Short answer: you are not buying the same thing. A $99 “whole house” duct cleaning is usually a door opener: a small portable vacuum, a few vents, and a list of add-ons once the tech is inside. A full-system duct cleaning connects a powerful vacuum to your main trunk line and cleans the whole system. Ours is truck-mounted. That takes 2 to 4 hours for a typical home and equipment that costs more than most cars. That is what the price pays for.
What a $99 duct cleaning usually is
NADCA, the national association for air duct cleaning, keeps a page that warns homeowners about low-price duct offers. The pattern is often the same: a cheap price on the coupon, a portable unit that never connects to the main trunk line, then extra charges once the job starts. Not every low price is a scam, but before you book, ask what equipment is coming and what the final price will be, in writing.
What you get for $474.95 at Alpine
Our Essential Basic Package covers homes up to 1,500 sq ft and includes:
- Our full truck-mounted extreme vacuum system
- A 10″ vacuum hose connected right to your main trunk line
- HEPA air filtration system
- Before and after photography
- The access port closed with a removable sheet-metal plate, screwed in place & sealed with foil tape made for ductwork (want a metal door that opens & closes instead? $110 installed)
That price already includes $75 off through December 31, 2026, plus Washington sales tax. Air duct cleaning is the one service we do that is taxed in Washington. Larger homes are priced by square footage and area minimums apply for outlying cities. We confirm your exact price before any work begins.
The upgrade we recommend: Ultimate Diamond
If anyone in your home deals with allergies, we highly recommend our Ultimate Diamond upgrade (+$249.95)! This ADDS our EPA-registered BioGuard™ sanitizing & disinfecting treatment to each register, grill & vent boot to help kill bacteria & viruses and remove allergens! As a final step, we fog our cleaning treatment through the system, which leaves a light fresh scent.
Diamond also includes an indoor air quality test with a detailed report and our 2-Year Diamond Loyalty Program: a free follow-up air quality test & inspection within 2 years, plus an additional 10% off future services with priority scheduling.
3 questions to ask any duct cleaning company
- Is your vacuum truck-mounted and hooked to the main trunk line? Ours is. Every Alpine duct truck is a big truck-mounted system, an investment of over $125,000.
- What is my total price, in writing, before you start? We text or email a written quote any time, so you can look it over or check with your spouse first.
- Are you a NADCA member company? Alpine is. Every tech is trained to NADCA standards.
How often should Seattle homes clean their ducts?
We recommend cleaning every 2 to 3 years. Sooner if you have had construction work, smoke or pet issues, or if anyone in the home has bad allergies. Booking ducts? Add your dryer vent the same visit for $99.95.
Get a free quote on our air duct cleaning page, text a photo to 206-339-5684, or call 206-501-2223 to talk to someone real.
Quick answers
Is air duct cleaning taxed in Washington?
Yes. Air duct cleaning is the one Alpine service that carries Washington sales tax. Carpet, furniture and tile cleaning do not.
How long does air duct cleaning take?
A typical single-system home takes 2 to 4 hours. Bigger homes or homes with two systems take longer.
Do you sanitize the inside of the ducts?
We clean the duct runs mechanically with our truck system. No product is EPA-registered to sanitize the inside of ductwork, so we won’t claim that. What we do on Diamond is sanitize and disinfect every register and vent boot where most grime builds up.
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