Air duct cleaning for New Orleans homes after renovation, mold or storms
Duct cleaning is worth doing in specific situations, not on a schedule. We clean ducts after renovations, water events and visible contamination, and tell you honestly when it will not help.
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Air duct cleaning in New Orleans makes sense after a renovation that put dust into the system, after water or mold got into the ducts, or when debris or pests are visible. It is done with negative-pressure vacuum and agitation tools through the supply and return runs, and it should be paired with cleaning the blower and coil, since that is where most buildup sits.
When duct cleaning helps and when it does not
Updated September 2026
Ducts collect some dust over the years, and most of it stays put without affecting the air you breathe. Cleaning them on a routine schedule usually changes little. The cases where cleaning clearly helps are the ones with a specific cause: construction dust, water damage, mold, pests or debris you can see at the registers.
We look before we quote. If the ducts are in reasonable shape and the real issue is a dirty coil, a poor filter or a leaky return pulling in attic dust, we say so and fix that instead.
What a duct cleaning includes
- Inspection of registers, returns and air handler
- Registers covered during cleaning
- Negative-pressure vacuum on the system
- Supply and return runs agitated and cleaned
- Blower wheel cleaned
- Coil inspected and cleaned if needed
- New filter installed
Renovation dust in older homes
About nine in ten homes in New Orleans were built before the 1978 ban on lead paint, so dust from renovation work in older houses can carry old paint with it. When that dust gets into the return air and settles in the ducts, cleaning it out is not just about comfort. We use contained, vacuum-based methods rather than blowing dust through the house, and change the filter at the end of the job.
Post-Renovation Cleaning
Sanding, drywall work and demolition put fine dust into the return air, and it settles in the ducts, the blower and the coil. That dust then blows back out every time the system runs. After a renovation we clean the supply and return runs, the blower wheel and the coil, and replace the filter. Ideally the system is sealed off or run with a temporary filter during the work; if it was not, cleaning afterwards is the fix. In older homes that dust can include old paint, so we treat it carefully.
Mold in Ducts
Mold in ductwork usually comes from moisture: a clogged drain, condensation on uninsulated ducts, or water that got into the system during a storm. Cleaning without fixing the moisture source only buys a few months. We find and fix the cause first, clean the affected sections, and replace flex duct and duct board where the inner lining is contaminated, since those materials cannot be properly cleaned. We will not describe a surface we cannot see as clean, and we show you photos of what we found and what we did.
Dryer Vent Cleaning
Lint builds up in dryer vents, especially long runs to the roof or through a crawl space, and it is a fire hazard as well as the reason clothes take two cycles to dry. We clean the vent from the dryer to the exterior termination, clear the hood or roof cap, and check for crushed or disconnected sections. It is a short job, and it is often worth doing at the same visit as duct work since the equipment is already on site.
What you can do between cleanings
| Task | Homeowner | Technician |
|---|---|---|
| Change the filter regularly | Yes | |
| Vacuum register grilles | Yes | |
| Cover returns during renovation | Yes | |
| Clean inside the duct runs | No, needs equipment | Yes |
| Clean the blower and coil | No | Yes |
What affects the cost of duct cleaning
Duct cleaning is priced on the size and condition of the system.
System size
More supply and return runs take longer.
Access
Tight attics and crawl spaces slow the work.
Contamination
Construction dust, mold or pests need more time.
Blower and coil
Cleaning the air handler components adds time and is usually worth it.
Duct replacement
Contaminated flex or duct board is replaced, not cleaned.
Dryer vent
Adding a dryer vent cleaning at the same visit.
How a duct cleaning job runs
- 1
Inspect
Registers, returns, blower and coil looked at before quoting.
- 2
Fix the cause
Moisture, leaks or filter issues addressed first.
- 3
Seal and set up
Registers covered and negative-pressure vacuum connected.
- 4
Clean the runs
Supply and return ducts agitated and vacuumed.
- 5
Clean the air handler
Blower wheel and coil cleaned.
- 6
Filter and check
New filter installed and airflow checked.
Questions about Air Duct Cleaning in New Orleans
Only when there is a reason: renovation dust, water, mold, pests or visible debris.
Sometimes, when ducts are genuinely contaminated. A better filter often helps more.
Lightly. Flex that is contaminated with mold or water is replaced.
Usually a half day to a full day for a typical home.
Yes, when needed. The coil and blower often hold more buildup than the ducts.
Ducts that took on floodwater are usually replaced rather than cleaned.
Yes, from the dryer to the outside termination.
Yes. If the ducts are fine, we say so and point to the real issue.
More ductless & ductwork we handle in New Orleans
Attic Insulation & Air Sealing
Blown-in insulation, attic air sealing and more.
Our attic insulation & air sealing serviceDuct Leakage Testing
Pressure testing the ducts, finding the leaks and more.
Pressure testing the ductsDust or smell from the vents?
Call and we will look first, then clean only what needs it.
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