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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Before
AfterAir Duct Cleaning Before & After in Washington, DC
We’ve cleaned ducts in Capitol Hill row houses, Cleveland Park basements, and Anacostia bungalows since 2013. Every job ends with a photo record of every duct run, before and after. The camera doesn’t flatter us, and it doesn’t lie. Below are representative jobs from across Washington, DC, showing what we found, what we did, and what the homeowner received in writing.
Recent Transformations
Heavy Debris Build-Up in Georgetown Federal-Style Home
The camera showed a 2.5-inch mat of compacted dust and construction debris at the plenum (the main distribution box where all duct runs connect) in a home last renovated in 2019. The previous contractor had never cleaned the original galvanized steel runs. We used negative-pressure extraction (a high-powered vacuum that creates suction throughout the system while we agitate debris with a Rotobrush) and removed 11 pounds of material. The photo record showed bare metal at every register (the vent cover where air enters the room). Written price before work started: $420 for the complete system.
Pet Dander and Hair in Shepherd Park Split-Level
A German shepherd and two cats had lived in this home for eight years. The flex duct (the ribbed, flexible tubing common in additions and retrofits) in the basement was packed with hair that had formed dense clogs at each elbow. We cut access panels at two points, extracted the material with a Nikro portable HEPA unit, and sealed the panels with mastic (a thick, permanent sealant, not tape). The homeowner’s allergy symptoms had been misattributed to “Washington pollen season” for three springs. The after photos showed clear duct runs from the furnace to the second-floor registers. Flat price: $385, agreed in writing before we touched a panel.
Post-Renovation Concrete Dust in Navy Yard Condo
A kitchen and bath renovation in a 2015 building had pumped fine concrete and drywall dust through the shared HVAC system. The coating was visible as a gray film on the inside of the duct runs, particularly the return air path (the section that pulls air back to the furnace for reconditioning). We used Abatement Technologies contact vacuuming followed by compressed-air whipping to dislodge the settled material. The building’s management had recommended a company that quoted $89; that outfit planned to run a shop vac at one register for twenty minutes. Our written scope specified cleaning all 14 supply and 4 return runs, with before-and-after documentation of each. Price: $560.
Mold Staining in Foggy Bottom High-Rise Unit
The insulated flex duct in this 1980s building had developed dark staining where the insulation faced (the inner liner) had trapped moisture from an improperly sealed bathroom exhaust. We don’t guess at mold; we document what the camera shows. In this case, the staining was superficial, but the moisture problem was active. We cleaned the affected runs, applied a Guardsman EPA-registered sanitizer to the metal surfaces, and noted the exhaust leak in the written report for the building engineer. The photo record included close-ups of the treated areas and the exhaust connection that needed repair. Air Duct Cleaning plus sanitizing: $495, with the written price delivered before work began under Haven Standard Clause 1.
Decades of Neglect in Brightwood Park Bungalow
This 1924 home still had the original gravity furnace ductwork converted to forced air in the 1970s. The rectangular metal runs were lined with what we call “duct velour” - decades of layered dust, cooking grease, and residue from the oil furnace era, compacted to a felt-like consistency. We used a combination of mechanical brushing and negative-pressure extraction, working through access points we cut and later sealed. The job took a full day. The homeowner, who had lived there since 1988, said she’d never seen inside the ducts and hadn’t known what to ask. We showed her the before photos on a tablet before we started. The after photos showed the original metal at every point. Written price: $680 for the complete system, including the sealed access panels.
Dryer Vent Fire Hazard in Takoma Row House
The homeowner called because the dryer was taking two cycles. The camera showed a near-total blockage of lint at the exterior termination (the vent cap where exhaust leaves the building), with additional accumulation in the 18-foot vertical run through a shared wall. This is a genuine fire hazard; lint ignition accounts for thousands of residential fires annually. We used a rotary brush system with reverse airflow to clear the run and replaced the crimped foil transition duct (the flexible line behind the dryer, which traps lint in its ridges) with a smooth metal section. The dryer cycled normally afterward. We photographed the blockage, the cleared vent, and the new transition. Price: $195, written before work started. We also noted that the exterior cap’s flapper was stuck open, which we pointed out for the homeowner to address with a handyman.
What Every CleanRun Customer Receives
These aren’t exceptional cases. Every job since 2013 has followed the same protocol:
- Written price before any work starts - Haven Standard Clause 1. No exceptions. No “call for a quote” bait-and-switch.
- Documented Photo Record of every duct run - before and after, delivered as part of the standard job record. You see what we saw.
- 365-Day Done Right Promise - backed in writing on every job, not a policy subject to manager approval.
- Background-checked, uniformed technicians - Haven Standard Clause 3: Verified Crews. Name and photo sent before arrival.
Equipment on your job will be from our standard roster: Rotobrush, Nikro, Abatement Technologies, Honeywell, Aprilaire, or Guardsman. We name the brands so you can look them up. We’ve got nothing to hide.
BeforeAfterWant Results Like These?
Call (240) 363-3380. A live person answers, 24/7. We’ll schedule a walk-through, deliver a written price on the spot, and show you exactly what your ducts look like before we agree on scope. Free Second Opinion on any competitor’s written estimate - bring it in, we’ll put our number next to it.
Written by Tomas Reyes, Owner at CleanRun Air Duct Cleaning Washington, serving Washington, DC since 2013.