Frequently Asked Questions
We get a lot of questions from Los Angeles homeowners, and most of them come down to three things: what it costs, how fast we can get there, and whether the work is actually guaranteed. This page answers all of them in plain language, with real numbers. Cardinal Air Duct Cleaning is part of the Relay Home Co. family, and every job we run in Los Angeles comes with a written price before we start, before-and-after photos, and our 365-Day Done Right Promise.
Key takeaways
- Most standard air duct cleanings in Los Angeles run $450 to $900 for a typical 1,500 to 2,200 sq ft home.
- Every job gets a written price before a single duct is touched. It does not change at the door.
- We answer calls 24/7 with a live person, and emergency service is available.
- Every repair is backed by the 365-Day Done Right Promise, plus a free second visit if a repair fails.
- We serve Los Angeles and the surrounding neighborhoods, from DTLA to the Valley.
Pricing & Estimates
How much does air duct cleaning service cost in Los Angeles?
Most standard air duct cleanings in Los Angeles run $450 to $900 for a typical 1,500 to 2,200 sq ft home with a single HVAC system. That range covers the full job: negative-pressure extraction (that means the loosened debris goes straight into the vacuum, not back into your living room), rotary brush cleaning of every main trunk line, and HEPA-rated vacuuming of the supply and return vents. Larger homes, homes with two systems, or ducts that haven’t been touched in a decade will run higher. You’ll get a written price before any work starts, and it won’t shift once the technician is inside.
Here’s how the line items usually break down for an LA home:
| Service | Typical LA price range |
|---|---|
| Standard air duct cleaning (1 system) | $450 – $900 |
| Two-system home (upstairs + downstairs) | $750 – $1,400 |
| Dryer vent cleaning | $150 – $300 |
| HVAC coil and unit cleaning | $250 – $550 |
| Duct repair and sealing (per section) | $200 – $600 |
Those numbers are ranges, not quotes. A 900 sq ft bungalow in Highland Park is a different job than a 3,500 sq ft house in Encino with two systems and a long attic run. Call Cardinal Air Duct Cleaning at (737) 727-2314 and we’ll give you an exact number for your address.
Do you offer free estimates?
Yes. Estimates are always free, and you get a written price before any work begins. We’ll ask a few questions about your home size, how many HVAC systems you run, and when the ducts were last cleaned, then hand you a number. If you want us to look in person first, we’ll do that too. No pressure, no surprise fees, no “we’ll figure it out once we’re up there.” Call (737) 727-2314 for a free estimate.
Is it cheaper to repair my ducts or replace them?
For most Los Angeles homes, repair and sealing is far cheaper than replacement, usually $200 to $600 for a section versus several thousand for a full duct replacement. Repair makes sense when the ductwork is structurally sound but has leaks, loose joints, or disconnected runs. Replacement makes more sense when ducts are crushed, heavily contaminated with mold, or built from older materials that have failed. We’ll tell you honestly which one you’re looking at. If repair is the right call, you’ll get a written guarantee on the repair and a free second visit if it fails. Call (737) 727-2314 for an exact quote.
Service & Scheduling
Do you offer emergency air duct cleaning service?
Yes, we offer emergency air duct cleaning in Los Angeles, including nights and weekends. Emergencies usually mean water intrusion into the ductwork, a pest problem, or a sudden drop in air quality after a fire or flood nearby. When you call, a live person answers 24/7, not a voicemail loop or a next-business-day callback. We’ll tell you on the phone whether it’s a true emergency or something we can schedule for the next morning. Call (737) 727-2314 and we’ll get you on the board.
How fast can you respond?
In most of Los Angeles, we can be at your door the same day you call, and emergency jobs get priority on the schedule. When you book, you get a live trackable arrival window through The Relay Standard, so you can see exactly when your technician is on the way instead of being pinned to a four-hour block. For dryer vent and single-system air duct cleanings, most jobs wrap in two to four hours once we’re on site. Call (737) 727-2314 to see what’s available today.
What areas do you serve?
We serve the city of Los Angeles and the neighborhoods around it, from DTLA and Koreatown to Silver Lake, Echo Park, Highland Park, and Eagle Rock on the east side, and Sherman Oaks, Encino, Studio City, and North Hollywood in the Valley. We also cover the Westside (Santa Monica, Culver City, West LA), South LA, and the San Gabriel Valley foothills. If you’re not sure whether your address is in range, call (737) 727-2314 and we’ll tell you straight.
Do you handle dryer vent cleaning?
Yes, dryer vent cleaning is one of our three core services, and it’s one of the most overlooked fire-safety jobs in any Los Angeles home. A clogged dryer vent is the leading cause of dryer fires, and in LA we see a lot of long horizontal runs that trap lint fast. Most dryer vent cleanings run $150 to $300, depending on vent length and how much lint has built up. We use rotary brushes and HEPA extraction to clear the whole line, then show you before-and-after photos so you can see what came out. You can read more on our Dryer Vent Cleaning in Los Angeles page, or call (737) 727-2314 to book.
Do you handle HVAC cleaning?
Yes, we clean HVAC systems, including the evaporator coil, blower, and drain pan, alongside the ductwork. Dirty coils are one of the biggest reasons a Los Angeles AC runs hard in July and August while the electric bill climbs. Coil and unit cleaning usually runs $250 to $550 on top of the duct work. We use Nikro HEPA vacuums and Abatement Technologies containment to keep debris out of your living space while we work. Call (737) 727-2314 to add HVAC cleaning to your booking.
Licensing, Trust & Guarantees
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. Cardinal Air Duct Cleaning is fully insured and operates under The Relay Visibility Guarantee, which is the standard every Cardinal location is held to. That means you get a live trackable arrival time, before-and-after photo documentation of the work, and a digital invoice you can pay from a link. Our technicians are background-checked and arrive in uniform, and you’ll know your technician’s name before you open the door. Cardinal is led by Omar Haddad and is part of the Relay Home Co. family, founded in 2005.
Do you guarantee your work?
Yes. Every job is backed by our 365-Day Done Right Promise: if the work isn’t right within 365 days, we come back and correct it at no charge. That’s the longest-standing satisfaction window in the trade, and it applies to every booking without exception. On top of that, every repair gets a written guarantee and a free second visit if the repair fails. We don’t hand out vague assurances; we put the guarantee in writing before we leave.
Who is coming to my house?
You’ll know your technician’s name before they knock, because we send it ahead of your appointment. Every Cardinal technician is background-checked, arrives in uniform, and runs professional-grade equipment: Rotobrush rotary brush systems for the ductwork, Nikro HEPA vacuums for extraction, and Abatement Technologies containment units to keep dust contained. No subcontractors, no unmarked trucks, no strangers at the door. Call (737) 727-2314 and we’ll walk you through what to expect on arrival.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept all major credit and debit cards, plus digital payment through the invoice link you get at the end of your job. The whole process is phone-native: you book from your phone, track your technician’s arrival from your phone, and pay from a link on your phone. You’ll get a digital invoice with the itemized breakdown matching the written price you were given before work started. If you prefer a different payment method, call (737) 727-2314 and we’ll work it out.
Specific Services & What to Expect
Do you handle air duct cleaning?
Yes, air duct cleaning is our flagship service, and it’s the one most Los Angeles homeowners call us for. A standard job covers every supply and return vent, the main trunk lines, and the plenum where the ducts meet your HVAC unit. We use negative-pressure extraction, which means the loosened debris goes straight into the vacuum instead of back into your living room. Most jobs run two to four hours, and you’ll get before-and-after photos when we’re done. Call (737) 727-2314 to book.
Do you handle duct repair and sealing?
Yes, we repair and seal ductwork, including disconnected runs, crushed flex duct, and leaky joints that bleed conditioned air into your attic or crawlspace. Sealing leaky ducts is one of the highest-return fixes for a Los Angeles home, because every leaky joint means your AC works harder to cool the same square footage. Repairs usually run $200 to $600 per section, and every repair is backed by a written guarantee plus a free second visit if it fails. Call (737) 727-2314 for a written quote.
How do I know if my ducts actually need cleaning?
You need duct cleaning if you notice visible dust blowing from the vents, a musty smell when the AC or heat kicks on, or a jump in allergy symptoms that follows the system. In Los Angeles specifically, we see a lot of buildup after the spring pollen window and after wildfire smoke events, when fine particles get pulled into the return and settle along the duct walls. If it’s been more than three to five years since your last cleaning, or if you’ve never had one, it’s worth a look. Call (737) 727-2314 and we’ll help you decide.
How does the cleaning process actually work?
Here’s how a standard Cardinal air duct cleaning runs, start to finish:
- Written price first. Before any equipment comes in, you get the price in writing. It doesn’t change.
- Containment setup. We seal off vents and work areas using Abatement Technologies containment units so debris stays in the system, not in your kitchen.
- Negative-pressure extraction. A Nikro HEPA vacuum pulls the whole system under negative pressure so loosened debris goes straight into the vacuum.
- Rotary brush cleaning. Rotobrush brush systems scrub the walls of the trunk lines and branch runs to break loose settled dust.
- Component cleaning. We clean the supply and return vents, registers, and the plenum where ducts meet the HVAC unit.
- Before-and-after photos. You get photo proof of the work, sent through The Relay Standard.
- Digital invoice. You get an itemized invoice by link, payable from your phone.
One safety note: we don’t recommend homeowners open up HVAC ductwork or try to clean a system themselves. Loose debris, sharp metal edges, and the electrical components inside an air handler make it a job for a trained technician. If something looks wrong inside your ducts, don’t dig into it. Call (737) 727-2314 and we’ll take a look.
Local Questions We Get a Lot
Why do Los Angeles homes need duct cleaning more often than people think?
Los Angeles homes face two things most markets don’t: wildfire smoke season and year-round dust. From roughly August through November, when the Santa Ana winds push smoke and ash across the basin, fine particles get pulled into your HVAC return and settle along the inside of the ductwork. Add LA’s dry, dusty air and the pollen that runs heavy through spring, and ducts here collect buildup faster than in a humid climate. If you live anywhere near the foothills, in the Valley, or downwind of a recent burn area, we usually recommend a look every two to three years instead of the once-a-decade pace you’ll see quoted elsewhere. Call (737) 727-2314 and we’ll tell you what makes sense for your address.
Can dirty ducts make my LA energy bill higher?
Yes, dirty ducts can push your summer bill higher, and in Los Angeles that matters more than most people realize. When dust and debris collect inside the ductwork, air moves through the system less freely, so your AC runs longer to hit the same temperature. Leaky duct joints make it worse by pushing conditioned air into your attic or crawlspace instead of your living room. Cleaning the ducts and sealing the leaks lets the system run the way it was designed to, which usually shows up on the next bill. Call (737) 727-2314 for a written quote on cleaning and sealing together.
Do you work with older LA homes, like bungalows and 1920s builds?
Yes, and older Los Angeles homes are some of our most common jobs. Craftsman bungalows in Highland Park, 1920s Spanish builds in Echo Park, and mid-century houses across the Valley often have ductwork that’s been added, extended, or patched over the decades. That history means more disconnected runs, more crushed flex duct, and more leak points than you’d find in a newer build. We check for all of it and give you a straight read on what needs cleaning versus what needs repair. Call (737) 727-2314 to book an assessment.
How long does a cleaning take, and do I need to be home?
A standard single-system air duct cleaning takes two to four hours, and you don’t need to be home the whole time, though we do ask that someone be there to let us in and lock up after. If you add dryer vent cleaning, plan on another 45 to 90 minutes. You’ll get a live trackable arrival window through The Relay Standard so you’re not stuck waiting around. Call (737) 727-2314 to lock in a time.
Do you handle both homes and small commercial spaces?
Yes, we clean ductwork in homes and small commercial spaces like offices, salons, and retail units across Los Angeles. Small commercial jobs usually need the same equipment and process as residential ones, just on a different schedule, often evenings or weekends so we don’t interrupt your business day. Pricing depends on system size and duct layout, so call (737) 727-2314 for a written quote.
Book Your Los Angeles Air Duct Cleaning
If you’ve got a question we didn’t cover here, or you’re ready to lock in a price and a time, we’ll answer the phone. A live person picks up 24/7, you get a written price before any work starts, and every job is backed by the 365-Day Done Right Promise. Call Cardinal Air Duct Cleaning at (737) 727-2314 for a free estimate. Omar Haddad and the Cardinal team are ready when you are.
Have a question we didn’t cover? Call Cardinal Air Duct Cleaning at (737) 727-2314.
Written by Omar Haddad, Owner at Cardinal Air Duct Cleaning, serving Los Angeles.