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 Los Angeles?
Air duct cleaning in Los Angeles typically costs between $350 and $700 for a standard single-family home, with most one-story houses in the 1,500 to 2,200 square foot range landing around $425 to $550. Larger two-story homes, homes with multiple HVAC zones, or properties that haven’t had the ducts serviced in several years usually run $700 to $1,100. Dryer vent cleaning, which we often do on the same visit, is priced separately at $125 to $225 depending on vent length and roof access.
Those numbers are for a real clean, not a quick pass with a shop vac and a camera phone. A proper Air Duct Cleaning means every supply register, return, trunk line, and the air handler cabinet itself, done with truck-mounted or portable equipment from Rotobrush and Nikro, and backed by our 365-Day Done Right Promise. We’re Morton’s Air Duct Cleaning, and we’ve been working on Los Angeles homes since 2005. You get a written price before any work starts, every time.
Key Takeaways
- Standard LA homes: $350 to $700; larger multi-zone homes: $700 to $1,100.
- Dryer vent cleaning runs $125 to $225 and adds roughly 45 minutes to the visit.
- Price depends mostly on square footage, number of registers, duct accessibility, and how long it’s been since the last clean.
- You get a written price before we start, and it doesn’t change on the invoice.
- A live person answers our phone 24/7 at (323) 918-4345, and estimates are free.
Air Duct Cleaning Cost Breakdown (2026)
Here’s what the line items actually look like for Los Angeles homes this year. These ranges reflect what we quote and what the wider LA market charges, so you can sanity-check any estimate you receive. Every job we quote includes the full system, not just the visible vents near the front door.
| Service Item | Typical LA Price Range (2026) |
|---|---|
| Standard single-system home, up to 10 registers | $350 – $525 |
| Homes with 11-20 registers | $525 – $750 |
| Two-story or dual-zone systems | $750 – $1,100 |
| Air handler / furnace cabinet cleaning | $75 – $150 (usually bundled) |
| Return duct cleaning, per return | $40 – $80 |
| Dryer vent cleaning | $125 – $225 |
| Coil cleaning add-on | $150 – $300 |
| Sanitizing fog / antimicrobial treatment | $100 – $250 |
| After-hours or weekend scheduling | Usually no upcharge from us |
What pushes a quote toward the top of those ranges? Mostly reach and mess. A 1930s Spanish bungalow in Echo Park with original ductwork that runs through a low crawlspace takes longer than a 2015 build in Playa Vista with clean flex duct and easy attic access. If your system has never been cleaned and you have shedding pets, expect the tech to spend more time on the returns and the blower wheel. None of that changes the price we wrote down before we started.
Be careful with quotes that come in dramatically under these ranges. In Los Angeles, a $99 duct cleaning is usually a vent-face wipe with a vacuum attachment, often paired with a hard upsell once the crew is inside. The price you see on the truck is not the price you pay at the door. If you want to compare what a fair offer looks like, our home page lays out how we scope a job.
What Affects Air Duct Cleaning Pricing in Los Angeles
Los Angeles isn’t one housing market. It’s dozens, and the way ducts were run in each one changes the labor. Here’s what moves the number up or down.
- Home size and register count. A 1,200 square foot bungalow in Highland Park might have eight registers; a 2,800 square foot home in Encino can have twenty. More openings mean more time, more hose runs, and a higher price. This is the single biggest driver of your quote.
- Duct accessibility. Attic runs in Woodland Hills get brutally hot by mid-morning, which slows work and means we schedule earlier. Crawlspace systems under older homes in Koreatown and Boyle Heights can take double the time of an attic system because of clearance and hose management.
- Duct material and condition. Rigid metal duct cleans easily. Flex duct with sagging sections traps debris and needs slower, more careful work so we don’t tear it. If we find disconnected joints, crushed runs, or pest debris, that affects the scope and we’ll tell you before we proceed.
- Years since the last cleaning. A home cleaned three years ago needs a lighter service than one that’s never been touched. In LA, homes near major corridors like the 10 and the 101 accumulate more road dust, and we see returns that are noticeably heavier in those areas.
- Pets and occupants. Two golden retrievers in a Sherman Oaks house means a lot more hair in the return grilles and blower compartment. We bring pet-safe product options where they’re appropriate and pick quieter tools when there’s a napping kid or a nervous dog in the house.
- Add-ons you actually need. Coil cleaning, sanitizing, or dryer vent work are quoted separately. We’ll recommend them only when we see a reason during the inspection, and you decide.
One more local factor: wildfire smoke seasons. After a heavy smoke event, we get a wave of calls from the foothill neighborhoods, Altadena, La Cañada, Sunland-Tujunga, and around the Sepulveda Pass. Smoke residue settles in ductwork and filter housings, and that’s a different cleaning job than routine maintenance. It’s still priced within the ranges above, but the returns usually need extra attention.
What’s Included in a Morton’s Air Duct Cleaning
Price only means something next to scope. Here’s what a standard visit from us covers, so you can compare apples to apples when you’re getting quotes.
- Full system cleaning of supply and return ducts, trunk lines, registers, grilles, and the air handler cabinet, using Rotobrush and Nikro equipment. We also carry Honeywell, Aprilaire, Abatement Technologies, and Guardsman products for related components and filter work.
- Written price before any work starts. No verbal estimates that grow legs. The number you approve is the number on the invoice.
- Shoe covers and drop cloths from the moment we walk in. Hardwood in Los Feliz, white carpet in Calabasas, tile in Glendale: it’s all protected the same way. This is part of the Cedarwell Care Promise, and it’s not optional for our crews.
- Background-checked, uniformed technicians who work to the Cedarwell C.A.R.E. values. You’ll know who’s in your home.
- A photo of the clean-up before we leave. You see the workspace returned to better than we found it, not just told about it.
- The 365-Day Done Right Promise. If something isn’t right within a year of the job, we come back and make it right. It’s stamped on every job, not offered only when you ask.
Families come to us after a bad experience somewhere else: a crew that tracked mud through the hallway, a bill that jumped $200 at the door, a rushed job that skipped the returns entirely. We built our process around not being that company. Paul Adeyemi leads our team, and the standard he sets is simple: leave the home better than we found it, and charge what we said we’d charge.
How to Save on Air Duct Cleaning
There’s no magic coupon. The savings come from scoping the job correctly and not paying for things you don’t need.
- Bundle the dryer vent. Since we’re already set up with hoses and equipment, adding dryer vent cleaning to a duct cleaning visit usually costs less than booking it separately. It’s also the one item on the list that genuinely matters for safety, since lint buildup is a leading cause of house fires.
- Skip the sanitizing fog unless there’s a reason. If you’ve had water damage, pest activity, or smoke intrusion, it’s worth it. If your ducts are just dusty, it isn’t. We’ll tell you which one you are, even when it means a smaller invoice.
- Get the coil cleaned at the same time as the ducts, not later. The system is already open. Doing it as a separate visit costs more in labor.
- Ask about multi-unit and rental discounts. If you own a duplex in Palms or manage a small building, ask when you call. We can quote the whole property at once.
- Get three written quotes and compare scope, not just price. The cheapest bid is often the least work. A quote that doesn’t mention returns, the air handler, or the number of registers is a quote for something less than a full cleaning.
- Book during a normal weekday if your schedule allows. We don’t upcharge for evenings or weekends, but weekday slots are easier to get on short notice if you’re flexible.
Estimates from us are free and there’s no obligation. Call (323) 918-4345 and a live person will answer, day or night, and set up a time that works around your household.
How Long Does Air Duct Cleaning Take in Los Angeles?
A standard single-family home takes two to four hours. Larger homes with two systems, crawlspace ductwork, or heavy pet hair run four to six hours. We schedule in blocks, so we’re not racing to the next job, and if a napping toddler is in the house we’ll route the noisier equipment away from bedrooms. Dryer vent cleaning adds roughly 45 minutes.
Traffic matters here. A morning job in Santa Monica and an afternoon job in Pasadena is a real drive for our crews, so we plan routes by neighborhood to keep arrival windows honest. You’ll get a window, not a four-hour guess.
Is Air Duct Cleaning Worth the Cost in Los Angeles?
For most LA homes, yes, on a two-to-five-year schedule. The case is strongest when you’ve just moved in, when you’ve finished a renovation, when you have shedding pets or allergy sufferers in the house, or when your system hasn’t been touched in five-plus years. LA’s air is a factor too: road dust, pollen, and wildfire smoke all pass through your filter and settle in the ductwork over time.
Where it’s not worth it: brand-new construction with clean ducts, or a home cleaned last year with no changes. We’ll say so if that’s your situation. A written price is only useful if the recommendation behind it is honest.
FAQs – Air Duct Cleaning Cost
How much does air duct cleaning cost in Los Angeles?
Most Los Angeles homes pay between $350 and $700, with larger or multi-zone homes running $700 to $1,100. The exact figure depends on register count, duct accessibility, and how long it’s been since the last cleaning; for comparison, see How Much Does Air Duct Cleaning Cost in Miami, FL? (2026 Price Guide). Call (323) 918-4345 for a free written estimate specific to your home.
Is $99 air duct cleaning a scam?
Usually, yes, at least as advertised. A $99 price in the LA market doesn’t cover a full-system clean with professional equipment, so it’s typically a vent-face wipe followed by an in-home upsell. If you want to know what’s actually included, ask any company to list the returns, the trunk lines, and the air handler in writing. Estimates from us are free at (323) 918-4345.
Is it cheaper to clean ducts or replace them?
Cleaning is almost always cheaper. Duct cleaning in Los Angeles runs $350 to $1,100, while replacing a full duct system typically starts in the several-thousand-dollar range before drywall and permitting. For Nashville pricing, see How Much Does Air Duct Cleaning Cost in Nashville-Davidson, TN? (2026 Price Guide). Replacement only makes sense when ducts are crushed, disconnected, or contaminated beyond cleaning. Call (323) 918-4345 and we’ll tell you honestly which situation you’re in.
How much does dryer vent cleaning cost in Los Angeles?
Dryer vent cleaning runs $125 to $225 in LA, with roof-accessed vents and long runs at the higher end. It’s the one service here with a real safety case, since lint buildup is a leading cause of house fires. Booking it alongside a duct cleaning usually costs less than booking it alone. Call (323) 918-4345 for a combined quote.
Can you clean my ducts the same day I call?
Often, yes, depending on the day and the neighborhood. We keep same-day openings for homes with urgent situations like recent water damage or a renovation just finished. Call (323) 918-4345 and a live person will check the schedule while you’re on the phone.
Do you charge extra for weekends or evenings?
No. A live person answers our phone 24/7, and we don’t upcharge for evening or weekend scheduling. The written price you get is the price, regardless of when we come. Call (323) 918-4345 to find a slot that works around your family’s routine.
Why Families in Los Angeles Choose Morton’s
We founded Morton’s in 2005, and we’ve been part of the Cedarwell family of independently owned companies since the beginning. That means we’re local, we answer to our neighbors, and we hold ourselves to the Cedarwell Care Promise on every job: written price upfront, shoe covers and drop cloths on every visit, background-checked uniformed techs, and a photo of the clean-up before we leave. Our equipment comes from Rotobrush, Nikro, Honeywell, Aprilaire, Abatement Technologies, and Guardsman, because entry-level rental gear doesn’t do the job on a real LA home.
You can read more about how we work and what to expect on our home page, or just call and ask us anything. We’d rather answer a question now than have you surprised later.
Get Your Free Air Duct Cleaning Estimate
If you’re in Los Angeles and want a real number for your home, call (323) 918-4345. A live person answers 24/7, estimates are free, and you’ll get a written price before anyone touches your ductwork. Whether you’re in a bungalow in Highland Park, a two-story in Sherman Oaks, or a rental unit in Palms, we’ll tell you what your system needs and what it costs, and we’ll leave the house cleaner than we found it.
Pricing reflects the Los Angeles market as of 2026. Morton’s Air Duct Cleaning offers free estimates - call (323) 918-4345.
Written by Paul Adeyemi, Owner at Morton’s Air Duct Cleaning, serving Los Angeles since 2005.
What Our Customers Say
"New house, old dusty ducts. They were gentle in the house, laid down drop cloths, and double checked every register was sealed back up. Air smells fresh now."
- Scott Hemmings"Friendly, calm crew that clearly cared about the house. Covered their shoes, protected the floors, and double checked they'd closed up every vent cover properly. Would have them back."
- Omar Zaid"Ducts and dryer vent both. They put runners down the whole hall and wore booties. Spotless after, and they showed me photos of what came out. Worth every penny."
- Bonnie Vo