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
After
Before
AfterAir Duct Cleaning in Pontiac, MI
Dryer vent cleaning in Pontiac deals with a housing stock most suburbs never see: bungalows and ranches built for GM assembly workers in the 1940s and 50s, many of them vacant for years after the foreclosure wave, now rehabbed and reoccupied. Long-idle ductwork and dryer vents in these homes routinely contains rodent nesting, drywall dust from flips, and lint packed hard against old metal transitions. If your Pontiac home was built before 1965 or sat empty at any point in the last decade, call (806) 606-6902 and we’ll give you a written price before a single panel comes off.
Why Pontiac Homes Are Different
Pontiac’s housing stock was built around the Pontiac Assembly and Fisher Body plants, which means most homes are modest 1940s-to-early-1960s bungalows, cape cods, and ranches with original sheet-metal trunk-and-branch duct systems. Those systems were never designed for the filter upgrades and blower motors in modern furnaces, and many have never been professionally cleaned. The return side of these systems is especially prone to pulling attic debris through joint gaps, because the original sheet-metal connections loosen over decades of thermal cycling.
The foreclosure wave hit Pontiac harder than almost anywhere else in Oakland County. Homes sat empty for years, and when investors gut-rehabbed them, they rarely sealed off the ductwork. Drywall dust, insulation fibers, and rodent nesting got pulled into the ducts during the renovation itself, then sat there. Technicians working north of downtown near the old assembly corridor regularly find collapsed flex-duct sections completely blocked with nesting material and construction debris. That is not a maintenance issue. That is a remediation problem that has to be handled before anyone moves furniture in.
Southeast Michigan’s furnace season runs roughly October through April, so forced-air systems in Pontiac cycle continuously for six-plus months each year. That means particulate buildup in aging ductwork accelerates through the winter, and summer humidity in unconditioned vacant homes is regularly high enough to colonize mold on flex ducts and boot connections. A 1948 ranch off Baldwin Road and a 1955 cape cod near Wisner Avenue will both have the same problem, even if one was occupied continuously and the other sat empty for three years.
Our Main Pontiac Services
Most Pontiac homeowners call us first about the two services below, then ask about the other work once the system is opened up and photographed.
Air Duct Cleaning in Pontiac
The full-system cleaning we do in Pontiac starts with a camera inspection of the trunk line and every accessible run before any extraction begins, so we can show you the debris load and write the price from what the camera actually sees. Older sheet-metal systems here often have interior rust scale from years of summer humidity in vacant homes, and the joints pull in attic debris that never comes out without negative-pressure extraction. We photograph every run before and after, and you receive that photo record as part of the standard job file. See Air Duct Cleaning in Pontiac for the full scope and local pricing.
HVAC Cleaning in Pontiac
HVAC cleaning in Pontiac goes further than the ducts: blower wheel, evaporator coil, condensate pan, and the plenum. The blower wheel on a 1950s Pontiac furnace is often caked with years of construction dust from the flip era, and a dirty coil compounds the problem by driving up static pressure and cooling costs. Our crews pull the blower assembly, clean it with professional extraction gear, and photograph the coil before and after so the price matches the work you can see. See HVAC Cleaning in Pontiac for the complete breakdown.
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 Pontiac
Clothes dryers in Pontiac’s 1940s and 50s homes vent through short metal runs that were installed when dryers first became standard, and many of those runs have never been cleaned. Lint builds up at every elbow and transition, and in homes that sat vacant, rodents use the exterior vent opening as an entry point. The result is a dryer that takes two or three cycles to dry a load and a vent that is one heat source away from a fire. Our Dryer Vent Cleaning service starts with a written price and ends with a photo record of the full run, inside and out.
Dryer Vent Inspection
Signs you need it
Clothes take more than one cycle to dry, the laundry room feels damp while the dryer runs, or you can see lint accumulating around the exterior vent opening.
What it costs in Pontiac
A standalone camera inspection of the full dryer vent run in Pontiac typically runs $75 to $150, and we credit that fee toward the cleaning if you book it on the same visit.
How we do it
We run a camera from the dryer transition to the exterior termination, photographing every elbow and transition, then show you the images before recommending any work.
Vent Cleaning
Signs you need it
The dryer runs hot to the touch, the vent flap outside doesn’t open fully during operation, or the run has not been cleaned in the last two years.
What it costs in Pontiac
Full dryer vent cleaning for a typical 15 to 25-foot run in Pontiac ranges from $149 to $289, depending on run length, number of elbows, and whether a roof or wall termination is involved.
How we do it
We disconnect the dryer, run a Rotobrush or Nikro rotary agitation tool through the full run under negative pressure, and photograph the before-and-after of every section.
Lint Removal
Signs you need it
Lint is visible at the exterior vent, the dryer shuts off mid-cycle on high-limit trips, or the lint screen fills faster than it used to.
What it costs in Pontiac
Lint removal as a standalone task, when the vent is otherwise clean and accessible, is included in the vent cleaning range of $149 to $289 for a standard Pontiac run.
How we do it
We manually pull compacted lint from the vent cavity and transition, then run the rotary tool through to remove what is bonded to the duct walls.
Vent Rerouting
Signs you need it
The current vent run is longer than 35 feet, has more than three elbows, or terminates into a soffit or crawlspace rather than directly outside.
What it costs in Pontiac
Rerouting a dryer vent in Pontiac typically ranges from $275 to $520, depending on the new termination location and the framing required to get there.
How we do it
We plan a shorter, code-compliant route with the minimum elbows, replace the old run with rigid metal duct, and seal every joint before reconnecting the dryer.
Bird Guard Installation
Signs you need it
You hear birds near the exterior vent, find nesting material in the termination, or the flapper is held open by debris.
What it costs in Pontiac
Bird guard installation in Pontiac runs $65 to $160, including the guard, fasteners, and sealing of the existing termination against the wall.
How we do it
We remove any nesting material, clean the final section of the vent, and install a metal guard that blocks entry while allowing full airflow.
What Dryer Vent Cleaning Costs in Pontiac
| Item | Typical range in Pontiac |
|---|---|
| Dryer vent inspection (camera, credited to cleaning) | $75-$150 |
| Full dryer vent cleaning (standard run) | $149-$289 |
| Bird guard installation | $65-$160 |
How long does dryer vent cleaning take in Pontiac?
Most Pontiac dryer vent cleanings take 60 to 90 minutes. Longer runs, roof terminations, or heavy rodent debris can add 30 to 45 minutes. We give you the written price before starting, so the time never surprises you.
Why does my Pontiac dryer vent clog so fast?
Many Pontiac homes have original 1940s-to-1960s vent runs with tight elbows and old metal transitions that collect lint at every bend. Vacant-period rodent activity can also leave compacted nesting that blocks airflow and captures new lint almost immediately. Call (806) 606-6902 for a camera inspection with a written price.
Duct Repair & Sealing in Pontiac
Original sheet-metal ductwork in Pontiac’s 1940s and 50s homes leaks at the joints and seams, and the return side pulls attic air directly into the system. Homes that went through the foreclosure-and-flip cycle have an additional problem: renovation crews pulled drywall dust and debris into the ducts and left flex sections crushed or disconnected. Our Duct Repair & Sealing starts with a camera pass through every run and a written price for the repairs the camera actually shows.
Duct Sealing
Signs you need it
Rooms at the far end of the house never reach the thermostat setpoint, utility bills climb during furnace season, or you feel warm air at the grilles even when the system is off.
What it costs in Pontiac
Sealing accessible duct joints and seams in a typical Pontiac ranch or bungalow runs $450 to $950, depending on system size and access.
How we do it
We seal every accessible joint and seam with mastic sealant, then run a pressure test to confirm the leakage rate before and after.
Flex Duct Repair
Signs you need it
Inspection pictures show collapsed or kinked flex sections, a room gets almost no airflow, or you see dust streaks at the supply registers.
What it costs in Pontiac
Replacing a failed flex duct run in Pontiac costs $180 to $420 per run, including removal, new flex, and sealed connections at both ends.
How we do it
We remove the collapsed or rodent-damaged flex section, install new insulated flex duct, and photograph the replaced run from both connection points.
Metal Duct Repair
Signs you need it
The camera shows rust-through holes in a metal trunk line, crushed sections in a crawlspace, or disconnected elbows at the plenum.
What it costs in Pontiac
Repairing or replacing a section of sheet-metal duct in Pontiac typically costs $220 to $560 per section, depending on size, shape, and access.
How we do it
We cut out the failed section, fabricate a replacement to match the original dimensions, and seal the new piece into place with mastic and sheet-metal screws.
Duct Insulation
Signs you need it
Condensation forms on the outside of the ductwork in summer, or the air coming through the registers is warmer than it should be when the AC runs.
What it costs in Pontiac
Insulating accessible ductwork in a Pontiac home costs $300 to $750, depending on the linear feet of duct exposed and the insulation type used.
How we do it
We wrap the accessible metal ducts with fiberglass insulation and vapor barrier, sealing the seams so condensation cannot reach the duct surface.
What Duct Repair & Sealing Costs in Pontiac
| Item | Typical range in Pontiac |
|---|---|
| Duct joint and seam sealing (accessible system) | $450-$950 |
| Flex duct run replacement | $180-$420 per run |
| Metal duct section repair | $220-$560 per section |
Can you seal ducts without opening walls in a Pontiac home?
Yes, when the ductwork is accessible from a basement, crawlspace, or attic. We seal from the inside of each run using professional sealing equipment and mastic, so no wall demolition is needed for most 1940s and 50s Pontiac systems. Call (806) 606-6902 for a written price.
Will duct sealing actually lower my heating bill in Pontiac?
Most Pontiac homes lose 20 to 30 percent of conditioned air through leaky ducts, and sealing the accessible runs reduces that loss immediately. The savings depend on the size of the leak and the system, but the pressure test we run before and after shows the exact improvement. Ask for the before-and-after numbers.
Air Quality & Sanitizing in Pontiac
Pontiac’s long-vacant homes are the single biggest driver of indoor air quality problems we see in the metro area. Mold colonizes flex-duct return boots and air handler interiors during the humid summer months, and rodent droppings, drywall dust, and insulation fibers sit inside duct runs until the system blows them through the house. Our Air Quality & Sanitizing service starts with a documented assessment of what is actually inside the system, then a written price for the treatment plan that addresses it.
Mold Treatment
Signs you need it
Musty odor comes through the registers when the blower runs, visible mold is present on boots or return grilles, or occupants have unexplained respiratory irritation.
What it costs in Pontiac
Mold treatment for a typical Pontiac duct system runs $695 to $1,495, depending on the square footage of system and the extent of colonization found.
How we do it
We apply an EPA-registered antimicrobial to all accessible interior surfaces of the ducts, boots, and plenum, then photograph the treated areas for the job record.
Bacteria Sanitizing
Signs you need it
The air smells stale even after cleaning, someone in the home has immune sensitivities, or the system has a history of standing water in the condensate pan.
What it costs in Pontiac
Bacteria sanitizing in Pontiac ranges from $325 to $625, typically done after a full duct cleaning or as part of the mold treatment package.
How we do it
We fog the entire duct system with a hospital-grade sanitizing agent after cleaning, reaching the surfaces that contact every breath of air you take.
Odor Removal
Signs you need it
Smoke, pet, or rodent odor persists after the ducts are cleaned, or a recent renovation left a chemical smell that the system keeps recirculating.
What it costs in Pontiac
Odor removal in Pontiac runs $395 to $795 for a full-system treatment, including the duct interior and all accessible air handler surfaces.
How we do it
We identify the odor source with a camera and air sampling, then apply an odor-neutralizing treatment to the affected surfaces rather than just masking the smell.
UV Light Installation
Signs you need it
The evaporator coil grows mold every summer, you want continuous microbial control, or someone in the home has severe allergies.
What it costs in Pontiac
UV light installation in Pontiac costs $550 to $985, including the lamp, mounting, and wiring to the blower circuit.
How we do it
We mount a UV-C lamp above the evaporator coil to inhibit mold growth on the coil surface, the single most common source of biological contamination in a Pontiac system.
Air Purifier Install
Signs you need it
Household members have persistent allergy symptoms, dust accumulates quickly after cleaning, or the home sits near a high-traffic corridor.
What it costs in Pontiac
Whole-house air purifier installation in Pontiac ranges from $895 to $1,595, including the unit, mounting, electrical, and startup verification.
How we do it
We install the purifier in the supply plenum so every cubic foot of conditioned air passes through it, then verify airflow and filter pressure drop.
What Air Quality & Sanitizing Costs in Pontiac
| Item | Typical range in Pontiac |
|---|---|
| Mold treatment (full duct system) | $695-$1,495 |
| Bacteria sanitizing | $325-$625 |
| Odor removal | $395-$795 |
| UV light installation | $550-$985 |
| Air purifier installation | $895-$1,595 |
Can mold in Pontiac ducts make my family sick?
Mold in ductwork distributes spores through every room each time the blower runs, and in Pontiac’s humid summer months the problem compounds quickly in unsealed flex ducts. It is a documented respiratory trigger, not just a smell. Call (806) 606-6902 for a written assessment.
Do I need mold treatment if I am already getting my ducts cleaned?
Cleaning removes debris, but mold needs a treatment step to kill the colony and prevent regrowth. In Pontiac homes that sat vacant or had uncapped renovation dust, we recommend both. We quote them separately so you see exactly what each step costs before work starts.
Brands We Service in Pontiac
We work on all major HVAC and duct equipment brands in Pontiac, and keep common parts stocked for Rotobrush, Nikro, Abatement Technologies, and Guardsman equipment. Most part replacements on these brands are same-visit when the work is quoted. See our brands for the full equipment roster.
Pricing for Air Duct Cleaning in Pontiac, MI
| Service | Typical range in Pontiac |
|---|---|
| Dryer vent inspection (camera) | $75-$150 |
| Full dryer vent cleaning | $149-$289 |
| Bird guard installation | $65-$160 |
| Duct joint and seam sealing | $450-$950 |
| Flex duct run replacement | $180-$420 per run |
| Metal duct section repair | $220-$560 per section |
| Duct insulation | $300-$750 |
| Mold treatment (full system) | $695-$1,495 |
| Bacteria sanitizing | $325-$625 |
| Odor removal | $395-$795 |
| UV light installation | $550-$985 |
| Air purifier installation | $895-$1,595 |
What pushes a Pontiac job toward the high end of these ranges is usually access: crawlspace ductwork, roof vent terminations, collapsed flex runs in tight attics, or a system that sat vacant long enough to develop a significant mold load. Whatever the system needs, you get the written price before any work starts, under Haven Standard Clause 1, and you never pay more than that number.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Pontiac
We serve the full Pontiac area, including the neighborhoods around the old assembly corridor, downtown, and the residential streets that radiate north toward Baldwin Road and east toward Auburn Road. Typical response to Pontiac is next-day or two-day scheduling for most service calls.
- Downtown Pontiac
- North Pontiac
- East Side
- Franklin Park
- Indian Village
Service Area - Cities Near Pontiac
CleanRun also serves nearby communities in Oakland County and beyond. For readers in Waterford, MI or Sterling Heights, MI, we provide the same written-price-before-work standard. We also serve Southfield, MI and Troy, OH with the same documented photo record on every job.
Serving Pontiac, MI - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Pontiac 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 Pontiac
No permit is required for duct cleaning, dryer vent cleaning, or duct sealing in the City of Pontiac. If your project includes duct replacement that affects the building envelope, the city may require a mechanical permit, which we can handle as part of the written scope. We will tell you if permits apply before any work is scheduled.
Most Pontiac calls are scheduled within one to two business days. Same-week service is common outside the fall rush, when furnace season starts and systems that have sat all summer get their first heavy use. Call (806) 606-6902 and we will give you a specific arrival window and a written price before work starts.
Yes, and those homes account for a large share of what we do in Pontiac. The 1940s-to-1960s housing stock mixed with the post-foreclosure flips creates a job profile that is different from any neighboring suburb, and our technicians see it in the camera before a single recommendation is made. We serve every neighborhood in Pontiac, from the downtown blocks to the furthest residential streets on the north and east sides.
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 Pontiac Customers Say
"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."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.