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In the UK, the average cost for air duct cleaning typically ranges from £200 to £1000, with some jobs costing as much as £1300.
Air duct cleaning in the UK typically costs between £180 and £400 for standard domestic properties, with larger or more complex systems reaching £600 or more. Commercial cleaning ranges from £600 to over £2,000, depending on scale and compliance requirements.
The cleaning of air ducts is a valuable part of keeping up homes and buildings. In UK buildings that have ducted ventilation systems, MVHR units, or even an air conditioning system, cleaning ducts may enhance the quality of the air, decrease allergens, and increase energy efficiency. However, how much does it cost exactly?
This detailed cost guide will be about price, aspects that influence cost, average cost by region of operation, and value-added by the air duct cleaning. Understanding these is necessary whether you own the house you live in, rent out a property, or are a commercial establishment property owner.
There is a possibility of a significant variation in the cost of air duct cleaning on a nationwide basis within the UK; based on the size of your house, the total amount of vents or registers, how technical your duct system is, and whether or not you will need other services such as mould clearance, or a treatment of antibacterial properties.
The following is a cost breakdown of how much you can pay to have a system installed in various property sizes and how much more typical add-ons will cost you.
In case you are residing in smaller premises like a studio apartment or a one-bedroom apartment, there is a chance that the air duct systems are not so sophisticated and difficult to reach. For these homes, cleaning costs typically range between £120 and £180. Such pricing normally includes cleaning of the supply and open ducts of the basic ventilation system, which is usually adequate in such small living quarters.
For an average-sized home, such as a two or three-bedroom semi-detached house, you can expect to pay between £180 and £300. These houses have a higher number of vents and longer duct runs, and therefore, it is natural that these ducts will take longer and more effort to clean completely.
The four-bed homes are more likely to have more complicated duct systems and many registers. In these properties, air duct cleaning services generally cost between £300 and £500. Properties with five or more bedrooms — especially those with multiple storeys or zoned heating and cooling systems may see prices rise further, often reaching between £500 and £800, depending on the total number of vents and how accessible the ductwork is.
Modern energy-efficient homes designed with MVHR (such as are found to be increasingly popular in housing) must be cleaned using even more specialized knowledge. Cleaning services for these systems generally range from £250 to £400. This normally involves check-up and cleaning of the filters, intake, and ducting, and the main MVHR body.
Some companies provide or advise on the preliminary inspection of the ductwork before performing the complete cleaning. This may entail the use of a camera or visiting different parts of the system to ensure there is no dust accumulation, blockage, mould, or presence of vermin. Inspection costs usually fall between £50 and £100.
Another general add-on service is antibacterial fogging that aids in cleaning the insides of the ductwork. This treatment involves dispersing a disinfectant mist throughout the system and typically costs between £80 and £150.
Removal of mould within the ductwork is a labour-intensive process, and it comes with a corresponding price. If the technician identifies visible mould or microbial growth during inspection, the removal process can cost anywhere from £100 to £250.
The commercial air duct cleaning is much more costly owing to the magnitude of the job and the complexity of most commercial HVAC systems. Prices for offices, shops, or industrial properties usually start around £600 and can exceed £2,000 for large buildings with multiple systems or floors.
This method is more sustained and has better visibility with regard to estimating cost, particularly for homes that are not conforming or those developed over time.
For homes with six vents or fewer, prices usually start from around £150 and go up to £200. This scope usually involves both the supply and the return duct cleanings that apply to tiny apartments, 1-bedroom houses, or small houses that do not have many ducts.
If your home has between 7 and 12 vents, you can expect to pay between £250 and £400. This is an average banding of two-bedroom houses. The total price may be determined by the ease with which the vents can be reached and how the ducting is crossed by the levels.
For homes with 13 to 20 vents often found in four-bedroom or larger properties the cost of duct cleaning typically falls between £400 and £600. They take longer to clean and it might involve more than one technician or take longer to get them serviced.
In the case of over twenty vents in your property, especially in big detached houses, longer properties, or multi-storied houses, the cost of cleaning might increase significantly. It’s not uncommon to see prices in the region of £600 to £800 or more. The amount it will cost to install is usually affected by the nature of the design and availability of the duct system.
The air duct cleaning cost depends on various factors. Here are some of them:
The bigger your property is, the more ductwork it has. The greater the number of ducts, the greater the time consumed during the cleaning process, the more labour is required, and the cost could increase. For example:
Multiple rooms and multiple vents in the air system of your home make the work more. Most businesses price higher when the number of vents surpasses 12 or 15.
MVHR Systems (Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery): Often found in newer homes, cleaning these typically costs £250 to £400, depending on the brand and accessibility.
Ducted AC or Heating: Homes with integrated heating and cooling ducts may have more complex systems that require £300 to £600 or more for a full clean.
In case your system is not overly dusty, then the process will be quicker and cost-effective. However, when the inside of the ductwork contains thick debris, pest droppings, dampness, or a growth of black mold, then this is a more specialised and time-consuming cleaning job. This can increase the price by £100 to £250, depending on the severity.
These systems whose lines go through voids in the ceiling, lofts, basements or limited crawl spaces might be time-consuming when it comes to cleaning. Other companies will incur additional charges on call-out or limit at 10 percent or 15 percent on restricted access.
In case of bacteria or odours, fogging of ducts by a sanitising mist may be suggested by companies. It is a voluntary service and is handy in houses with occupants who are asthmatics, allergic or those with low immunity.
In the case of moulds inside the ductwork, more cleaning will be required. This normally involves scrubbing of hands or spraying of ducts using special products.
Some companies will provide or necessitate a video inspection of the ducts before quoting.
It can be offset by the price you pay to have it cleaned. You must confirm the inspection price.
In case your HVAC or MVHR system requires removable filters, there is a possibility that cleaning firms can replace them.
Access equipment can be necessary in places of business or in very tall buildings.
Small shops, salons, or cafés usually pay between £400 and £600. These are low-ventilation and low-complexity building systems. Food service industries are the ones that might have to be cleaned regularly.
Offices up to 10,000 square feet usually cost £800 to £1,500. A larger number of the vents are found in these buildings, and more usually in different rooms. In case the ceiling is difficult to access, the price will be higher.
Larger buildings like hotels or department stores often cost £1,500 or more. Complex systems or extended ductwork can push the price above £2,500.
Kitchens have to wash extractor fans and canopy ducts in their commercial kitchen. This can prevent fires and fulfill the terms of the insurance. Prices for services like professional oven cleaning range from £300 to £1,000 depending on how greasy the system is.
The air duct cleaning should be done in most buildings after every 12 or 24 months. It is frequently required by food businesses and kitchens. To comply with TR19 standards, documentation is necessary on a regular basis.
The price of air duct cleanings depends on the place. The highest prices are experienced in London and the South East. A standard job there may cost £250 to £450. In the Midlands and North West, costs range from £180 to £350. In Yorkshire and the North East, prices can be as low as £150. In Scotland and Wales, most jobs cost between £180 and £320.
Air duct cleaning cost has a varied range depending on your needs. The supplemental work, such as mould elimination and antibacterial fogging may lead to a higher overall cost but those are optional elements to extend the value of the investment in terms of better air quality and the performance of the system, as well as healthy interior space. Homeowners can benefit by making price comparisons and have a grasp of what they are getting by checking several free air duct cleaning quotes.
