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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After
Before
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Before
AfterAir Duct Cleaning in Irvine, CA
Dryer vent cleaning in Irvine runs $89 to $189 for a standard single-story home vent run, and most jobs are completed in under two hours. What makes Irvine different is the housing stock: the village-era homes in University Park and Woodbridge, built in the late 1970s and early 1980s, share near-identical attic duct and vent routes that have now reached 40 plus years of use. Our crews see the same failure points repeated block after block: lint packed into long horizontal runs, crushed flex at the exterior wall, and bird or rodent activity at dry old termination caps. Call (806) 606-6902 for a written price before any work starts, no exceptions.
Why Irvine Homes Are Different
Irvine sits directly in the Santa Ana wind corridor, with the eastern edge of the city abutting fire-prone Silverado and Trabuco Canyons. The 2020 Silverado Fire started at the mouth of those canyons and pushed wildfire smoke and fine ash into thousands of Irvine HVAC intakes within hours. That was not a one-off: every significant Santa Ana event pulls chaparral ash and Mojave desert dust through the eastern passes and deposits it into duct systems as an episodic, heavy loading, not a gradual accumulation. A duct system that looked acceptable in October can be carrying a measurable layer of fine gray particulate by the first week of November.
The housing stock compounds this. Irvine was built in discrete Irvine Company village waves. University Park and Woodbridge date to the late 1970s and early 1980s. Northwood and Westpark followed through the late 1980s and 1990s. Large contiguous neighborhoods therefore share identically aged flex-duct systems now 30 to 45 years old. In the original village homes, many attics still run sheet-metal trunk-and-branch layouts feeding early-generation flex duct, and after four decades the inner liner at the boot connections has often partially collapsed or separated. A technician who does not probe those joints before running negative-pressure equipment will dislodge debris into the living space rather than capture it. We do probe them, every time, and the photo record shows what was found.
Our Main Irvine Services
Most Irvine homeowners first call us for one of two jobs: full air duct cleaning or HVAC coil and blower cleaning. Here is what each involves in Irvine specifically.
Air Duct Cleaning in Irvine
In the village-era homes of University Park and Woodbridge, full air duct cleaning means working with trunk-and-branch metal layouts feeding 40-year-old flex runs. The inner liners shed, the joints separate, and the Santa Ana loading sits on top of that. Our Air Duct Cleaning in Irvine process includes a camera inspection of every accessible run before extraction begins, so the written scope reflects what is actually inside the ducts, not a guess. Negative-pressure extraction follows, with the photo record delivered at the end of the job.
HVAC Cleaning in Irvine
Irvine attics routinely exceed 130 degrees in summer, and that heat load pushes HVAC systems harder than the equipment sees in coastal cities just a few miles west. Evaporator coils in Irvine homes collect embedded fine particulate from Santa Ana events, and blower wheels develop a coating that cuts airflow. Our HVAC Cleaning in Irvine service covers coil cleaning, blower wheel removal and wash, and condensate line clearing. The written price is set before a single panel comes off.
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.
BeforeAfterDryer Vent Cleaning in Irvine
Dryer vent cleaning in Irvine is the service we recommend most often once we inspect the vent route. The village homes in University Park and Woodbridge share a common design flaw: long, low-slope horizontal vent runs that pass through baking-hot attics at 130 to 140 degrees in summer. Lint that would blow clear in a shorter coastal route instead clings and compacts along those runs, and when the Santa Ana winds kick up, the backdraft at the exterior cap drives it deeper. The result is a vent that restricts airflow steadily, raises drying time, and loads the run with fuel that a single dryer-cycle spark can reach. The solution is documented extraction, not a brush shoved through blindly. That is what our Dryer Vent Cleaning service provides, and the photo record proves it was done.
Dryer Vent Inspection
Signs you need it
Clothes take two or more cycles to dry, the outside flap barely opens on a run, or the laundry room feels humid while the dryer is on.
What it costs in Irvine
A standalone dryer vent inspection in Irvine runs $45 to $75, which covers the camera probe of the full run and a written condition report with photos.
How we do it
We run a camera through the full vent path from dryer connection to exterior cap, record the restriction points and liner condition, then hand you a written report with the photo record and a flat price for any cleaning or repair the run needs.
Vent Cleaning
Signs you need it
Visible lint at the exterior cap, a burning smell during the dry cycle, or the dryer shuts down mid-cycle on its high-limit switch.
What it costs in Irvine
Full dryer vent cleaning in Irvine runs $89 to $189 depending on vent length, roof or wall termination, and the degree of packing inside the run.
How we do it
We connect a professional negative-pressure extraction system at the dryer side, run rotating agitation through the full vent path, and finish by verifying airflow at the exterior cap with the camera record before and after.
Lint Removal
Signs you need it
The dryer drum is clear but the cycle still runs long, and the exterior flap barely lifts when the dryer pushes air.
What it costs in Irvine
Heavy lint removal, where the run has compacted blockages and the extraction requires multiple passes, runs $120 to $189 in Irvine.
How we do it
We work the packed lint out with rotating agitation and negative pressure, section by section, until the camera shows the full run clear from dryer to cap.
Bird Guard Installation
Signs you need it
You find nesting material at the exterior cap, hear scratching in the wall near the vent, or see birds entering the termination point repeatedly.
What it costs in Irvine
Bird guard installation in Irvine adds $45 to $85, set by the cap type and whether the guard is integrated into a replacement cap or mounted separately.
How we do it
We clear the nesting material from the run, install a corrosion-resistant guard at the termination, and photo-document the new cap from the exterior and the interior camera view.
What Dryer Vent Cleaning Costs in Irvine
| Item | Typical range in Irvine |
|---|---|
| Dryer vent inspection | $45 - $75 |
| Standard dryer vent cleaning | $89 - $189 |
| Heavy lint removal | $120 - $189 |
How often should dryer vents be cleaned in Irvine?
Every 12 to 18 months for most Irvine homes. Village-era houses with long horizontal attic runs should be checked annually, since the hot attic conditions and Santa Ana backdrafts load lint faster than shorter coastal routes. The camera inspection tells you the truth each time.
Is a clogged dryer vent actually dangerous?
Yes. Lint is fuel, and restricted airflow lets the dryer overheat until the high-limit switch is the only thing standing between normal operation and a fire. In Irvine’s older vents, the collapsed liners and bird nests raise that risk further. Call (806) 606-6902 and get the run inspected.
Duct Repair & Sealing in Irvine
Duct repair and sealing in Irvine is the single highest-value fix for village-era homes with 30 to 45 year old flex runs. The summer attic heat physically accelerates the breakdown of fiberglass flex-duct inner liners, and once that liner splits or separates at a boot connection, conditioned air pours into the attic while the living spaces starve for air. Add the Santa Ana particulate loading and the system is losing energy, pulling dust through the gaps, and producing uneven room temperatures all at once. The answer is a targeted repair scope with mastic sealing at every accessible joint, documented in the photo record. That is what our Duct Repair & Sealing service does in Irvine, priced in writing before work begins.
Duct Sealing
Signs you need it
Rooms that are consistently several degrees off from the thermostat setting, dust returning quickly after cleaning, or a musty attic smell that comes through the registers when the blower runs.
What it costs in Irvine
Whole-system duct sealing in Irvine typically runs $850 to $1,750 depending on the number of accessible runs, the square footage, and how much of the leakage sits at attic joints versus crawlspace or chase locations.
How we do it
We locate the leak points with a visual and pressure inspection, then seal every accessible joint and connection with mastic or foil tape suited to the duct material, following the written scope and photo record from start to finish.
Flex Duct Repair
Signs you need it
Collapsed or kinked sections visible in the attic, a particular register blowing weak air, or the inner liner shedding fibers that appear as gray dust on vent covers.
What it costs in Irvine
Replacing a damaged flex-duct run in Irvine runs $275 to $650 per run, depending on the run length, diameter, and the attic access conditions in the older village homes.
How we do it
We remove the failed section, replace it with properly sized and insulated flex, reconnect at both ends with sealed boot connections, and photograph the new run before the access point is closed.
Duct Insulation
Signs you need it
Condensation on the outside of metal ducts in the attic, warm air arriving through registers in summer even when the AC is running, or visible torn or missing insulation wrap.
What it costs in Irvine
Re-insulating exposed metal duct runs in Irvine runs $400 to $950 depending on the total linear footage and whether the existing wrap has to be removed and disposed of first.
How we do it
We strip the degraded wrap, inspect the metal beneath for corrosion, then re-wrap with new insulation to the proper R-value and seal the joints before documenting the finished work.
What Duct Repair & Sealing Costs in Irvine
| Item | Typical range in Irvine |
|---|---|
| Whole-system duct sealing | $850 - $1,750 |
| Flex duct replacement (per run) | $275 - $650 |
| Duct re-insulation | $400 - $950 |
Why do some Irvine homes need duct sealing every few years?
The attic heat in Irvine accelerates adhesive and tape failure at joints, and the original Irvine Company homes were not sealed to today’s standards. Once mastic-sealed properly, though, the fix should hold for the life of the duct. Call (806) 606-6902 for a written assessment.
Can I see the leaks before I pay for sealing?
Yes. Our inspection includes the camera and pressure findings, and we walk you through where the leaks are before presenting the written sealing scope. Every repair is photographed after completion, and the record is yours.
Air Quality & Sanitizing in Irvine
Air quality and sanitizing work in Irvine follows directly from the city’s wind-driven particulate problem. When the Santa Anas push ash and Mojave dust through the eastern passes, that fine material settles into ducts, plenums, and coil surfaces where moisture from condensation gives mold and bacteria a foothold. The village-era homes compound this with deteriorating flex liners that shed fibers into the airstream. Cleaning the ducts without addressing the microbial and fiber loading only solves part of the problem. Our Air Quality & Sanitizing service applies EPA-registered antimicrobial treatments after the mechanical extraction, with the application noted in the photo record and written scope, so you know exactly what was applied and where.
Mold Treatment
Signs you need it
A persistent earthy odor from the registers, visible dark growth on the inside of supply boots or plenum surfaces, or a lab test that confirmed elevated mold counts in the HVAC system.
What it costs in Irvine
Mold treatment on the duct interior and accessible plenum surfaces in Irvine runs $600 to $1,400 depending on the affected square footage and whether the coils also require treatment.
How we do it
We mechanically clean the affected surfaces first, then apply an EPA-registered antimicrobial under negative pressure so the treatment stays inside the system, and document the process with before and after photos.
Odor Removal
Signs you need it
Smoke, pet, food, or mildew smells that return days after cleaning, or a stale odor that activates when the blower kicks on.
What it costs in Irvine
Whole-system odor removal in Irvine runs $350 to $800 depending on the source, the square footage of the duct system, and whether odor-neutralizing treatment is combined with coil and blower cleaning.
How we do it
We run a full extraction first to remove the physical odor carriers, then apply an odor-neutralizing treatment sized to the system volume, finishing with the photo record and written treatment log.
UV Light Installation
Signs you need it
Recurring mold on the coil despite cleaning, a household member with a documented sensitivity to airborne mold, or a system in one of Irvine’s older homes where coil moisture is constant through summer.
What it costs in Irvine
UV light installation in Irvine runs $850 to $1,700 including the fixture, mounting, and a dedicated circuit if one is not already present at the coil location.
How we do it
We mount a UV-C fixture upstream of the coil where the light stays in contact with the wet coil surface, wire it properly, and verify operation before documenting the installation.
What Air Quality & Sanitizing Costs in Irvine
| Item | Typical range in Irvine |
|---|---|
| Mold treatment | $600 - $1,400 |
| Odor removal | $350 - $800 |
| UV light installation | $850 - $1,700 |
Does sanitizing actually reach the whole duct system?
Only if the extraction happens first. Applying antimicrobial without removing the particulate layer means the product sits on top of the debris instead of the surface. We clean first, then treat, and the photo record shows both stages.
How do I know the treatment was applied correctly?
Our written scope names the product used, the application method, and the interior surfaces treated. The photo record shows the treated area after application. Call (806) 606-6902 for a written price on air quality work in Irvine.
Brands We Service in Irvine
We work on systems from Honeywell, Aprilaire, and Guardsman, among other manufacturers represented in Irvine homes. Replacement filters, UV lamps, and common service parts are stocked in our local service vehicles, so most installs and replacements complete in a single visit. See our brands for the full equipment list.
Pricing for Air Duct Cleaning in Irvine, CA
| Service | Typical range in Irvine |
|---|---|
| Dryer vent inspection | $45 - $75 |
| Standard dryer vent cleaning | $89 - $189 |
| Heavy lint removal | $120 - $189 |
| Whole-system duct sealing | $850 - $1,750 |
| Flex duct replacement (per run) | $275 - $650 |
| Duct re-insulation | $400 - $950 |
| Mold treatment | $600 - $1,400 |
| Odor removal | $350 - $800 |
| UV light installation | $850 - $1,700 |
What pushes a price up in Irvine is attic access, not square footage. The older village homes with tight attic hatches, steep roof pitches, and 40-year-old flex runs that need probing before extraction take longer, and the written price reflects that before work begins. Every job is quoted under Haven Standard Clause 1: a written price before any work starts, always, on every visit.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Irvine
We work throughout Irvine, with the most calls coming from the older village communities where the duct systems share the same age and failure points. Our crews know the attic layouts and vent routing in these neighborhoods specifically.
- University Park
- Woodbridge
- Northwood
- Westpark
- Turtle Rock
Most Irvine appointments are scheduled within a few business days, and emergency vent inspections are triaged for the shortest possible wait.
Service Area - Cities Near Irvine
Irvine is the core of our Orange County service area, and we also handle scheduled work in Tustin, CA, Santa Ana, CA, and Lake Forest, CA. For clients across the state, our Orange, NJ page covers that service area. Dispatch is coordinated from the brand’s Los Angeles office, and crews serve Irvine locally.
Serving Irvine, CA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Irvine 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 Irvine
Most Irvine inspections are scheduled within a few business days. Call (806) 606-6902 and we will confirm the earliest available slot for your neighborhood. The written price for the inspection is set before we arrive.
Sometimes. Irvine has an unusually high concentration of HOA-governed attached condos and townhome complexes, many still Irvine Company managed. If your duct system routes through shared walls or attic spaces, check your governing documents first. Our written scope is accepted by most HOAs for the work they need to review.
Yes. The ash and desert particulate that Santa Ana winds push into Irvine’s eastern neighborhoods deposits inside duct systems as episodic loading, not gradual buildup. Homes closer to the canyon mouths see heavier loading. A visual inspection after any significant fire-adjacent wind event is the practical check. Our home page covers the full range of what we inspect during those visits.
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 Irvine Customers Say
"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."On time, professional, and explained what the readings meant without talking down to me."
- Warren E."The before and after photographs of each run are the reason I used them. You cannot argue with what came out of the return."
- Marguerite O.