After cottonwood season, a summer of wildfire smoke, and another winter of nonstop furnace use — you'd be surprised what's living inside your ductwork. We've pulled out things that would make you rethink ever turning on the fan again. Professional duct cleaning isn't a luxury in Boulder; it's maintenance that the climate demands.
| Service | What's Included | When You Need It |
|---|---|---|
| Duct Cleaning | HEPA-filtered vacuum extraction of all supply and return ducts, register cleaning, main trunk cleaning | Every 3-5 years, after renovation, after wildfire smoke |
| Vent Installation | New supply and return vent placement, register installation, duct run extension | Home additions, renovations, new rooms |
| Duct Repair | Leak sealing with mastic, joint reconnection, insulation replacement, flex duct repair | Uneven temperatures, high energy bills, visible damage |
| Duct Replacement | Full ductwork replacement with properly sized, insulated duct runs | Deteriorated original ductwork, system upgrades |
| Duct Sealing | Aeroseal or manual mastic sealing of all joints and connections | Energy efficiency improvement, pressure imbalances |
Boulder's environment creates specific challenges for ductwork that homeowners in milder climates don't face. Cottonwood season in June blankets outdoor air intakes with fiber that gets pulled into return ducts and clogs filters rapidly. Wildfire smoke from mountain fires deposits fine particulate throughout duct systems that regular filters can't fully capture. And Boulder's dry winter air causes duct tape and older flexible connections to crack and separate, creating leaks that waste conditioned air.
Many Boulder homes built in the South Boulder and Table Mesa neighborhoods during the 1950s and 1960s have original galvanized steel ductwork. After 60-70 years, these ducts develop interior rust, joint separation, and insulation degradation. Cleaning alone isn't sufficient for severely deteriorated ductwork — replacement with modern insulated flex or rigid duct is the lasting solution.
We recommend duct cleaning every 3-5 years for most Boulder homes. Homes near open space with cottonwood trees, homes with pets, or households with allergy sufferers may benefit from cleaning every 2-3 years. After wildfire smoke events, immediate cleaning is advisable.
Professional duct cleaning for a typical Boulder home costs $300 to $500 depending on system size, number of vents, and accessibility. Be cautious of companies advertising $99 whole-house duct cleaning — these often involve aggressive upselling or inadequate service.
Yes. The Department of Energy estimates that leaky ductwork wastes 25-30% of conditioned air. In Boulder's climate, where heating and cooling costs are significant, sealing and insulating ductwork can reduce energy bills by $200-400 annually.
Signs include uneven temperatures between rooms, visible dust blowing from vents, higher than normal energy bills, rattling or whistling sounds from ducts, and musty odors when the system runs. Our techs use pressure testing to identify leaks invisible to the naked eye.
Yes. We install new ductwork for additions, renovations, and homes converting from radiant or baseboard heating to forced-air systems. We also replace deteriorated ductwork in older Boulder homes — particularly the original galvanized steel ducts common in 1950s-60s construction.
