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 Dearborn, MI
Dryer vent cleaning in Dearborn starts at $89 for a single-story home with an accessible exterior vent, and most duct repair and sealing work runs between $350 and $850 depending on access. Homes here are nearly all 1940s to early 1960s brick bungalows and Capes with original sheet-metal ducts, and the forced-air systems run hard from October through April. Add the industrial fallout from the Rouge Complex, and Dearborn vents and ducts need a level of attention the neighboring suburbs simply don’t. Call (806) 606-6902 for a written price before any work starts.
Why Dearborn Homes Are Different
Dearborn sits directly next to the Ford River Rouge Complex, and the air in South Dearborn and along Miller Road carries what that means: iron oxide dust, carbon soot, and foundry particulates settle into homes at rates measurably higher than in Livonia, Garden City, or Redford. Technicians pulling register covers in these neighborhoods routinely find a reddish-brown residue coating the inside of duct runs, a signature of the steelmaking and coke operations less than a mile away. No other city in the metro combines that industrial burden with a housing stock this uniform. The brick bungalows and Cape Cods built for Ford workers between the 1940s and early 1960s share nearly identical duct layouts, and most retain original sheet-metal runs with fibrous lining that has had six or seven decades to collect contaminants, delaminate, and trap moisture. The Great Lakes climate compounds it. Heating season runs long, cycling whatever enters the return air through every room, and the humid summers push moisture into poorly sealed ducts where mold and bacteria take hold. Entire blocks of nearly identical homes face the same failure modes at the same time.
Our Main Dearborn Services
Most Dearborn homeowners reach out to us about two things: full air duct cleaning for the accumulations described above, and HVAC cleaning to restore the blower, coils, and plenum after years of redistributed Rouge fallout. Both jobs come with a written price before work starts and a documented photo record of every run when we leave.
Air Duct Cleaning in Dearborn
Full air duct cleaning in Dearborn is the service for homes where the reddish-brown residue or a gray fibrous buildup appears on register covers, or where the return side has never been opened since the house was built. We use negative-pressure extraction with a Rotobrush or Nikro system, clean every supply and return run, and photograph the inside of each run before and after. The photo record is a standard part of the job, not an upgrade. Air Duct Cleaning in Dearborn covers the full process, including pricing for single and multi-story homes.
HVAC Cleaning in Dearborn
HVAC cleaning addresses what builds up behind the filter: the evaporator coil, blower motor, plenum, and secondary heat exchanger. In Dearborn, where iron oxide and carbon soot bypass standard filters and coat internal components, the blower fan and coil often carry a packed layer of fine red dust that reduces airflow and shortens component life. Cleaning restores capacity without replacing parts. HVAC Cleaning in Dearborn details the scope, including coil cleaning and blower removal where needed.
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 Dearborn
Dryer vent cleaning in Dearborn is the service that deals with what happens when a 1940s or 1950s vent run, originally sized for a lower-BTU dryer, accumulates six decades of lint plus the iron oxide dust that enters the home through the dryer’s make-up air. The result is a vent that restricts airflow, overheats the dryer, and in the worst cases holds enough combustible lint to become a fire source. Our Dryer Vent Cleaning service clears the full run from the dryer outlet to the exterior termination, with before-and-after photos of the interior at every job.
Dryer Vent Inspection
Signs you need it
Clothes take two cycles to dry, the dryer housing gets hot to the touch, or the exterior vent flap doesn’t fully open during a cycle.
What it costs in Dearborn
A standalone dryer vent inspection with camera documentation runs $79 to $149, refundable against a full cleaning booked on the same visit.
How we do it
We run a camera from the dryer outlet to the exterior termination, measure airflow, and document any blockages or damaged sections before recommending a fix.
Vent Cleaning
Signs you need it
Visible lint exists at the exterior vent opening, or the dryer shuts itself off mid-cycle, a safety response to overheating.
What it costs in Dearborn
Full dryer vent cleaning in Dearborn runs $89 to $179 for a standard single-story run, with the higher end for longer runs or multi-story vent paths.
How we do it
We brush and vacuum the full run from both ends, then photograph the interior to show the vent is clear to termination.
Lint Removal
Signs you need it
The exterior vent flap is stuck open by a lint mat, or you can smell a faint scorched odor from the dryer housing.
What it costs in Dearborn
Heavy lint removal for severely packed vents runs $149 to $229, including a second camera pass to verify no debris remains.
How we do it
We use a rotary agitation tool to break up compacted lint, then negative air extraction to pull it out rather than pushing it into the exterior wall.
Bird Guard Installation
Signs you need it
You can see nesting material at the vent termination, hear chirping near the vent, or have had a bird enter the run.
What it costs in Dearborn
Bird guard installation on an existing vent termination runs $75 to $150, including removal of any existing nesting debris.
How we do it
We clear the run, then install a galvanized or stainless guard that keeps birds and rodents out without restricting required airflow.
What Dryer Vent Cleaning Costs in Dearborn
| Item | Typical range in Dearborn |
|---|---|
| Dryer vent inspection (camera) | $79 - $149 |
| Full dryer vent cleaning | $89 - $179 |
| Heavy lint removal (packed vents) | $149 - $229 |
How often should a dryer vent be cleaned in Dearborn?
Every 12 to 18 months in most Dearborn homes, and every 12 months in South Dearborn where iron oxide dust accelerates lint compaction and reduces airflow faster than in surrounding areas. Call us for a written price based on your vent length.
Can you clean a dryer vent that runs through a slab or interior wall in a Dearborn Cape Cod?
Yes. Many 1940s and 1950s Capes have vent runs through interior walls or under slabs that require extended agitation tools and sometimes a second access point, which is reflected in the written price before we start.
Duct Repair & Sealing in Dearborn
Duct repair and sealing in Dearborn addresses what happens when original 1940s and 1950s sheet-metal ductwork loses its seals, develops rust-through at joints, or separates entirely under decades of heating-season expansion and contraction. In South Dearborn, the constant deposition of iron oxide and carbon soot accelerates corrosion at the seams, and humid summer air moving through gaps condenses inside the duct, feeding mold on old fibrous liners. Our Duct Repair & Sealing service restores the system’s integrity and stops conditioned air from leaking into joist bays and wall cavities.
Duct Sealing
Signs you need it
Some rooms stay cold in winter or hot in summer despite balanced registers, or you can feel air escaping at visible duct joints in the basement.
What it costs in Dearborn
Duct sealing with brush-on mastic and foil tape at accessible joints runs $250 to $500 for a typical 1,200-square-foot bungalow.
How we do it
We seal every accessible joint and seam with mastic and foil-backed tape, then use a smoke pencil to verify no air movement remains at the sealed points.
Flex Duct Repair
Signs you need it
A run has been crushed, disconnected, or chewed through by rodents, common in the crawlspaces and basement ceilings of older Dearborn homes.
What it costs in Dearborn
Flex duct repair or replacement for a single damaged run runs $110 to $280 including materials and a written scope.
How we do it
We remove the damaged section, install a correctly sized replacement, and reseal both connections with mastic before photographing the completed repair.
Mastic Sealant
Signs you need it
Duct tape, the adhesive product, is visible on your ductwork from a previous repair, or seams show dried, cracked sealant that’s pulling away.
What it costs in Dearborn
Full mastic sealing for all accessible supply and return plenums on a typical Dearborn bungalow runs $300 to $550.
How we do it
We remove failed tape and sealant, clean the joint surfaces, apply brush-on mastic at every seam, and document each connection with a photo.
What Duct Repair & Sealing Costs in Dearborn
| Item | Typical range in Dearborn |
|---|---|
| Duct sealing (accessible joints) | $250 - $500 |
| Flex duct repair (single run) | $110 - $280 |
| Mastic sealing (all accessible plenums) | $300 - $550 |
Why are some Dearborn duct repair quotes so much cheaper?
Some companies price only the visible joints and skip the return side or hard-to-reach sections. Others use standard tape that fails within a few seasons. Our written price covers every accessible joint, both supply and return, with mastic and photo documentation of each sealed connection.
Does a 1940s Dearborn home need its original ducts replaced or just sealed?
In most cases sealing is enough if the metal is intact and the fibrous lining hasn’t separated. We photograph the interior before recommending replacement, so you can see the condition rather than take a claim on faith.
Air Quality & Sanitizing in Dearborn
Air quality and sanitizing in Dearborn addresses the biological layer that follows the chemical one: the industrial particulates settle, and the humid summer months turn trapped moisture and organic lint into a habitat for mold and bacteria inside old duct runs. In the 1940s and 1950s housing stock, the fibrous interior liners are particularly vulnerable, and once colonization starts it recirculates through every room the forced-air system reaches. Our Air Quality & Sanitizing service treats the duct interior with professional-grade antimicrobial agents applied after mechanical cleaning, then documents the result with photos and an air-quality reading where requested.
Mold Treatment
Signs you need it
Musty odors increase when the blower runs, or visible dark staining appears on register covers or inside the plenum.
What it costs in Dearborn
Mold treatment for the supply and return side of a typical Dearborn bungalow runs $400 to $800 depending on colony extent and duct surface area.
How we do it
We mechanically remove the visible colony, apply an EPA-registered antimicrobial to the cleaned surfaces, and photograph the treated area before and after.
Odor Removal
Signs you need it
Persistent odor from tobacco, cooking, or previous pet occupancy returns every time the HVAC system cycles on.
What it costs in Dearborn
Whole-system odor removal using thermal fogging or activated oxygen treatment runs $250 to $450 for a 1,200 to 1,800-square-foot home.
How we do it
We treat the duct interiors and exposed surfaces with a deodorizing agent matched to the odor source, then purge the system with the blower running to distribute treatment evenly.
UV Light Installation
Signs you need it
Mold regrowth at the coil occurs within a season of cleaning, common in Dearborn basements where the cooling season brings sustained humidity.
What it costs in Dearborn
UV light installation at the coil or plenum runs $350 to $650 including the unit, wiring, and a written installation verification.
How we do it
We mount a UV-C lamp at the coil or in the supply plenum, wire it to operate when the blower runs, and verify output with a radiometer reading.
Air Purifier Install
Signs you need it
Household members have year-round respiratory irritation, or visible dust accumulates on surfaces within days despite regular filter changes.
What it costs in Dearborn
Whole-home air purifier installation, including an Aprilaire or Honeywell media cabinet, runs $700 to $1,400 depending on the unit and plenum configuration.
How we do it
We install a cabinet-style purifier in the return side, wire it to the blower circuit, and verify static pressure drop stays within manufacturer spec.
What Air Quality & Sanitizing Costs in Dearborn
| Item | Typical range in Dearborn |
|---|---|
| Mold treatment (supply and return) | $400 - $800 |
| Odor removal (whole system) | $250 - $450 |
| UV light installation | $350 - $650 |
| Air purifier install | $700 - $1,400 |
Does sanitizing ducts actually work in a Dearborn home, or is it a chemical smell that fades?
The treatment works when it’s applied to a mechanically cleaned surface. We clean first, then treat with an EPA-registered antimicrobial, so the agent contacts the actual duct surface rather than a layer of debris. The documented photo record shows the before and after condition in writing.
Should I sanitize my ducts after mold treatment even if the mold is only in one run?
We recommend treating the full supply and return side. Air movement distributes spores through the system, and a single visible colony usually means microscopic colonies exist elsewhere in the plenum or farther down the runs. The written scope lists every section treated.
Brands We Service in Dearborn
We service and install equipment from Abatement Technologies, Rotobrush, Nikro, Honeywell, Aprilaire, and Guardsman. We stock replacement filters, UV lamps, and guards locally for Dearborn jobs, so common parts are available same week. See our brands page for the full equipment and parts list.
Pricing for Air Duct Cleaning in Dearborn, MI
| Service | Typical range in Dearborn |
|---|---|
| Dryer vent inspection (camera) | $79 - $149 |
| Full dryer vent cleaning | $89 - $179 |
| Heavy lint removal | $149 - $229 |
| Duct sealing (accessible joints) | $250 - $500 |
| Flex duct repair (single run) | $110 - $280 |
| Mastic sealing (all accessible plenums) | $300 - $550 |
| Mold treatment (supply and return) | $400 - $800 |
| Odor removal (whole system) | $250 - $450 |
| UV light installation | $350 - $650 |
| Air purifier install | $700 - $1,400 |
Dearborn pricing moves upward when a house has a finished basement that hides duct access behind drywall, a second-story vent run, or a furnace located in a crawlspace rather than a basement. The larger variable is contamination level: a 1940s liner with six decades of Rouge fallout takes longer to bring to clean than a newer flex-duct system. What you pay is what we wrote down before any panel came off.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Dearborn
We work across Dearborn, and most jobs are scheduled within 2 to 4 business days. Homes in the following neighborhoods are where the bulk of our work comes from:
- South Dearborn
- Ford Homes District
- Cherry Hill
- Hemlock Park
- Dearborn Hills
Service Area - Cities Near Dearborn
For homes just outside Dearborn, we serve Dearborn Heights, MI, Lincoln Park, MI, Detroit, MI, and Redford, MI. The same written-price policy and photo-documented record applies across the whole service area.
Serving Dearborn, MI - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Dearborn 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 Dearborn
No permit is required for cleaning, sealing, or repairing existing ductwork in Dearborn. Modifications that change the duct layout or add new supply points may require a mechanical permit through the city’s building department, and we can tell you in the written scope if your job crosses that line before any work starts.
The difference is the Rouge Complex. Dearborn homes, especially south of Michigan Avenue and along Miller Road, take in airborne iron oxide and carbon soot that settles as fine red or gray dust. Your ducts and blower redistribute it every cycle until the system is mechanically cleaned and the source abated with proper filtration.
We identify and photograph any suspect tape during the initial inspection. If asbestos-containing materials are present, we pause and provide a written scope that excludes the affected sections until an abatement professional handles the removal. We don’t cut, strip, or disturb anything we can’t verify is safe.
For a written price on any of the services above, call (806) 606-6902. We’ll walk through what your Dearborn home needs, put the number in writing, and start only after you’ve approved it.
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 Dearborn Customers Say
"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."On time, professional, and explained what the readings meant without talking down to me."
- Warren E.