What Is the Duct Cleaning Process?

Start with a free residential quote

Most residential jobs do not require an on-site estimate. Power Vac can usually provide a flat-rate quote by phone using your address. If you would rather not provide it, tell us the approximate square footage and whether the home is a bungalow, single-family home or townhouse. For dryer vent cleaning, we may ask whether the dryer is on the main or upper level.

After you approve the quote, we share available dates and appointment times. An automated preparation email arrives approximately 24 hours before the visit.

Preparing for the truck and technicians

Please keep the driveway accessible for the service truck, clear a path to the furnace area, and make sure supply vents and cold-air returns can be reached throughout the home.

Creating negative pressure

For standard residential duct cleaning, Power Vac uses professional Hypervac truck-mounted equipment only. An 8-inch vacuum hose is run from the truck into the furnace area and connected to the main supply and return-air trunk lines. This places the duct system under negative pressure so loosened material travels toward the vacuum and containment system.

Clearing vents, returns and main duct lines

Every supply and return-air vent is cleared with high-PSI compressed air. The technicians use rods and agitation whips in the main duct lines to loosen contaminants and debris, moving it toward the 8-inch truck-mounted vacuum instead of releasing it into the living space.

How long the cleaning takes

A typical NADCA-certified residential cleaning takes about 2–4 hours. The exact time depends on the home's size and the duct-system layout. Learn more about residential duct cleaning, read about duct and furnace cleaning, or request a free quote.