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.
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AfterHow Much Does Air Duct Cleaning Cost in San Francisco?
Air Duct Cleaning services in San Francisco typically cost $450 to $1,200 for a standard single-family home, with most jobs landing around $650 to $850. That range covers a full negative-air cleaning, rotary brush agitation of the trunk lines and branches, and a written report. Small condos with one or two supply runs can come in lower; larger Victorian flats with original galvanized ductwork, multiple zones, and hard-to-reach crawlspaces run higher.
We price every job in writing before a technician touches anything. The number on the estimate is the number on the invoice. That’s been the way we work since Hollis Air Duct Cleaning started in 2004 as part of the Garrison Partners family, and it’s the reason so many of our San Francisco customers came to us after a bad experience with a lowball quote that doubled once the crew was inside.
Key Takeaways
- Typical San Francisco range: $450 to $1,200; most homes fall near $650 to $850.
- Price drivers are duct run count, system size, accessibility, and whether sealing or dryer vent work is added.
- Every Hollis job gets a written price up front and the 365-Day Done Right Promise – a full year of coverage, backed in writing.
- Free estimates by phone: call (361) 326-5060, answered by a live person 24/7.
Air Duct Cleaning Cost Breakdown (2026)
Here’s what the line items actually run in San Francisco this year. Prices reflect the market as of 2026 and assume a home of roughly 1,200 to 2,400 square feet with a standard forced-air furnace.
| Service | Typical SF Price Range | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Single-system duct cleaning (up to 10 vents) | $450 – $700 | Negative-air setup, rotary brush on trunk and branches, register and return wipe-down |
| Larger home, 11 to 20 vents | $700 – $1,000 | Same method, more runs and usually a second return |
| Multi-zone or two-system home | $950 – $1,400 | Two air handlers, separate trunk lines, zone dampers |
| Dryer vent cleaning (add-on) | $125 – $250 | Full lint removal, exterior cap check |
| Duct sealing with mastic (add-on) | $400 – $900 | Sealing visible leaks at joints, boots, and plenum connections |
| Sanitizing fog / antimicrobial treatment | $150 – $350 | Optional, applied after cleaning |
| Air handler / coil cleaning | $200 – $450 | Blower compartment, evaporator coil surface |
What drives the number up: more supply runs and returns, a second HVAC system, ductwork routed through a tight crawlspace or behind finished walls, and heavy debris loads (we see this most in pre-1950 buildings with original galvanized pipe). What drives it down: a compact condo with short runs, easy attic or basement access, and no add-ons. A duplex or two-flat in the Mission will often price closer to the two-system column because there are genuinely two systems moving air.
One thing worth saying plainly: if a quote for a San Francisco home comes in at $99 or $149, walk away. That price doesn’t cover the fuel, the negative-air machine, or the labor to do the work correctly. It’s a teaser, and it usually climbs to three or four times the original figure once the technician is standing in your hallway.
What Affects Air Duct Cleaning Pricing in San Francisco
- Number of supply and return runs. A Sunset District bungalow with eight registers is a fundamentally smaller job than a Noe Valley Victorian with fifteen. Each run adds time on the rotary brush and a fresh pass on the negative-air machine.
- Access to the ductwork. San Francisco’s housing stock is old and tight. Ducts buried behind plaster, routed through finished basements, or run through crawlspaces you can barely turn around in take longer, and time is what you’re paying for.
- Duct material and condition. Original galvanized steel holds up well and cleans fast. Flex duct in poor shape, or ductboard with crushed sections, sometimes can’t be cleaned effectively and needs to be replaced instead – we’ll tell you that straight rather than charge you for a cleaning that won’t help.
- System count. Two air handlers means two cleanings. Buildings split into separate zones for upstairs and downstairs cost more, no way around it.
- Debris and contamination level. A system that’s never been cleaned and has pulled years of construction dust, pet hair, and Bay Area pollen will take longer than one serviced two years ago.
- Add-on services. Dryer vent cleaning, duct sealing with mastic, and coil cleaning are separate line items. Bundling them into one visit saves you a second trip charge.
When to Schedule Cleaning (and When You Don’t Need It)
Not every home needs duct cleaning on a clock. Here’s the practical guidance we give San Francisco homeowners.
- After a renovation. Drywall dust and sawdust settle into every branch. This is the single most common reason we get called.
- After a move-in. You don’t know what the previous owner’s pets, smoking, or habits left behind.
- Every three to five years for a typical home with a filter changed on schedule.
- When you notice visible dust puffing from registers, musty odor when the heat kicks on, or a measurable jump in allergy symptoms tied to the HVAC system.
- You probably don’t need it if your system is two years old, you’ve kept filters clean, and there’s no visible debris. We’ll tell you that on the phone and save you the visit.
The negative-air method we use works like this: a high-powered vacuum pulls the whole duct system into negative pressure so loosened debris can’t escape into your living space, while a rotary brush system scrubs the interior walls of each run. It’s the standard the industry recognizes, and it’s what separates a real cleaning from someone waving a shop vac at a register. Homes across Nob Hill, the Richmond, and Bernal Heights all get the same method – same tools, same sequence, every time.
How to Save on Air Duct Cleaning
There’s no coupon that beats a written quote that doesn’t move. Still, a few practical ways to keep the number down:
- Bundle add-ons into one visit. Dryer vent cleaning and duct sealing cost less when done at the same time as the main cleaning, because you’re not paying for a second trip.
- Get it done off-peak. Spring and early fall are slower than the heating-season rush, and some scheduling flexibility can help your price.
- Fix the filter habit first. A $20 filter changed every 60 to 90 days keeps ducts cleaner longer, which stretches the time between cleanings.
- Ask for the written quote before you commit. Any company that won’t put a number in writing before the visit is a company to skip.
- Get a free estimate. Call (361) 326-5060 and we’ll give you a real range over the phone based on your home’s size and system count – no sales visit required.
What the 365-Day Done Right Promise Covers
Every Hollis job – cleaning, sealing, or dryer vent work – is covered in writing by the 365-Day Done Right Promise. If the work fails within a year, we come back and make it right at no charge, including a free second visit. That’s not a slogan; it’s a written commitment on the invoice. We can offer it because we don’t cut corners on the front end: background-checked, uniformed technicians, professional-grade equipment, and a written price before work starts.
We work to The Garrison Standard on every job: arrive inside the quoted window, price in writing, do the work by the book, and leave the site clean. The Garrison Code lays out exactly how our technicians are expected to behave in your home – shoes covered, drop cloths down, debris hauled away, and a walkthrough at the end so you can see what changed. San Francisco customers who’ve been burned by no-shows and disappearing crews tend to notice those details.
Equipment That Makes a Difference
Price questions are really value questions, so here’s what you’re paying for on the equipment side. We run Rotobrush rotary brush systems to scrub the interior of each duct run, Nikro negative-air machines to keep the whole system under vacuum during cleaning, and filtration products from Honeywell, Aprilaire, Abatement Technologies, and Guardsman. Plain version: the brushes actually touch the duct walls, the vacuum actually captures the loosened debris, and the filters actually trap what the system pulls through afterward. Hardware-store gear doesn’t do any of those three things well, which is why cheap cleanings look cheap and don’t hold up.
Want to learn more about our full service? Start at our home page.
FAQs – Air Duct Cleaning Cost
How much does air duct cleaning cost in San Francisco?
A standard single-family home in San Francisco runs $450 to $1,200, with most jobs landing around $650 to $850. Multi-zone and two-system homes go higher. Call (361) 326-5060 for a free estimate on your specific home – the price is written before any work starts.
Is it cheaper to clean ducts or replace them?
Cleaning is almost always cheaper – typically $450 to $1,200 versus $3,000 to $10,000+ to replace a duct system in a San Francisco home. Replacing only makes sense when ductwork is crushed, water-damaged, or made of failing ductboard. We’ll tell you honestly which situation you’re in. Call (361) 326-5060 and we can help you figure out which applies.
Do you charge extra for a dryer vent cleaning?
Yes – it’s a separate line item at $125 to $250 when added to a duct cleaning. Adding it to the same visit costs less than booking it alone because there’s no second trip charge. Call (361) 326-5060 for a bundled quote.
How long does the job take, and how many technicians come?
A standard home takes about 2 to 4 hours with a two-person crew. Larger or multi-system homes run longer. Every technician is background-checked, uniformed, and works to The Garrison Code. Estimates are free – call (361) 326-5060 and we’ll give you a realistic window for your home.
What does duct sealing cost, and do I need it?
Duct sealing with mastic runs $400 to $900 in San Francisco. You likely need it if you’re losing heat or cooling through leaks at joints and boots, which is common in older buildings where joints have dried out. We’ll check during the cleaning and tell you whether it’s worth doing. Call (361) 326-5060 with questions before you book – there’s no pressure either way.
Why do some companies quote so much less?
Because the quote isn’t the price. A $99 or $149 special doesn’t cover professional equipment, labor, or a real cleaning – it’s a door-opener, and the number usually climbs once the technician is inside. Hollis prices in writing before work starts, and the price doesn’t move at the door. Call (361) 326-5060 for a straight number up front.
Contact Us for a Free Estimate
If you’re ready for a real price on air duct cleaning in San Francisco, call (361) 326-5060 for a free estimate. A live person answers 24/7 – no voicemail, no callback queue, no waiting until Monday. We’ll talk through your home, give you a written range, and schedule a visit that fits your week. Every job is covered by the 365-Day Done Right Promise, and every technician who walks through your door is background-checked and uniformed. That’s how we’ve worked since 2004, and it’s why so many San Francisco homeowners keep our number on the fridge.
Written by Roy Castellanos, Owner at Hollis Air Duct Cleaning, serving San Francisco since 2004. Pricing reflects the San Francisco market as of 2026. Hollis Air Duct Cleaning offers free estimates – call (361) 326-5060.
What Our Customers Say
"They checked each section with a camera and showed me the dust before and after. Thorough and honest."
- Nicole H."Duct sealing along with the cleaning cut our summer bill. Straight talk and fair price."
- Gwen O."Sealed some leaking duct joints in the crawl space with mastic. Rooms that were always cold now get air."
- Ronald W.