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 in Boulder, CO
Dryer vent cleaning in Boulder is not a routine checkbox job. The combination of 1960s-1980s ranch homes with original sheet-metal ductwork, extremely low semi-arid humidity that keeps fine lint and particulate loose and resuspending, and the documented post-Marshall Fire ash contamination that lingers in thousands of local systems means the work here is different from what a Denver or Longmont crew typically encounters. For a written price before any work starts, call (806) 606-6902.
Why Boulder Homes Are Different
Boulder sits at 5,430 feet in a semi-arid climate, and that altitude changes how ductwork behaves. Relative humidity here often runs in the 15-30% range, which means fine particulate never binds with moisture the way it does in humid climates. Instead, dust, pollen, wildfire ash, and lint settle loosely into duct runs and re-enter living space every time the air handler cycles. We routinely find systems in Table Mesa and Martin Acres where a decade of loose, resuspended particulate has coated the inside of return plenums with a quarter-inch of fine gray powder.
The housing stock compounds the problem. Boulder’s growth management ordinances have largely frozen new residential development since the 1970s, leaving a heavy concentration of 1960s-1980s ranch homes and split-levels in neighborhoods like Baseline, Martin Acres, and Table Mesa. Many of these homes still run original sheet-metal ductwork with degraded flex connections that predate modern sealing standards, and the high density of long-term student rentals around University Hill means ductwork in that zone commonly goes a decade or more without cleaning or inspection. Add Boulder’s periodic Chinook wind events, which create rapid pressure differentials that drive outdoor air into return-air systems at elevated rates, and you have a local contamination profile that flat, sheltered Front Range communities simply do not experience.
Our Main Boulder Services
Most Boulder homeowners first call us for one of two things: a full air duct cleaning, or a broader HVAC cleaning that includes the blower, coils, and air handler. Both are covered below.
Air Duct Cleaning in Boulder
Full air duct cleaning in Boulder means negative-pressure extraction on every supply and return run, not just the main trunk line. In 1960s-1980s ranch homes around Table Mesa and Martin Acres, we frequently find 2-4 inches of fine gray powder packed into return plenums and significant flex-connection deterioration at branch takeoffs. The Marshall Fire made post-smoke-event duct cleaning a recurring local necessity, as ash particulate from the 2021 event worked into systems miles from the burn perimeter. See the full scope at Air Duct Cleaning in Boulder.
HVAC Cleaning in Boulder
HVAC cleaning covers the mechanical side of the system: blower wheel, evaporator coil, condensate pan, and air handler. In Boulder’s semi-arid climate, the blower wheel accumulates a fine, talcum-like coating that reduces airflow and forces the system to run longer. University Hill rentals and older ranch homes alike benefit from a documented coil-and-blower cleaning, with before-and-after photos of the actual components. Full details at HVAC Cleaning in Boulder.
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 Boulder
Dryer vent cleaning in Boulder addresses a specific local pattern: long vent runs through 1960s-1980s ranch homes that trap lint at every elbow, combined with semi-arid air that keeps that lint bone-dry and highly combustible. The post-Marshall Fire period taught Boulder homeowners that systems running during the weeks-long smoldering drew fine ash into every opening, including dryer vents, and that contamination is distinct from ordinary lint accumulation. Our crews photograph the inside of every vent run before and after, and we do the same on dryer vents as we do on HVAC ductwork. Full scope and pricing at Dryer Vent Cleaning.
Dryer Vent Inspection
Signs you need it
Clothes take more than one full cycle to dry, the dryer exterior gets unusually hot to the touch, or you notice a musty burning smell when the dryer runs - all indicate restricted airflow worth inspecting.
What it costs in Boulder
A standalone dryer vent inspection in Boulder typically runs $95-$165, and that amount is credited toward cleaning if we perform the work the same day.
How we do it
We remove the exterior vent cover, run a borescope camera the full length of the run, and show you the footage in real time before any cleaning or repair is quoted.
Vent Rerouting
Signs you need it
The vent run exceeds 25 feet, makes more than two direction changes, or terminates in a location that violates current code clearance - common in older Boulder ranch homes where the laundry was added against an interior wall.
What it costs in Boulder
Vent rerouting in Boulder typically runs $385-$850 depending on the access point, new route length, and whether new exterior termination requires a wall penetration.
How we do it
We plan the shortest compliant route, install rigid metal duct where accessible, and secure all connections with metal tape before confirming airflow and taking the after-photo record.
What Dryer Vent Cleaning Costs in Boulder
| Item | Typical range in Boulder |
|---|---|
| Dryer vent inspection | $95-$165 |
| Dryer vent cleaning (full) | $145-$275 |
| Vent rerouting | $385-$850 |
How often should a dryer vent be cleaned in Boulder?
Every 12 months in most Boulder homes, and every 6 months if the vent run is over 15 feet or serves a high-use household. Lint stays unusually dry here, which raises both fire risk and airflow restriction.
Does the Marshall Fire ash still affect dryer vents in Boulder?
Yes in many homes. Systems that ran during the December 2021 event pulled fine ash into external openings, and that contamination persists unless the vent run has been cleaned since. We verify with photographic evidence, not guesswork.
Duct Repair & Sealing in Boulder
Duct repair and sealing in Boulder means working on sheet-metal ductwork that is often 40-60 years old, installed before modern sealing standards existed, and now leaking conditioned air into unconditioned spaces. The same 1960s-1980s ranch homes across Table Mesa, Martin Acres, and Baseline that dominate Boulder’s housing stock also have degraded flex connections at branch takeoffs, which we document with camera footage before and after every repair. See Duct Repair & Sealing for full scope.
Duct Sealing
Signs you need it
Rooms at the end of the longest duct runs stay noticeably warmer or cooler, your energy bill runs high for the square footage, or you can feel air moving in the mechanical room near the air handler.
What it costs in Boulder
Whole-system duct sealing in Boulder typically runs $850-$2,200 depending on how much of the ductwork is accessible and whether the system has one or two returns.
How we do it
We seal accessible joints and branch takeoffs with mastic sealant, wrap compromised connections at boots and takeoffs with metal tape, and photograph the sealed areas before reassembling.
Duct Insulation
Signs you need it
Uninsulated ducts run through unconditioned spaces like crawlspaces or attics, which in Boulder means the air in those ducts loses temperature fast during cold winter nights and hot summer afternoons.
What it costs in Boulder
Duct insulation in Boulder typically runs $6-$12 per linear foot or $700-$1,800 for a standard whole-system application in a ranch home.
How we do it
We wrap exposed duct runs in fiberglass duct insulation with a vapor barrier facing, seal all seams, and photograph the completed insulation before the job closes.
What Duct Repair & Sealing Costs in Boulder
| Item | Typical range in Boulder |
|---|---|
| Whole-system duct sealing | $850-$2,200 |
| Duct insulation | $6-$12 per linear foot / $700-$1,800 system-wide |
| Flex duct repair | $275-$675 |
How do I know if my Boulder ducts are leaking?
Uneven room temperatures, high energy bills, visible gaps or tears in exposed ductwork, and disconnected boots at registers are the most reliable signs. A camera inspection confirms it before any repair is priced.
Can you seal ducts in a crawlspace without ripping out walls?
Yes. Most Boulder ranch homes have accessible ductwork in crawlspaces or basements, and mastic sealing plus insulation is a no-demolition repair route. The written price reflects the access we could verify.
Air Quality & Sanitizing in Boulder
Air quality and sanitizing in Boulder is shaped by wildfire smoke. The Marshall Fire put fine ash and char particulate into thousands of HVAC systems across Boulder, and summer fire seasons since have kept the need for post-smoke sanitizing a recurring local service, not a one-time event. Older ranch homes with original ductwork also develop odor and biological growth issues over decades, especially at return-air plenums where dust and organic material accumulate. See Air Quality & Sanitizing for full scope.
Mold Treatment
Signs you need it
A persistent musty smell from registers, visible microbial growth on accessible duct surfaces, or a history of water intrusion near the air handler or in the crawlspace.
What it costs in Boulder
Mold treatment in ductwork in Boulder typically runs $600-$1,800 depending on the extent of contamination and whether sanitizing includes the full duct run or just the plenum and visible surfaces.
How we do it
We apply an EPA-registered sanitizer through the duct system, photograph the treatment areas before and after, and document the scope in writing as part of the job record.
UV Light Installation
Signs you need it
Recurring biological growth on the evaporator coil, persistent HVAC odors despite cleaning, or a household member with respiratory sensitivity to microbial allergens.
What it costs in Boulder
UV light installation in Boulder typically runs $550-$1,100 per lamp, including the lamp, installation at the air handler or return plenum, and wiring.
How we do it
We mount the UV lamp at the evaporator coil or return-air plenum, wire it to the system, and confirm the lamp activates with the air handler before finishing.
What Air Quality & Sanitizing Costs in Boulder
| Item | Typical range in Boulder |
|---|---|
| Mold treatment (ductwork) | $600-$1,800 |
| UV light installation | $550-$1,100 per lamp |
| Odor removal (system-wide) | $400-$900 |
Does wildfire smoke from outside Boulder actually get into my ducts?
Yes. Boulder sits directly at the wildland-urban interface, and Chinook wind events plus fire seasons drive smoke and fine particulate into return-air systems. The 2021 Marshall Fire affected homes miles from the burn perimeter.
Will sanitizing remove the post-fire ash smell from my vents?
Sanitizing alone is not enough. The correct sequence is negative-pressure extraction of the ash and debris first, then sanitizing. Skipping the cleaning leaves the particulate in place, and the odor returns within weeks.
Brands We Service in Boulder
Our Boulder crews work on ductwork and air quality systems using professional-grade equipment from Rotobrush, Nikro, and Honeywell. Common parts and sanitizing agents are stocked in our local service vans for same-visit completion on most jobs. See our brands for the full equipment roster.
Pricing for Air Duct Cleaning in Boulder, CO
| Service | Typical range in Boulder |
|---|---|
| Dryer vent inspection | $95-$165 |
| Dryer vent cleaning (full) | $145-$275 |
| Vent rerouting | $385-$850 |
| Whole-system duct sealing | $850-$2,200 |
| Duct insulation | $6-$12 per linear foot / $700-$1,800 system-wide |
| Flex duct repair | $275-$675 |
| Mold treatment (ductwork) | $600-$1,800 |
| UV light installation | $550-$1,100 per lamp |
| Odor removal (system-wide) | $400-$900 |
In Boulder, the biggest price drivers are duct accessibility - crawlspace and basement runs in 1960s-1980s ranch homes are usually straightforward, but some split-levels have runs behind finished walls - and the presence of post-Marshall Fire ash, which can add time to every phase of the job. Every job is quoted with a written price before any work starts, under Haven Standard Clause 1, and that number is the number you pay.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Boulder
We work across Boulder and the surrounding foothills, from the Table Mesa and Martin Acres ranch homes to the student rentals on University Hill and the larger properties in and around Baseline. Most Boulder appointments are scheduled within a few business days.
- Table Mesa
- Martin Acres
- Baseline
- University Hill
Service Area - Cities Near Boulder
CleanRun also serves homeowners in Lafayette, CO, Broomfield, CO, Westminster, CA, and Thornton, CO. Dispatch and scheduling are coordinated from our Denver office, and crews serve Boulder locally with the same written-price and photo-documentation standard.
Serving Boulder, CO - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Boulder 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 Boulder
No permit is required for duct cleaning, sealing, repair, or sanitizing. Ductwork modifications that change the system layout or involve new mechanical equipment may fall under Boulder building code, and we flag that before any work begins if the scope requires it.
Every CleanRun job concludes with a Documented Photo Record of inside every duct run, before and after. You see the evidence that the work was done, on your own ductwork, not a stock photo of someone else’s system. That standard has applied to every job completed in Boulder.
Most Boulder appointments are scheduled within a few business days. We do not run urgent-slot sales. You call (806) 606-6902, we confirm scope and a written price, and the work is booked at a time that fits your schedule.
Call (806) 606-6902 for a written price on any duct cleaning, repair, or air quality service in Boulder. The estimate is free, the price is put in writing before any work starts, and the photo record is part of every job.
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 Boulder Customers Say
"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."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.