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.
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterAir Duct Cleaning in Chicago, IL
HVAC cleaning in Chicago typically runs $400-$850 for a full system, with most brick bungalow and two-flat jobs landing in the middle due to older, oversized ductwork. We’re CleanRun, and we dispatch crews from our Chicago office to handle the specific conditions this city’s housing stock creates: converted gravity-furnace trunks, asbestos-wrapped plenums on northwest-side bungalows, and stacked systems in three-flats that multiply scope fast. Call (224) 344-8881 for a written price before any work starts.
Why Chicago Homes Are Different
Chicago’s roughly 80,000 brick bungalows carry a legacy no Sun Belt duct cleaner encounters: gravity “octopus” furnaces with massive round trunk ducts, later converted to forced air with retrofitted or partially reused sheet metal. Those oversized, irregularly shaped networks create low-velocity dead zones where debris accumulates far beyond modern system rates. On northwest-side jobs, we regularly pull back insulation on plenum boxes to find chrysotile asbestos wrap from the original 1920s-1940s installation, requiring assessment before the HEPA vacuum leaves the truck.
The two-flat and three-flat building type multiplies everything. A single property often holds two or three separate HVAC systems stacked vertically, each with its own filter, blower, and duct network. Lake Michigan’s summer humidity drives mold risk in poorly sealed older ducts, while the October-to-April heating season means six months of high-intensity cycling that loads systems with dust fast.
Our Main Chicago Services
Chicago homeowners call us most often for these three services, each with its own page and pricing:
Air Duct Cleaning in Chicago
Full duct-run cleaning with negative-pressure extraction and a documented photo record of every line, before and after. In Chicago’s converted bungalow systems, we often find debris build-up at the first elbow where the old gravity trunk narrows into forced-air branch lines. Every job gets a written price before work starts and a 365-Day Done Right Promise in writing. Air Duct Cleaning in Chicago
Dryer Vent Cleaning in Chicago
Dryer vent routing in Chicago’s masonry construction often runs through finished walls or shared chases in two-flats, making access more complex than suburban slab-on-grade homes. We clean the full run from appliance to termination with rotary brushing and verify airflow at both ends. Written price before work starts, photo documentation included. Dryer Vent Cleaning in Chicago
Duct Repair & Sealing in Chicago
Older Chicago systems leak at seams, disconnected branch take-offs, and corroded sheet metal. We seal accessible leaks with mastic and mechanical fasteners, replace damaged sections, and document the before-and-after pressure differential. Asbestos-wrapped components are flagged for proper abatement referral before any repair begins. Duct Repair & Sealing in Chicago
What happens when you call
- 1
A real person answersNo phone trees - you reach a local pro.
- 2
You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched.
- 3
A background-checked tech heads outLicensed & insured, dispatched right away.
- 4
You approve before work beginsNothing starts until you say go.
BeforeAfterHVAC Cleaning in Chicago
Chicago’s six-month heating season and converted gravity-furnace ductwork create a specific maintenance profile: blowers loaded with fine particulate, evaporator coils choked with debris that bypassed aging filters, and heat exchangers coated with combustion byproducts from high-cycle operation. Our HVAC Cleaning service addresses each component with equipment matched to the job, including Rotobrush rotary systems and Nikro HEPA vacuums, with every step photographed for the job record.
Evaporator Coil Cleaning
Signs you need it
Weak airflow from registers, ice formation on the coil cabinet, or cooling bills that spike in July humidity despite unchanged thermostat settings.
What it costs in Chicago
Evaporator coil cleaning in Chicago typically runs $250-$450, with accessibility through tight basement ceilings in older homes sometimes adding labor.
How we do it
We access the coil through the plenum, apply foaming cleaner, agitate with soft brushes, rinse with low-pressure water, and capture all runoff with a portable extraction unit.
Blower Cleaning
Signs you need it
Vibration or noise from the air handler, uneven heating between floors in a two-flat, or visible dust puffing from registers at startup.
What it costs in Chicago
Blower assembly cleaning in Chicago ranges $200-$350, with multi-speed or ECM motors requiring additional handling time.
How we do it
We remove the blower assembly, clean the squirrel cage and housing with compressed air and solvent, balance the fan, and reinstall with torque-verified fasteners.
What HVAC Cleaning Costs in Chicago
| Item | Typical range in Chicago |
|---|---|
| Evaporator coil cleaning | $250-$450 |
| Blower assembly cleaning | $200-$350 |
| Full system HVAC cleaning | $400-$850 |
How often should HVAC cleaning happen in Chicago?
Every 3-5 years for most Chicago homes, but converted bungalow systems with low-velocity dead zones often need attention every 2-3 years. Call (224) 344-8881 and we’ll inspect your ductwork to recommend an interval based on what the camera shows.
Can HVAC cleaning fix uneven heating between floors?
It helps when the cause is blower debris or coil restriction, but persistent imbalance in three-flats often points to duct leakage or inadequate return paths that require separate sealing work. We diagnose the root cause before quoting.
Air Quality & Sanitizing in Chicago
Lake Michigan humidity and Chicago’s older, poorly sealed duct systems create conditions where microbial growth outpaces what dry-climate homeowners face. Our Air Quality & Sanitizing service targets mold colonization, bacterial load, and persistent odors with application-specific treatments, not generic fogging, and every treatment is photographed before and after with the photo record delivered as standard.
Mold Treatment
Signs you need it
Musty odor at registers, visible growth on vent covers, or allergy symptoms that worsen when the system cycles after humid summer months.
What it costs in Chicago
Targeted mold treatment in Chicago runs $300-$600 per system, with full duct-wide application ranging $500-$900 depending on system count in multi-unit buildings.
How we do it
We apply EPA-registered antimicrobial through the duct network using controlled droplet size, let it dwell per manufacturer spec, then verify with post-treatment inspection.
UV Light Installation
Signs you need it
Recurrent mold after cleaning, high humidity in the basement air handler location, or occupants with respiratory sensitivity to airborne microbes.
What it costs in Chicago
UV-C lamp installation in Chicago ranges $400-$750 including the lamp, mounting hardware, and electrical connection to the blower circuit.
How we do it
We mount the lamp downstream of the evaporator coil with sight-glass access, wire to the blower relay for automatic operation, and verify UV intensity with a meter.
What Air Quality & Sanitizing Costs in Chicago
| Item | Typical range in Chicago |
|---|---|
| Mold treatment (targeted) | $300-$600 |
| UV light installation | $400-$750 |
| Full air quality package | $600-$1,200 |
Does mold treatment require leaving the house?
No, but we ask occupants to avoid the immediate work zone for two hours post-application while the treatment dwells and the system runs through a purge cycle. We ventilate thoroughly and document air quality before you return to normal use.
How do I know the mold was actually killed?
We photograph the treatment area before and after, and for visible growth we show you the cleared surface in the photo record. For duct interiors, the antimicrobial we use carries EPA registration for the specific organisms found, and we note the product and dwell time in your written job record.
Brands We Service in Chicago
We clean and service systems built around Honeywell, Aprilaire, and Abatement Technologies components, with replacement parts stocked for common Chicago installations. Most filter and media replacements ship same-day or are carried on the truck. our brands
Pricing for Air Duct Cleaning in Chicago, IL
| Service | Typical range in Chicago |
|---|---|
| Standard air duct cleaning (single system) | $350-$650 |
| Air duct cleaning (two-flat, 2 systems) | $600-$1,100 |
| Air duct cleaning (three-flat, 3 systems) | $850-$1,500 |
| Dryer vent cleaning | $150-$275 |
| Evaporator coil cleaning | $250-$450 |
| Blower assembly cleaning | $200-$350 |
| Full HVAC cleaning | $400-$850 |
| Mold treatment (targeted) | $300-$600 |
| UV light installation | $400-$750 |
| Duct repair & sealing (per system) | $350-$800 |
Chicago jobs run higher when asbestos-wrapped components require assessment before work begins, or when converted bungalow ductwork needs extra access panels cut. Every price is written and agreed before any work starts, Haven Standard Clause 1, with no per-vent add-ons or post-arrival upsells.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Chicago
We run Chicago crews daily across the metro, with same-week scheduling typical and emergency response for air quality concerns. These neighborhoods represent our core routes:
- Logan Square
- Portage Park
- Beverly
- Hyde Park
- Bridgeport
Service Area - Cities Near Chicago
Our Chicago office dispatches crews throughout the near north and west suburbs. We regularly service Skokie, IL for its mid-century ranch and split-level stock, Glenview, IL for larger custom homes with complex zoning systems, Des Plaines, IL for its mix of postwar and contemporary construction, and Lombard, IL for downtown Victorian and suburban infill properties.
Serving Chicago, IL - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Chicago 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 Chicago
No permit is required for standard cleaning or sanitizing, but if we encounter asbestos-containing insulation on pre-1940s bungalow systems, Illinois law mandates abatement assessment before disturbance. We halt work, document the condition, and refer you to a licensed abatement contractor with no charge for our inspection time.
Most Chicago addresses book within 3-5 business days, with priority scheduling for visible mold or post-renovation dust concerns. We do not claim same-day dispatch, but we keep emergency slots for air quality issues that affect occupant health.
Yes, with written authorization from the property owner or condo association. In Chicago’s two-flat and three-flat market, we coordinate directly with landlords or building managers and deliver the photo record to whoever pays the invoice, with tenant copies available on request.
What happens when you call
- 1A real person answersNo phone trees - talk to a local air duct cleaning pro.
- 2You get an upfront price rangeHonest numbers before anyone is dispatched. No surprises.
- 3We come out and measureLicensed & insured, at a time that suits you - the visit and the quote are both free.
- 4You get the price in writingLine-itemed, yours to keep, and nothing starts until you say go.
What Chicago Customers Say
"My allergies genuinely improved. They also told me the ducts did not need sealing, which I had been quoted for elsewhere."
- Petra K."Flat price agreed up front, no per-vent add-ons at the end. That was the whole reason I did not call the coupon company."
- Suzanne B."They found a disconnected duct in the crawl space that had been dumping conditioned air under the house for years. Photographed it, quoted the repair, fixed it."
- Devon A.