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 Evanston, IL
HVAC cleaning in Evanston typically runs $380-$620 for a full system, with air quality and sanitizing work adding $220-$480 depending on whether mold treatment or UV installation is needed. We’re CleanRun Duct Repair & Cleaning, and our crews handle the specific challenges of Evanston’s pre-1940 housing stock and lake-effect humidity every week. Call (708) 683-3974 for a written estimate before any work starts.
Dispatch and scheduling are coordinated from our Chicago office, but the crews serving Evanston are local to the north-shore market and familiar with its gravity-furnace conversions, asbestos-insulation risks, and the moisture problems that come from living directly on Lake Michigan.
Why Evanston Homes Are Different
Evanston’s housing stock is dominated by Victorian, Craftsman, and Chicago four-square homes built between roughly 1890 and 1940. Many of these were originally heated by gravity “octopus” furnaces and later retrofitted with forced-air blowers during mid-century upgrades. The original sheet-metal trunk lines were often enlarged and repurposed rather than replaced, leaving non-standard plenum and trunk dimensions that standard residential cleaning rigs struggle to navigate fully.
The lakefront location creates problems inland suburbs don’t see. Onshore winds push elevated moisture into homes year-round, raising humidity inside ductwork to levels that sustain mold growth even in well-maintained systems. Lake-effect snow deposits fine particulate drawn into return-air intakes on older homes whose exterior grilles lack tight weather seals. In historic corridors near Ridge Avenue and the lakefront, technicians regularly encounter asbestos-containing insulation in mid-century conversions, a find that legally halts work until licensed abatement clears the property.
Our Main Evanston Services
Most Evanston homeowners who call us start with one of these three services:
Air Duct Cleaning in Evanston
We clean the full duct network in Evanston homes, including the oversized trunk lines left behind by gravity-furnace conversions and the irregular boots common in pre-1940 construction. Every run is photographed before and after, and the written price is set before a single panel comes off. Lake-effect humidity means we often find mold precursors in these older systems that standard cleaning alone won’t address. Air Duct Cleaning in Evanston
Dryer Vent Cleaning in Evanston
Dryer vent blockages are a fire hazard and efficiency drain, especially in Evanston’s multi-family buildings near Northwestern where high tenant turnover means vents routinely go a decade without service. We clear the full run from appliance to exterior termination, inspect for proper airflow, and document the before and after. Dryer Vent Cleaning in Evanston
Duct Repair & Sealing in Evanston
Leaky ducts in Evanston’s retrofitted systems waste conditioned air into unfinished basements and wall cavities. We seal accessible joints and seams with mastic and mechanical fasteners, then pressure-test to verify results. Non-standard dimensions from mid-century conversions often require custom-fabricated patches rather than off-the-shelf materials. Duct Repair & Sealing in Evanston
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.
BeforeAfterHVAC Cleaning in Evanston
Evanston’s pre-1940 housing stock and persistent lake-effect humidity create a specific problem: forced-air components that have never been properly cleaned, coated with decades of debris and biologic growth that standard filter changes won’t touch. We provide HVAC Cleaning that addresses the evaporator coils, blowers, and air handlers in these older systems, using equipment sized for non-standard plenums and documenting every stage.
Evaporator Coil Cleaning
Signs you need it
Ice buildup on refrigerant lines, weak airflow from registers, or musty odors when the AC first cycles on.
What it costs in Evanston
Evaporator coil cleaning in Evanston typically runs $180-$340.
How we do it
We access the coil through the plenum, apply foaming cleaner, rinse with low-pressure water, and photograph the before and after condition.
Blower Cleaning
Signs you need it
Vibration or noise from the air handler, uneven heating or cooling between rooms, or dust blowing from registers immediately after filter changes.
What it costs in Evanston
Blower cleaning in Evanston typically runs $160-$280.
How we do it
We remove the blower assembly, clean the wheel and housing with compressed air and solvent, balance the assembly, and reinstall with new hardware.
What HVAC Cleaning Costs in Evanston
| Item | Typical range in Evanston |
|---|---|
| Evaporator coil cleaning | $180-$340 |
| Blower cleaning | $160-$280 |
| Full HVAC system cleaning | $380-$620 |
How do I know my HVAC system needs cleaning?
Dust buildup on registers, musty odors when the system cycles, or uneven temperatures between rooms all indicate the evaporator coil, blower, or ductwork needs professional cleaning. Call (708) 683-3974 for a written estimate.
Can HVAC cleaning fix mold smells?
Cleaning removes mold from accessible coils and blowers, but persistent odors from deep ductwork or porous insulation require separate mold treatment or sanitizing. We’ll photograph the source and quote both options in writing.
Air Quality & Sanitizing in Evanston
Evanston’s lake-effect humidity and pre-1940 ductwork create conditions where mold colonizes aggressively inside sheet-metal runs, especially in homes with gravity-furnace conversions that were never properly sealed. We provide Air Quality & Sanitizing that treats active biologic growth and installs preventive measures, with every step photographed and priced in writing before work begins.
Mold Treatment
Signs you need it
Musty odors that persist after cleaning, visible discoloration inside registers, or family members with unexplained respiratory symptoms.
What it costs in Evanston
Mold treatment in Evanston typically runs $280-$520 depending on affected duct length and accessibility.
How we do it
We apply EPA-registered antimicrobial through the full duct network, let it dwell per manufacturer specification, then extract residue with negative-pressure equipment and photograph verification.
UV Light Installation
Signs you need it
Recurring mold despite repeated cleaning, or a system located in a damp basement or crawl space with no dehumidification.
What it costs in Evanston
UV light installation in Evanston typically runs $340-$580 including the lamp and electrical connection.
How we do it
We mount a UV-C lamp in the supply plenum, wire it to the blower circuit, and verify irradiance levels with a meter before closing the panel.
What Air Quality & Sanitizing Costs in Evanston
| Item | Typical range in Evanston |
|---|---|
| Mold treatment | $280-$520 |
| UV light installation | $340-$580 |
| Bacteria sanitizing | $220-$380 |
Is mold in ducts common in Evanston?
Yes. Lake-effect humidity keeps duct moisture high year-round, and pre-1940 sheet-metal systems often have standing water in low spots that never fully drains. Call (708) 683-3974 for a camera inspection and written quote.
Will UV lights eliminate all mold?
UV-C lamps prevent mold growth on the coil and in the immediate plenum, but they don’t treat existing growth deep in duct runs or address moisture sources. We quote both treatment and prevention in writing.
Brands We Service in Evanston
We stock parts and service equipment from Honeywell, Aprilaire, and Rotobrush, with most common filters, UV lamps, and plenum fittings available without special order. See our brands for the full roster. Turnaround on standard maintenance parts is same-day for scheduled jobs.
Pricing for Air Duct Cleaning in Evanston, IL
| Service | Typical range in Evanston |
|---|---|
| Full air duct cleaning (single system) | $320-$580 |
| Dryer vent cleaning | $120-$220 |
| Duct repair & sealing | $280-$520 |
| Evaporator coil cleaning | $180-$340 |
| Blower cleaning | $160-$280 |
| Full HVAC system cleaning | $380-$620 |
| Mold treatment | $280-$520 |
| UV light installation | $340-$580 |
| Bacteria sanitizing | $220-$380 |
Prices in Evanston run toward the higher end when homes have non-standard plenum dimensions from gravity-furnace conversions, requiring custom adapter fabrication, or when asbestos-containing insulation is discovered and abatement must precede further work. Every price is written and agreed before any work starts, per Haven Standard Clause 1.
Neighborhoods We Serve in Evanston
Our crews work across Evanston’s full range of housing eras and types, from lakefront historic districts to the multi-family stock near Northwestern’s campus. Most appointments are scheduled within a few days, with dispatch coordinated from our north-shore routing.
- Downtown Evanston
- Historic Ridge Avenue corridor
- South Boulevard district
- Northwestern University area
- Dewey and Central Street corridors
Service Area - Cities Near Evanston
We serve the full north-shore and near-northwest corridor from our Chicago-coordinated dispatch, with regular appointments in Skokie, IL, Glenview, IL, Northbrook, IL, and Des Plaines, IL. Crews are routed by neighborhood familiarity, not distance from a central garage.
Serving Evanston, IL - Our Local Coverage Area
We’re based in the Evanston 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 Evanston
No permit is required for standard residential duct cleaning. If we discover asbestos-containing insulation during the job, work stops immediately and a licensed abatement contractor must clear the property before we resume. We’ll document the find with photos and help coordinate next steps.
Most Evanston appointments are available within 3-5 business days. We don’t promise same-day dispatch, but we do answer every call with a live person who can check real openings and hold a slot while you review the written estimate.
Yes. We clean ducts in Evanston’s rental and condo stock regularly, though building access protocols vary. We coordinate with property managers when needed and provide the same documented photo record and written warranty as for single-family jobs.
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 Evanston Customers Say
"My allergies genuinely improved. They also told me the ducts did not need sealing, which I had been quoted for elsewhere."
- Petra K."On time, professional, and explained what the readings meant without talking down to me."
- Warren E."Thorough job on the ducts and the dryer vent. Left the house clean and the paperwork was clear."
- Rafael I.