rates that balloon once we’re on site. Several factors move a job within these brackets: the number of supply and return vents, whether the system includes a fresh-air intake, accessibility of the air handler, and what the video inspection reveals about internal contamination. We assess these items during our free estimate visit, put the price in writing, and do not change it after work begins. No per-vent add-ons. No surprise charges for “extra contamination.” One flat price per system, agreed before we start.
If you’ve received a coupon offer for $99 duct cleaning, that is not the same service. Those operations typically run a vacuum hose for thirty minutes, skip the returns, and upsell fogging treatments that do not remove source contamination. We don’t work that way. Call (361) 326-5060 for an exact quote on your Larkspur home or business.
We Also Serve Cities Near Larkspur
Our crews work throughout central Marin County. We regularly serve Larkspur neighbors in Kentfield, Corte Madera, San Rafael, and Mill Valley. Each community has distinct housing stock and duct configurations, and we adjust our approach accordingly. The rust-flaking pattern we see in Larkspur’s Madrone Canyon hillsides, for instance, rarely appears in drier San Rafael valley homes.
Serving Larkspur, CA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Larkspur area and know this community well. Use the map below to see our service coverage - if you’re nearby, we can almost certainly help.
FAQs About Air Duct Cleaning in Larkspur
The musty smell comes from microbial growth that thrives in Larkspur’s damp, fog-conditioned ductwork during idle months. Because you heat infrequently, moisture sits stagnant instead of being dried by regular airflow. Source removal cleaning with negative-air HEPA extraction eliminates the biological material causing the odor. Fogging treatments only mask it. Call (361) 326-5060 to schedule an inspection and written estimate.
Coastal fog condenses inside original galvanized ducts during summer and fall, forming rust scale on the metal interior. When heat activates after months of disuse, thermal expansion and airflow break that scale loose. This pattern is specific to Larkspur’s fog-belt hillside homes with aging metal ductwork. Camera inspection confirms the extent, and mechanical agitation with HEPA-contained extraction removes the rust without recirculating it. Call (361) 326-5060 for a video inspection.
Most Larkspur homes benefit from cleaning every three to five years, but properties with heavy oak pollen exposure or visible moisture issues may need service every two to three years. Homes in Madrone Canyon and Palm Hill with original galvanized ducts should be inspected annually for rust progression. We provide written condition assessments after each cleaning so you can track degradation over time. Call (361) 326-5060 to set a baseline inspection.
Cleaning removes the moisture-trapped debris and microbial growth that damp air promotes, but it does not seal duct leaks or eliminate future humidity entry. For ongoing moisture control, we may recommend duct sealing with mastic after cleaning, particularly in crawl-space runs where fog-laden air infiltrates. We assess this during our free estimate and note any recommendations in writing. Call (361) 326-5060 to discuss your specific situation.
Real work means source removal, not surface treatment. Look for negative-air machines with HEPA filtration, rotary brush agitation tools, before-and-after video inspection, and containment protocols that prevent cross-contamination. Be wary of fogging upsells, per-vent pricing that changes at the door, and crews who cannot explain what equipment they’re using or why. At Hollis, we show you the video, write down the price, and leave the site clean. Call (361) 326-5060 to see the difference.
Written by Roy Castellanos, Owner at Hollis Air Duct Cleaning, serving Larkspur and Marin County since 2004.




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