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 Jose?
Air duct cleaning in San Jose, CA typically costs $450 to $900 for a standard single-family home with one HVAC system, and most jobs land around $600. Homes with two systems, heavy dust buildup, or added services like dryer vent cleaning or duct sealing run $900 to $1,600 or more. We write the price down before we touch anything, so the number you’re quoted is the number you pay.
That range surprises people. Some of it is the cost of doing the work correctly in Santa Clara County. Some of it is the difference between a crew with a truck-mounted vacuum and rotary brush system and a crew with a shop vac and a leaf blower. We’ll walk through what actually moves the price here, with real numbers, so you can compare bids without guessing.
Key Takeaways
- Standard single-system home in San Jose: $450-$900, most often around $600.
- Two-system homes (common in Almaden Valley and Evergreen): $750-$1,400.
- Dryer vent cleaning adds $125-$250; duct sealing adds $400-$1,200.
- Older San Jose housing stock (pre-1980) often costs more because of flexible duct runs and attic routing.
- We price in writing before any work starts, and every job carries the 365-Day Done Right Promise.
Air Duct Cleaning Cost Breakdown (2026)
Here’s what San Jose homeowners actually pay, line by line. These are the ranges we work within on jobs across the South Bay.
| Service | Typical San Jose Price | What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
| Single-system duct cleaning | $450-$900 | Up to 12 vents, one HVAC system, negative-air setup, rotary brush on trunk lines |
| Two-system duct cleaning | $750-$1,400 | Up to 24 vents, two air handlers, both systems sealed and vacuumed |
| Dryer vent cleaning | $125-$250 | Full-length lint removal, exterior termination check, airflow test |
| Duct sealing (mastic) | $400-$1,200 | Sealing visible leaks at joints with mastic; pricing depends on how many runs are accessible |
| HVAC coil cleaning (add-on) | $150-$350 | Evaporator coil cleaned while the system is open |
| Sanitizing treatment (add-on) | $100-$250 | EPA-registered sanitizer applied after cleaning, not instead of it |
| Return plenum cleaning | $100-$300 | Large return duct and plenum, often the dirtiest part of the system |
What pushes a job toward the top of the range? Square footage, vent count, and how much buildup we find. A 1,400-square-foot ranch house in Willow Glen with 9 vents and one system usually sits near $500-$650. A 3,200-square-foot home in Almaden Valley with two systems, 22 vents, and 20 years of dust runs closer to $1,200. The variables are countable: vents, systems, accessibility, and condition. That’s why we look before we quote instead of guessing over the phone.
What keeps a job at the low end? Easy attic access, newer flexible duct in good shape, and no add-ons. If your home was built in the last 15 years and you’ve kept up with filters, you’re likely in the $450-$650 window.
What Affects Air Duct Cleaning Pricing in San Jose
Prices here aren’t random. These are the factors that move the number up or down on a San Jose job.
- Number of HVAC systems. Most San Jose homes built before 1990 have one system; many built after 2000 in Evergreen, Silver Creek, and the foothills have two. Each system is a separate cleaning setup, so two-system homes run roughly 60-70% more than single-system homes.
- Vent count and home size. Standard pricing assumes up to 12 vents. Each vent beyond that adds to the job. A 1,200-square-foot home and a 3,000-square-foot home are not the same work, even if the marketing price is the same.
- Duct material and condition. Rigid metal duct cleans quickly and holds up to a rotary brush. The flexible duct common in 1970s and 1980s San Jose homes is more delicate and takes longer to clean correctly without tearing the liner. Crushed or disconnected flex runs get flagged before we start.
- Attic access. San Jose has a lot of low-pitch attics with tight crawl space. If we’re on our hands and knees for two hours instead of standing, that’s more labor. It’s a real cost factor, and any honest quote reflects it.
- Buildup and contamination. A system that’s never been cleaned since the house was built will take longer than one cleaned five years ago. Pet dander, cigarette residue, and rodent evidence in the ducts add labor and sometimes require additional treatment.
- Seasonal timing. Late spring and early fall are our busiest weeks in San Jose, right before cooling season and right after. Booking in January or February usually means more scheduling flexibility and occasionally a better price on a bundled job.
One local note worth knowing: San Jose’s dry summers mean ducts collect fine dust rather than the heavy humid buildup you’d see in coastal markets. That dust is easier to move once the system is open, but it settles back into the return plenum fast if the return isn’t cleaned as part of the job. We always pull the return.
How to Save on Air Duct Cleaning
You don’t need the cheapest quote to get a fair price. You need to know what you’re buying.
- Bundle the dryer vent. Adding dryer vent cleaning to a duct job usually costs $125-$175 instead of $200-$250 standalone. It’s one trip, one setup, and dryer vents are a genuine fire risk if they’re packed with lint.
- Skip the upsells you don’t need. Sanitizing is worth it after water damage, pest activity, or smoke. It’s not worth it on a normal dusty system that’s just never been cleaned. Ask what the sanitizer is doing for you. A straight answer is a good sign.
- Fix the leaks while the system is open. Duct sealing runs $400-$1,200, and it’s the single best way to stop paying to heat and cool your attic. If your ducts are 15+ years old and you notice rooms that never get comfortable, sealing pays for itself over a few summers.
- Get the quote in writing before work starts. This is the biggest money-saver there is. A written price doesn’t move at the door. If a company won’t put a number on paper before they start, that’s your answer about how the job will go.
- Compare like for like. A $299 quote and a $650 quote are usually not the same job. Ask both companies: how many vents, how many systems, do you clean the return, what equipment, and what happens if it’s not right. The cheap quote will often answer those questions differently.
We’ll give you a free estimate with the price written down and a plain explanation of what’s included. Call (361) 326-5060 and a live person will pick up, any hour, any day. It’s worth reading our home page first if you want the full picture of how we work.
FAQs – Air Duct Cleaning Cost
How much does air duct cleaning cost in San Jose?
Most San Jose homes pay $450 to $900 for single-system duct cleaning, with the average landing near $600. Two-system homes run $750 to $1,400. The final number depends on vent count, system count, duct condition, and any add-ons. Call (361) 326-5060 for an exact quote based on your home, not a phone-book average.
Is it cheaper to clean ducts or replace them?
Cleaning is almost always cheaper. Duct cleaning runs $450-$900 on a single system. Full duct replacement in San Jose typically runs $3,500 to $8,000 depending on home size and accessibility, so replacement only makes sense when the duct is crushed, contaminated beyond cleaning, or disconnected in multiple places. We’ll tell you plainly if cleaning won’t fix what you have.
How often should ducts be cleaned in San Jose?
Every 3 to 5 years for most San Jose homes, and more often if you have pets, allergies, recent remodeling, or a system that’s never been cleaned. San Jose’s dry climate doesn’t demand annual cleaning the way humid markets do, but the dust here is fine and travels, so going 10 years between cleanings usually means a heavier job and a higher price when you finally book it.
Do you charge extra for a two-story home?
Not for the stories themselves. We charge by systems, vents, and accessibility. A two-story San Jose home with one system and 14 vents costs less than a single-story home with two systems and 22 vents. What does add cost is attic access on tight rooflines, which is common in older Willow Glen and Rose Garden homes. Call (361) 326-5060 and we’ll quote your specific layout.
What’s included in your price?
Every price includes a full negative-air setup, rotary brush cleaning of the trunk lines and branches, return plenum cleaning, vent and register cleaning, and a written before-and-after summary. No hidden trip charges, no surprise add-ons at the door. Every job is covered 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.
Can I get an estimate over the phone?
Yes, and we’ll give you a real range on the call. For an exact written number, we’ll ask about square footage, system count, and vent count. That’s usually enough to land within $50-$100 of the final price. The written quote you receive before work starts is the price you pay. A live person answers (361) 326-5060 around the clock.
Why Homeowners Choose Hollis in San Jose
We’ve been doing this work since 2004 as part of the Garrison Partners family, and every Hollis location runs under The Garrison Standard: arrive inside the quoted window, price it in writing before any work starts, do the job by the book, and leave the site clean. That’s not a slogan. It’s the checklist we hold each crew to.
Our technicians are background-checked and uniformed, so you know who’s walking into your home before they knock. We use professional-grade equipment, including Rotobrush rotary brush systems, Nikro negative-air machines, and filtration products from Honeywell, Aprilaire, Abatement Technologies, and Guardsman. Not hardware-store gear. The same tools commercial crews run on larger buildings.
If you’ve been burned before by a no-show, a price that jumped at the door, or a crew that left a mess, we understand. That’s the whole reason the 365-Day Done Right Promise exists in writing on every job. If the work fails inside a year, we come back at no charge. No negotiation. No fine print.
For pricing on related work, our dryer vent cleaning page covers standalone lint removal and why it matters for fire safety, and our duct sealing page walks through how mastic sealing stops the leaks that drive up your energy bill. If you’re weighing whether your system needs attention at all, our guide on signs you need air duct cleaning is a quick read.
We also serve homeowners across the South Bay, and each city page covers that market’s specifics. See our Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Campbell, Milpitas, Fremont, Morgan Hill, and Gilroy pages for local pricing and scheduling.
If you’re comparing providers, our guide on how often air ducts should be cleaned explains the timing that fits San Jose’s climate, and our air duct cleaning process page breaks down exactly what happens on a job so you can hold any company to the same standard.
Get Your Written Price Before We Start
You should know what you’re paying before anyone opens a duct in your home. That’s the standard, and it’s why we put the number on paper first. Call (361) 326-5060 for a free estimate on air duct cleaning in San Jose. A live person answers any hour, any day. Tell us your square footage, system count, and anything you’ve noticed about the air in your home, and we’ll give you a real range on the spot.
Pricing reflects the San Jose market as of 2026. Hollis Air Duct Cleaning offers free estimates – call (361) 326-5060.
Written by Roy Castellanos, Owner at Hollis Air Duct Cleaning, serving San Jose since 2004.
What Our Customers Say
"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."Dryer vent was packed with lint and took two hours to dry a load. Cleaned it out from the roof cap down. One cycle again."
- Paula Q.