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.
Before
After
Before
After
Before
AfterAir Duct Cleaning in San Bruno, CA
Dryer vent cleaning in San Bruno deals with a specific problem: homes here are mostly post-WWII tract construction from the late 1940s through the 1960s, and many still run their original sheet-metal ductwork and dryer exhaust runs. Combine that with persistent marine-layer fog holding humidity in crawlspaces and attics, and you get lint that clumps instead of staying dry and loose. A clogged dryer vent in San Bruno is not a maintenance afterthought. It is a fire risk multiplied by decades-old duct material. Call (806) 606-6902 for a written price before any work starts.
Why San Bruno Homes Are Different
San Bruno sits directly under SFO departure corridors. That is not a trivia point. It changes what accumulates inside duct systems. Jet kerosene combustion produces ultrafine particulates that settle into residential HVAC returns at levels inland Peninsula homes never see. The dark, fine-grained residue we find in San Bruno ducts is a recognizable marker of aviation exhaust infiltration. Homes on the north and west sides of the city, closest to departure paths, foul filters noticeably faster than comparable homes in Burlingame or San Mateo.
Then there is the moisture. San Bruno’s position between the coastal hills and the Bay keeps attic and crawlspace humidity elevated for much of the year. Marine-layer fog is not occasional here. It is a standing condition. Inside flex ducts, that chronic moisture accelerates mold and mildew colonization. In older San Bruno systems, microbial contamination shows up nearly as often as dust and debris. The Crestmoor neighborhood illustrates the patchwork we encounter daily: rebuilt homes from the 2010 PG&E gas pipeline explosion sit beside untouched mid-century houses on adjacent blocks, meaning duct age can vary by decades within a single street. We assess every system before quoting, because a 2020 duct run and a 1955 duct run on the same block need very different work.
Our Main San Bruno Services
Most San Bruno homeowners call us for two jobs: whole-system air duct cleaning and broader HVAC cleaning that includes coils, blower, and plenum. Here is what each involves locally.
Air Duct Cleaning in San Bruno
Whole-system cleaning removes the aviation-exhaust residue, construction dust, pet dander, and debris that builds up inside supply and return runs. In San Bruno’s older homes, we often find flex-duct connections that have never been opened since installation. The work includes negative-pressure extraction, register-by-register brush work, and before-and-after photography of every run. Air Duct Cleaning in San Bruno gets the full local detail.
HVAC Cleaning in San Bruno
Beyond the ducts themselves, the evaporator coil, blower wheel, and plenum collect the same jet-exhaust fines that clog filters. A dirty coil in a fog-humid San Bruno crawlspace loses efficiency and breeds mold. We clean and document the entire air handler assembly, not just the duct runs. HVAC Cleaning in San Bruno covers what that job includes.
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 San Bruno
Dryer vent cleaning in San Bruno is the service that prevents house fires. In this city’s 1940s through 1960s housing stock, dryer exhaust runs are often original galvanized pipe with multiple elbows, and the persistent marine-layer humidity turns lint into a damp, compacted mat that restricts airflow fast. A restricted vent forces the dryer to work harder, run hotter, and push dangerous temperatures into a duct packed with combustible material. We photograph the inside of every run before and after, so you see exactly what was removed. That documentation is standard with Dryer Vent Cleaning.
Dryer Vent Inspection
Signs you need it
Clothes take two or more cycles to dry, the dryer exterior gets unusually hot during a cycle, or the exterior vent flap barely opens while the dryer runs.
What it costs in San Bruno
A full camera inspection with a written condition report and photo record runs $89 to $189 in San Bruno, depending on vent run length and accessibility.
How we do it
We run a professional-grade camera through the full run from dryer connection to exterior termination, documenting blockage points, duct condition, and any separation or damage.
Lint Removal
Signs you need it
Visible lint accumulating around the exterior vent opening, a burning smell during dryer operation, or airflow at the exterior vent that feels weak against your hand.
What it costs in San Bruno
Whole-run lint removal with negative-pressure extraction and rotary brushing runs $120 to $240 in San Bruno for a typical single-story run.
How we do it
We connect a negative-pressure extraction unit at the exterior vent, feed a rotary brush through the full run from inside, and photograph the before and after from both ends.
Vent Rerouting
Signs you need it
Your current dryer vent run includes more than two elbows, exceeds 25 feet of total pipe, or terminates into a crawlspace or attic instead of outside.
What it costs in San Bruno
Rerouting a dryer vent to a shorter, code-compliant path ranges from $350 to $750 in San Bruno, depending on wall or roof penetration work.
How we do it
We design a straighter run with rigid metal duct, replace flexible sections, install proper exterior termination, and photograph the completed path from both ends.
Bird Guard Installation
Signs you need it
You hear birds or scratching near the exterior dryer vent, or you have found nesting material packed inside the vent termination.
What it costs in San Bruno
Installing a galvanized or powder-coated bird guard over the exterior termination runs $75 to $150 in San Bruno, including sealing and verification of airflow.
How we do it
We remove any existing nesting material, install the guard over the exterior vent, seal gaps, and run a camera through the line to confirm unrestricted airflow.
What Dryer Vent Cleaning Costs in San Bruno
| Item | Typical range in San Bruno |
|---|---|
| Dryer vent inspection with camera report | $89 - $189 |
| Full lint removal (negative pressure + rotary brush) | $120 - $240 |
| Vent rerouting for code-compliant shorter path | $350 - $750 |
How often should dryer vents be cleaned in San Bruno?
Every 12 months for most San Bruno homes, and every 6 months on the north and west sides where jet-exhaust residue and marine-layer moisture compound lint buildup faster than inland parts of the Peninsula. Call (806) 606-6902 for an exact quote.
Is a clogged dryer vent actually dangerous?
Yes. Lint is the primary fuel in roughly a third of dryer fires, and San Bruno’s older duct systems with multiple elbows trap more lint than modern straight runs. A documented cleaning record also helps if you ever file an insurance claim.
Duct Repair & Sealing in San Bruno
Duct repair and sealing in San Bruno addresses what decades of marine-layer humidity and original 1950s installation practices leave behind: separated flex-duct connections, rusted metal seams, and leakage that sends conditioned air into crawlspaces and attics instead of rooms. In the city’s post-WWII tract homes, we routinely find return ducts pulling air from musty crawlspace spaces because joints failed decades ago. That means the air you pay to heat or cool never reaches your living space, and whatever is in your crawlspace does. Our Duct Repair & Sealing work starts with a camera inspection and ends with a documented photo record of every repair.
Duct Sealing
Signs you need it
Rooms at the far end of the house never hold temperature, utility bills creep up year over year, or you can feel air moving at duct joints in the crawlspace.
What it costs in San Bruno
Aeroseal or mastic-based whole-system sealing runs $650 to $1,390 in San Bruno depending on system size and access.
How we do it
We locate every leak with a duct leakage tester, seal joints with mastic or an aerosol sealant, and retest to document the improvement in CFM leakage.
Flex Duct Repair
Signs you need it
Flexible ducts sag between supports, are kinked at elbows, or show visible outer-liner tears in the attic or crawlspace.
What it costs in San Bruno
Replacing a failed flex-duct section with new R-6 or R-8 insulated flex runs $240 to $590 in San Bruno per run.
How we do it
We remove the damaged section, size a replacement with matching insulation value, install it with proper support and tension, and photograph the finished connection.
Metal Duct Repair
Signs you need it
You see rust stains on duct surfaces in the crawlspace, hear rattling from a loose metal joint, or find disconnected sheet-metal seams during a crawlspace inspection.
What it costs in San Bruno
Patching or section-replacing rusted sheet-metal duct runs costs $390 to $810 in San Bruno for typical crawlspace-access work.
How we do it
We cut out the rusted section, fabricate a replacement from matching gauge metal, seal all seams with mastic, and verify the repair with a camera pass.
What Duct Repair & Sealing Costs in San Bruno
| Item | Typical range in San Bruno |
|---|---|
| Whole-system duct sealing (mastic or Aeroseal) | $650 - $1,390 |
| Flex duct replacement per run | $240 - $590 |
| Metal duct patch or section replacement | $390 - $810 |
Will sealing my ducts actually lower my bill?
Yes, in most San Bruno homes. We measure leakage before and after, and typical post-WWII systems lose 20-30% of conditioned air through failed joints. Sealing returns that loss to the room instead of the crawlspace. Call (806) 606-6902 for a written price.
Why do San Bruno ducts leak more than newer homes?
Original 1950s and 1960s installations used short flex connectors at sheet-metal joints, and those connectors dry out and fail under decades of fog-induced humidity. Newer Crestmoor rebuilds leak far less, but we inspect every joint regardless of home age.
Air Quality & Sanitizing in San Bruno
Air quality and sanitizing in San Bruno deals with what happens when jet-exhaust ultrafine particulates and marine-layer humidity meet a 1960s duct system: mold colonization inside flex runs, bacterial growth on the coil, and a persistent musty odor that no candle or spray can reach. After cleaning, we sanitize the internal surfaces of the duct system and air handler to reduce microbial load. The goal is not a fragrance. It is measurably cleaner surfaces, documented by photo and by the products used. Full detail is on our Air Quality & Sanitizing page.
Mold Treatment
Signs you need it
Visible dark staining on flex-duct inner liners, a persistent musty smell from supply registers, or a history of standing water in the crawlspace.
What it costs in San Bruno
EPA-registered antimicrobial fogging after mechanical cleaning runs $295 to $575 in San Bruno for a typical single-system home.
How we do it
We mechanically remove the visible growth first, then fog the full duct system with an EPA-registered antimicrobial registered for HVAC use, photographing everything before and after.
Odor Removal
Signs you need it
A stale, musty, or oily smell returns shortly after cleaning, or the odor is strongest when the HVAC fan runs without heating or cooling.
What it costs in San Bruno
Whole-system odor neutralization with activated-oxygen or UVC-assisted treatment runs $220 to $475 in San Bruno.
How we do it
We identify the odor source, clean or replace the contaminated surface, then run a whole-system neutralization pass and confirm the result with the customer at each register.
UV Light Installation
Signs you need it
Recurring mold on the evaporator coil, a family member with persistent respiratory symptoms, or a coil that is hard to access for regular cleaning.
What it costs in San Bruno
Installing a Honeywell or Aprilaire UV-C system at the evaporator coil runs $480 to $950 in San Bruno including wiring and verification.
How we do it
We mount the UV lamp on the downstream side of the coil, wire it to run continuously, verify the lamp output with a radiometer, and photograph the installation.
What Air Quality & Sanitizing Costs in San Bruno
| Item | Typical range in San Bruno |
|---|---|
| Antimicrobial fogging after mechanical cleaning | $295 - $575 |
| Whole-system odor neutralization | $220 - $475 |
| UV-C lamp installation at evaporator coil | $480 - $950 |
Will sanitizing remove the jet-exhaust smell from my ducts?
Mostly, yes, but the order matters. Sanitizing alone will not remove the ultrafine-particulate residue; mechanical cleaning must come first, then the antimicrobial treatment addresses what remains on the metal and flex surfaces. Call (806) 606-6902 for a written scope.
Is the antimicrobial treatment safe for my family?
We use only EPA-registered products labeled for HVAC use, applied according to manufacturer instructions after mechanical cleaning. The treated surfaces are rinsed or evaporated before the system is returned to service. We will provide the product label and SDS on request.
Brands We Service in San Bruno
We work on systems carrying Honeywell and Aprilaire air quality components, plus duct fabrication from Guardsman and extraction equipment from Abatement Technologies. Common replacement parts for these brands are stocked in our Bay Area service vehicles, so most San Bruno repairs complete in a single visit. See our brands for the full roster.
Pricing for Air Duct Cleaning in San Bruno, CA
| Service | Typical range in San Bruno |
|---|---|
| Dryer vent inspection with camera report | $89 - $189 |
| Full dryer lint removal | $120 - $240 |
| Dryer vent rerouting | $350 - $750 |
| Bird guard installation | $75 - $150 |
| Whole-system duct sealing | $650 - $1,390 |
| Flex duct replacement per run | $240 - $590 |
| Metal duct patch or replacement | $390 - $810 |
| Antimicrobial fogging | $295 - $575 |
| Whole-system odor neutralization | $220 - $475 |
| UV-C lamp installation | $480 - $950 |
Two things push price up in San Bruno more than anywhere nearby: crawlspace access in older tract homes with low clearances, and the extra pass needed to remove jet-exhaust residue that has bonded to duct surfaces over years of exposure. Your written price is fixed before any panel comes off, under Haven Standard Clause 1.
Neighborhoods We Serve in San Bruno
We work throughout San Bruno, from the flats near San Bruno Avenue to the hillside streets above Crestmoor. Crews are dispatched from our San Francisco Bay Area office, so most San Bruno calls are scheduled within one to three business days.
- Crestmoor
- Mills Park
- Rollingwood
- Portola Highlands
- Downtown San Bruno
Service Area - Cities Near San Bruno
Beyond San Bruno, our crews cover the northern Peninsula regularly. Homeowners in Millbrae, CA, South San Francisco, CA, Pacifica, CA, and Daly City, CA get the same written-price standard and documented photo record on every job.
Serving San Bruno, CA - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the San Bruno 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 San Bruno
Most San Bruno jobs are scheduled within one to three business days. We are dispatched from our Bay Area office, and the schedule is set by the written estimate queue, not by urgency theatre. Call (806) 606-6902 to book a specific window.
Most single-family San Bruno homes do not require HOA approval for interior duct cleaning or repair. If exterior vent rerouting or roof penetrations are needed, some homeowners associations do require prior written approval. We will flag that before work is scheduled.
No. Our pricing is the same across the Peninsula. What changes is the amount of work often required in San Bruno, because aviation-exhaust residue and fog-driven moisture mean older systems need a more thorough pass to reach the same clean standard we deliver everywhere else.
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 San Bruno Customers Say
"Flat price agreed up front, no per-vent add-ons at the end. That was the whole reason I did not call the coupon company."
- Suzanne B."The dryer vent was almost completely blocked with lint. They showed me the photograph and I understood immediately why the dryer had been running twice."
- Lucia M."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.